A safe USB phone charger? What's inside?

[@RoGameReview]

he is the perfect combination of low key humour and pure electronic genius

[@kyawzin3957]

Not like other channels, this man disassemble everything and analyses every components and I like it! The best part? This man talking = action! Not only talking but also doing the staffs during talking! Nice channel to watch and it's bit sad that channel is underrated with only 195K subscribers although it deserves to get more subs. Come on! This channel is far better than most of sh*tty channels on KZbin with million subscribers.

[@DiodeGoneWild]

Thanks 👍!!!

[@atdzsny]

Smart people are a minority. You can't expect science and sophisticated humor to be more popular than slapstick. There are so many information in Dany's videos that I have to pause and repeat parts. That's OK, though.

[@elhussin5687]

@@DiodeGoneWild please do a teardown of baseus 100 watts gan charger.

[@aaronnorman9755]

@@atdzsny absolutely, what matters is that the idea sinks in, not how long it takes to sink in.

[@kalashnikov_47z]

@@elhussin5687 Donate that charger He will do it !!!!

[@Geniusinventor]

Can we all take a moment to appreciate the work this man is doing to deliver us these amazing videos? Thank you very much.

[@longpham-sj5sv]

bot?

[@atdzsny]

That's what the like function and Patreon link are for. Please stop repeating this entry.

[@Geniusinventor]

Sorry sorry I will not anymore 😅

[@mistersunny3636]

@@longpham-sj5sv 😄 Preacher-bot. But anyway, Dan does deliver amazing videos.👍

[@peredavi]

I wish i could understand him better.

[@n-steam]

"Frustration Free" refers to not launching the product into orbit when you finally manage to separate the sides of a plastic blister package.

[@versedbridge4007]

As someone who has bought a set of screwdrivers in a blister pack I agree. They should be banned.

[@atmel9077]

Space pollution is a serious issue.

[@jek__]

Scissors?

[@matt.604]

@@versedbridge4007 In Canada we had "Home Hardware" advertising special blister pack cutter that was supposed to make opening packages safe. The problem is that the cutter was sold in a blister pack.

[@dbuezas]

​@@jek__scissors are frustrating

[@harvoormotors3050]

one of the best channels in the world,really fascinates me to know things,like you I have a strong and deep interest in electronics🔌🔦⚡

[@catalinbadalan4463]

You're goddam right!

[@kna60]

As an almost boomer, thank you for remembering at the beginning those moments of emotion when we welcomed and discovered with respect and wonder a new piece of modernity, the first tube radio, the first black and white television with a single channel, the first crank telephone... Otherwise, what a difference in quality of this charger with the low cost copies!

For what it's worth I think those moments are still there. The innovations mostly aren't massive breakthroughs which sent ripples across Western culture (smartphones and the like aside) like the jump from tubes to transistors (or BJTs to MOS and later CMOS), but I bought my Haswell CPU with a smile knowing it had one of the first mass produced FinFETs in it. The e-Ink display is also one of my favorites.

[@Speeder84XL]

Finally a nice one 😀 This is always fun to follow and interesting. Nice idea to grind down the chip to see the internals in layers without immediately destroying them (which is almost always the case if it's taken apart using pliers or something)

[@WagTsX]

one of the best videos you made. That chip tomography was insane. In the next you should do it while the charger is running just to check when it will stop working :D

[@atmel9077]

I like how he used the word "tomography", I'd rather call this an autopsy.

[@KeriRautenkranz]

0:50 "...read the manual several times through before even daring to plug it in..." Thank you! I'm not alone!😀

[@atdzsny]

That was before manuals looked like this: "Congratulation! You've bought an excellent device. Read this manual carefully as it contains very useful information. Really. If it's a USB device, plug it into a USB socket. If it's a PCI device, plug it into a PCI socket. Please dispose of it properly."

