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SurfaceConnect USB-C PD + USB 5Gb/s Adapter – Quick Review & Teardown

 2 years ago
source link: https://dancharblog.wordpress.com/2021/10/06/surfaceconnect-usb-c-pd-usb-5gb-s-adapter-quick-review-teardown/
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SurfaceConnect USB-C PD + USB 5Gb/s Adapter – Quick Review & Teardown – Dan S. CharltonSkip to content

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I love the Microsoft Surface product line – so when I hear about a new docking accessory, I have to buy it. The SPD82 by X-SPD is an innovative product concept. In a tiny form factor, it allows charging your Surface through the Microsoft proprietary 40-pin connector via USB-C power delivery while also providing a USB 5Gb/s data port. This is especially helpful if you have an older Surface Book with a broken keyboard base.

There are two models: a Pro version [alternate link] with red PCB enables data (not video) on both the USB-C and USB 3.x ports, and a non-pro version [alternate link] with black PCB that enables data on the USB 3.x port. I tested the non-pro version.

Physical Characteristics

The magnets in the SPD82 are about half the strength of the official Surface connector so it doesn’t get sucked into the port as firmly but they are strong enough to keep it connected. Unlike the zero-insertion force like the original Surface connector, the SPD82 requires a little effort to insert. This is due to the sharp PCB edges. Initially, I was concerned that the sharp edges could wear the pins down or snag and bend a pin but after using it, I think this is unlikely.

Simple box with foam pad insideMy specimen had a nick out of one of the metal tracesMicrosoft Dock connector (left) vs SPD82 (right)Microsoft connector (top) vs SPD82 (bottom)The Microsoft connector is ~2mm thick at the base and tapers down to ~1.3mm at the tip with rounded edgesSPD82 PCB is ~1.45mm thick and the PCB has sharp edges35mm wide26.5mm tall9mm thick

Performance Testing & Teardown

I used an Insignia 90W USB-IF certified USB-C power supply for all testing. Using a lower power unit is OK as long as it outputs 15V. Power supplies limited to 9V or 12V won’t work. Getting a 45W or higher power supply ensures that 15V is available. The SPD82 performed as advertised and easily charged at 39W+ while enabling USB 3.x 5Gb/s data connections. But it has a flaw…

Powering Surface Book tablet from portable battery pack – USB wireless mouse (non-BT) works OK.Surface Book 2 running Furmark stress testing.14.9V @ 2.6A (~39W) – USB data port works in this orientation (right-angle USB-C adapter is not USB-IF certified – it is used so that the edge of the Surface doesn’t interfere with the port tester buttons)Charging works in the reverse orientation, but the USB data port does notWhen I connected a cellphone to the USB port, it charged at 1.75W while the laptop continued to charge at ~39WTeardown: PCB, “T” shaped neodymium magnets, and plastic shell halvesInjoinic Tech IP2721 USB controllerPower is on without a device connected and the chipset consumes 1/2 watt. A multimeter confirmed that +15V is present at the Surface Connector pins.

Analysis & Conclusion

Overall, I love the concept. The form factor is perfect and it has a simple feature set of enabling USB-C PD charging at up to 45W and delivering USB 3.x 5Gb/s. Having the PCB edge chamfered at 20° with a depth of 0.5mm would allow for easier ingress to the Surface receptacle. A nice-to-have feature addition would be a small li-ion battery or super capacitor so that the USB port could be used without a power supply for a short time. Even more helpful would be to breakout DisplayPort alt-mode on the USB-C port (other vendors have successfully reverse-engineered the specific resistor values to turn on the DP pins) but this would add considerable complexity & cost to the SPD82.

Similar to many dongle style Surface Connect -> USB-C power adapters, the SPD82 doesn’t make use of the detection pins to switch power on after a device is connected. The presence of +15V on the pins at all times presents a risk of short circuits and arcs which could damage the SPD82, the USB-C power supply, or the Surface.

Given this risk, I cannot recommend the SPD82 for regular use. Once this issue is addressed, I would probably recommend it. To mitigate the risks, don’t hot plug the SPD82. Instead, always start by unplugging the USB-C power supply from AC/Mains before connecting or disconnecting anything else. If you adhere to these guidelines, I think it is probably OK to use.

To Connect:

  • Disconnect USB-C charger from AC/mains
  • Connect USB 3.x device to SPD82
  • Connect USB-C charger to SPD82
  • Connect SPD82 to Surface
  • Plug USB-C charger into A/C mains

To Disconnect:

  • Disconnect USB-C charger from AC/mains
  • Disconnect SPD82 from Surface
  • Disconnect USB devices from SPD82

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