Open Source USB-C Power Supply – Up to 100W: Introducing BenchVolt PD

Ever wish you could have a flexible, powerful lab bench power supply that runs off any modern laptop charger—and is totally open source? That’s what BenchVolt PD sets out to be. It’s a five-channel, USB Type-C–powered benchtop supply that delivers up to 100 watts of clean DC power for your electronics projects. Better yet, you can make it yourself or snag a ready-to-use version.

What Makes BenchVolt PD Special?

The world of bench supplies is full of big boxes with heavy transformers and proprietary firmware. But the open source USB-C power supply called BenchVolt PD flips the script. Instead of relying on traditional AC mains input, it draws its juice from any standard USB-PD charger—like those that come with most laptops these days.

Here’s what makes it stand out:

• Fully Open Source: Hardware designs, firmware code, and documentation will all be freely available.
• USB-PD Input: Uses the same chargers you already have lying around.
• Up to 100W Output: Enough for serious electronics development or repair work.
• Five Independent Channels: Fixed and adjustable voltage outputs plus waveform generation capabilities.
• Customizable PCB: Order bare boards and tweak the design however you want.

Everything will be published soon on Crowd Supply, so you can either grab a finished unit or build your own from the shared files.

A Closer Look at the Features

Let’s break down why this project could be a game changer if you’re into DIY electronics or need a reliable benchtop PSU:

• Open Hardware: Tinkerers are free to study, modify, and improve everything—from schematics to firmware.
• Simplified Sourcing: You can use almost any modern laptop charger as the input—no more hunting for rare adapters.
• Adjustable Outputs: Need +5V here and +12V there? Set each channel as needed with built-in current limiting.
• Waveform Generation: Some channels aren’t just fixed—they can output programmable waveforms too!
• Bare PCBs Available: Order just the board if you want to solder it yourself or change components for your needs.

For anyone who prefers control over their tools—or just wants something different than off-the-shelf solutions—BenchVolt PD ticks a lot of boxes.

The DIY Journey Behind This Project

Here’s a little backstory. The creator (posting as EEEngineer4Ever) started out needing a compact but powerful lab PSU that didn’t break the bank—or tie him down with closed firmware. After sharing early prototypes online (the project has already sparked interest in communities like r/diyelectronics), he realized others wanted this flexibility too.

It’s not every day you see someone offer both finished units and bare PCBs for sale—let alone commit to keeping every part of the project open source. That means even if you want to just tinker with the firmware or swap out components for your own workflow, you’re totally free.

If you’ve ever tried hacking together your own test equipment from scratch—maybe an old ATX PSU conversion—you know how tricky it can get dealing with safety issues and lack of documentation. With projects like this one documented from start to finish (and feedback welcomed from other makers), getting up and running is way easier.

How Can You Get Your Hands on One?

BenchVolt PD isn’t just about buying another gadget—it’s about joining an ecosystem where sharing knowledge is encouraged. Here are some ways you’ll be able to get involved:

• Pre-order Ready-to-Use Units: Perfect if you want something that “just works” out of the box.
• Download Schematics & Firmware: All files will be released under an open license for personal use or further development.
• Order Bare PCBs: For those who love soldering their own boards or making modifications.

Keep your eye on updates over at Crowd Supply—the project page will go live soon with all details on specs, pricing, and release timelines.

A Quick Anecdote

A friend once tried powering his new dev board using an old wall adapter—and fried half his project due to bad voltage regulation. If he’d had something like BenchVolt PD on hand (with its current limits and adjustable outputs), that little disaster would’ve been easily avoided! Sometimes having reliable gear isn’t just convenient—it saves time and money in the long run.

The Future of Open Source Test Equipment?

Could this kind of project spark more innovation in hobbyist test gear? With everything being shared openly—from hardware layouts down to microcontroller code—it encourages more collaboration across the globe.

Would you rather build your own lab tools from scratch when given all the resources—or stick with commercial offerings? Let me know what you think in the comments below!