[@wurgervomlichtenmoor5073]

The IC is the Power Integrations Innoswitch. Quasi resonant flyback controller, magnetic feedback isolation with integrated synchronous rectifier controller. There are also types with GaN and SiC transistors.

[@vaclavtrpisovsky]

Is a datasheet available online?

[@andymouse]

"The only ones who know how to make it are thousands of miles away" something a little sinister about that statement, love your work and your channel !...cheers.

[@novanprasetio1867]

This Man is the proffessor of SMPS. Thanks for the expalination.

[@alexstone691]

1:00 boomer mentality but i do agree, only frustrating packaging is the sealed packaging for sd cards or flash drives, it's impossible to open without ripping it

[@tactileslut]

Who hasn't got a compact fluorescent package open only to have the product crumble to the floor? Tools not optional.

[@someone2506]

Broken cutter, new cutter comes in a slim/minimal package held with 5 heavy duty zip ties. Huh. 😂👌

[@dave161141]

Those memory devices imho are sealed to prevent moisture ingress, during storage and shipping around the globe. Second, maybe as anti-tamper measure, too.

[@alexstone691]

@@dave161141 I couldn't return a shitty usb3.0 flash drive that had speed of 500kb/s because the package that has to rip have ripped..

[@gianluca458]

I love syncronus rectifiers. They make power supplies way more efficent and reduce the waste of power. And when GANFETs will be more popular and cheaper (They Switch FASTER, they have way lower gate capacitance, lower ON state resistance, and more), the efficency will be EVEN HIGHER (Like 98% or something like that).

[@gblargg]

Agreed. It's sad that switching supplies have used diodes for so long, which adds the same kind of voltage drop loss as a linear regulator, though not nearly as much.

[@-yeme-]

to be fair, some of the thick, heat sealed plastic packaging some products come in is impossible to get into if you dont have a knife or scissors handy

[@atdzsny]

True. But the latest SD card I've bough was not only in tightly sealed plastic, but the plastic itself was embedded in sealed cardboard, so it took multiple steps to get out the card safely. :) I didn't get frustrated, though, as I put the card for good in a "smart" phone that is a lot more frustrating than these minor issues.

[@Georgy-11811]

Huge thanks for the unrivaled best electronic channel on YT!

[@TheDefpom]

Seeing the scope waveforms was very interesting, thank you for a thorough investigation.

[@cptyler150]

Keep your diagnostics coming along I love watching the separation between the components and trying to figure them out terrific job

[@alexpaciniat]

I think that chip is an Innoswitch from Power Integration, integrated silicon mosfet for the primary and discrete mosfet for the secondary (too big to put it in a single package). They also have a gan version now, and those are used in some other chargers. They also make an interesting one named MinECap, to reduce the bulk cap for high and low line usage with smaller bulk cap. (Disclaimer: I work for a competitor)

[@kalandarshafi439]

My friend and favourite electronics explainer.

[@electronic7979]

Her zamanki gibi faydalı bir video olmuş.

[@hivarbenouni1283]

The best channel and explanations i have ever seen

[@edgeeffect]

Just yesterday, by the random chance of KZbin recommendations, I learned about synchronous rectifiers..... and then today you show me a circuit that uses them.... cool!

[@catalinbadalan4463]

"Our species needs, and deserves, a citizenry with minds wide awake and a basic understanding of how the world works." - Carl Sagan

[@KeritechElectronics]

"Indeed." --Teal'c

[@hernancoronel]

“Let’s of course use my molten hair dryer…” AWESOME Diode!

[@dwaynezilla]

The "frustrating" packages might be those plastic clamshells. I bought a pair of tin snips for them. They're like big scissors!

[@bskull3232]

Those PI isolated controllers do not use optocouplers to communicate. Instead, they use a pair of leadframe windings (14:26) to magnetically couple signals back and forth. Reference: I am a power electronics engineer and I've reverse engineered most major vendors' controller chips.

