ProtoV MINI is a dual-channel, adjustable USB Type-C power supply that connects directly to the two rails of a breadboard. Gone is the cluttered workbench—it delivers up to 20 V with 10 mV resolution on each channel, providing up to 100 W of power in a footprint no larger than a credit card.

It features a 2-inch LCD that displays measured voltage, current, and power in real time. Nine push buttons, including channel enable and setpoint controls, offer precise digital adjustment of output targets. The USB-C port supports data streaming to a connected computer and USB Power Delivery negotiation to maximize available power.

Keep Your Power Clean And Your Bench Even Cleaner

ProtoV MINI untethers power from the bench and shines in classrooms, labs, and field setups where portability and clarity matter. Its USB Type-C input draws power from wall adapters or portable chargers, letting you power, measure, and iterate wherever inspiration strikes.

Bringing bench-supply performance into the palm of your hand, ProtoV MINI offers familiar controls such as target voltage, current limits, protection features, and channel selection—all within the footprint of a standard credit card. ProtoV delivers two independent power sources directly into the rails of a standard breadboard.

Features & Specifications

Power & Outputs

• Outputs: two independent and adjustable channels
• Voltage range: 0.00-20.00 V (steps of 10 mV)
• Current limiting: 0.00-5.00 A (steps of 50 mA)
• Output connector: Two pin headers (2x5, 2.54mm pitch) which span a standard breadboard to connect into the power rails
• Protection features: Overcurrent, overtemperature, overvoltage, short circuit

Preliminary Test Measurements

• Ripple / Noise: <15 mV pk-pk at light load, <10 mV pk-pk at high load (<32 kHz); 200 kHz & 400 kHz switching harmonics <1 mV RMS, higher-order <0.5 mV RMS
• Idle Power: 0.45 W @ 5 V input
• Efficiency: ~85 % at <1 W, and ~95 % at 25 W
• Line Regulation: <0.2 % at light load, <1 % at full load

Wired Connectivity

• USB Type-C input supporting power delivery (sink mode) up to 100 W
• Algorithm to maximize sink power while ensuring compatibility with attached power source
• USB 1.1 full speed interface over the same connector to communicate with a host computer

Controls

• 2-inch 320 x 240 LCD display
• Nine tactile switches: D-pad, settings buttons, and channel enables
• Seven addressable LEDs: Visual feedback

Software

• Interactive UI on LCD screen written in Rust
  • Real-time measurements readout
  • Responsive setpoint adjustment
• Data logging, waveform capture, and graphing updated on a rolling basis
• Accompanying Python interface for computer control, and SCPI remote programming updated on a rolling basis

Electronics

• Microcontroller: Raspberry PI Pico (RP2040)
  • Firmware upgrade via direct USB-C link to laptop
  • SWD Debug interface for developers
• USB-PD Controller: STUSB4500
• Per channel:
  • Buck-boost converter: TPS55289
  • Power measurement: INA226

Size & Weight

• Size: 85.5 x 54.0 x 17.5 mm (3.365 x 2.125 x 0.690 in)
• Weight: 49 g (1.73 oz)
• Mounting: 4x M3 screw holes for banana jack expansion card.

Open Source

ProtoV MINI’s firmware and hardware schematics are open-source under the EPL-2.0 license. The Github repository hosts the source code and hardware documentation. We welcome contributions from developers, makers, and enthusiasts! Whether it’s reporting bugs, improving documentation, or building and enhancing features, there are many ways to get involved.

The computer control software and ProtoV interface will be released under the same license on a rolling basis as development is completed and the product is polished.

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