[@piconano]

Your videos never disappoint. Loved the scope work. I was hoping for it, and my I was not disappointed.

[@someone2506]

The package/buy it-trash it rant is on point 💯 For me the real frustration was the hair on the screwdriver 😰 I'll take 1000 non-frustration-free packages over that visual torture.. every time it went out of frame i prayed it comes back hairless 😧😅

[@Speeder84XL]

I was more annoyed by the grease that was also on (which was probably also why the hair stuck to the screw driver and didn't just fell off). It looks disgusting. How lazy can one be, not just take some paper and wipe that off, before shooting the video...

[@DiodeGoneWild]

On your 2m screen you notice more things than I do on the tiny camera screen :D. I only noticed it when editing in on my computer.

[@vaclavtrpisovsky]

@@DiodeGoneWild I'm disappointed that you stopped responding to my Patreon DMs, which are the main reason I keep supporting you. Please try to check them once in a while.

[@fourtysix4646]

Frustration free packing… opens package and the charger and cutout don’t even line up making him lift the cardboard to get it out. Was frustrating to watch.

[@atdzsny]

Fair enough. They haven't promised anything about frustration free UNpacking. :)

[@DB-47]

I suggest opening up also their 20 000 mAh powerbanks. It costs (oscialtes between 500 - 700 CZK) about the same price as one with same capacity you have bought from LIDL already. I am using them for powering IP camera on bird feeder and they withstand even - 10 °C on balcony. They also have quite good charging speed (18W reacheable with QC2.0/Q3.0/USB PD charger) By the way, when used to work for Alza, in our MS Teams was shared one of those frustration free packagings and collegue was complaining, that package of one of their AlzaPower products (probably USB-C to Lightning cable) was quite tricky to open and box looked liked as if it was chewed by angry dog :D Idea about those packages was to make that sticker easier to cut or break it by pulling it strongly.

[@KrotowX]

Agree, european LIDL stores nowadays sell some pretty useful cheap appliances.

[@DB-47]

@@KrotowX That's true, I have from RGB LED lamp with battery / remote control and it is nice suplement to Philips HUE system :)

[@movax20h]

Nice. Nice product and nice review. Appreciate the schematics and oscilloscope analysis. I like the packaging. For my frustration with packaging is inability to dispose of it. This one is simple, just cardboard, I can put in recycling without extra works. So yes, a big plus for the packaging for me.

[@Levent-Y]

Das Haar auf dem Schraubendreher weckt den Monk in mir! 😂👍🏻

[@zx8401ztv]

Such a neat and smart design, it even passes your secondary insulation inspection. Most transformers fail your standards. Efficient and well made, even your inspection cat is happy ish!!

[@Broken_Yugo]

I think "frustration free" is more a reference to those tamper resistant welded plastic clamshell packages that can only really be opened with heavy scissors or unwise activities with a knife.

[@ovidiulu]

my OCD focused more on the hair until 6:53 :) I think the rectifier transistor turns off below a certain secondary current, but why not at (or just a bit below) zero? I wonder if the variable off time in steps is a kind of spread-spectrum? The main chip seems similar/is from Power Integrations InnoSwitch family.

[@DiodeGoneWild]

When you have a dog, you have hair everywhere :D. Maybe the voltage drop on the ON state resistance of the synchronous mosfet is so low that the chip can't detect a low current. Yes, the variable off times reduce the interference. The chip seems to be from this family, but I didn't find the exact datasheet.

[@ovidiulu]

There are R12 and R28 with a value of 30mOhms as secondary current sense resistors, the current could have been measured there, not on the mosfet. However, the InnoSwitch-CE datasheet reads: "In discontinuous mode of operation, the power MOSFET is turned off when the voltage drop across the MOSFET falls below a threshold of approximately -24 mV". So indeed a low ON resistance mosfet would result in early turn off. My takeaway: the optimal ON resistance of the rectifier mosfet is not the lowest available (in this case).

[@Basement-Science]

@@ovidiulu yeah it doesn't seem ideal in terms of efficiency. Pretty sure I've seen better synchronous rectifiers than this.Still much better than a regular schottky though.

[@krnlg]

Thanks for the technical details in this, really interesting!

[@pauldery7875]

Love what you're doing, thank you so much for all you do.

[@kacpreusz9911]

The blue foam on the transformer is actually a thermal pad. They are also seen in laptops and graphics cards to help cool the power circuits and ram chips

[@Basement-Science]

Yes. Pretty sure it wont do a huge amount thermally since it just connects to some plastic, but it's better than nothing and of course also makes it resist more vibration and shock mechanically. It would be very easy to save a tiny bit of money by ommiting this though.

[@pirelli77]

14:04 😄 😄 Thank you for the nice and hard inspection with detailed explanation!

[@airmann90]

Excellent video. Those isolation gap spanning control chips are super neat, never seen one before. I'm glad I can repair most of my own electronics, it would be nice to make a business out of it but the repairs would cost the client more than a new charger/product. So boom, into the garbage it goes. Pisses me right off that everything's disposable now. Like those one time use vaporizers with a big ass lithium battery. You know full well people aren't disposing them properly and we are just destroying everything at a faster rate than ever before. Disgusting.

[@nsfeliz7825]

yap its cheaper to buy than repair even for us experts.

[@coron1985]

Hi, how to modify charger that has a lot of AC electric leak on usb output? The only problem only that nothing else

[@edgeeffect]

People ARE disposing of them properly.... they're dropping them in the street where we can pick them up to recover and re-use the batteries. ;) ;) ;)

[@airmann90]

@@edgeeffect very true lol. I ran one over on gravel the other day and noticed a small jet of fire and smoke behind my truck as I drove off. Good thing there was snow around lol

[@coron1985]

@@airmann90 I have a charger that has AC Leak, it's good quality included from phone. When I use it, it make da touchscreen unresponsive. When I change to other charger that less AC leak, the Touchscreen unresponsive is gone. Is there any way to modify charger that has AC electric leak ?

[@synx7874]

I love this dude. Keep up the good work

[@anoimo9013]

amazing explanation and scope traces!!

[@TheEmbeddedHobbyist]

nice to see a transformer that's been made so that it's not out to kill you. Just goes to show you don't need to do too much to make it safe and pass safety requirements. How much do they save when they make the killer versions.

[@309electronics5]

Idk maybe a few dollars and they dont go trough a good check they might print the stickers qc and put them on idk

[@westelaudio943]

Probably alot when it comes to huge quantities, that's why you can get those chargers for $2 USD.

[@Basement-Science]

These good transformers use slightly bigger cores for one thing, which are expensive. They are also often hand-assembled and wound, which costs more money when done properly. I wouldn't be surprised if this transformer costs 3x as much to make as the cheapest ones.

[@Broken_Yugo]

Check cost on a spool of TIW vs cheap single coated magnet wire.

[@TheEmbeddedHobbyist]

@@Broken_Yugo but even using cheap wire does not stop them making them safe. it's the very slight changes at times, almost makes you think they design them to be unsafe. But until we stop them being imported they won't change.

[@atmel9077]

This looks a very well designed and well built charger. It user a proper transformer and high quality components. The chip is a InnoSwitch from Power Integrations, which is a very reputable brand. (not an obscure chinese chip with no datasheet). It can also deliver more current than it claims, which is a good sign.

[@AmatorElektronik]

Very nice charger.

[@ClaudiupromotionSRL]

What do you think about making a video in which you design and create a proper, safer and powerful SMPS? Something like the old Tesla Coil series? I am looking forward for it!

[@petertryndoch8857]

Unfortunately these chargers are not available with an Australian plug. It is a pity that no one does such detailed teardowns for chargers available here. Re the hair on the screwdriver - your cat makes an early appearance :o)

[@BICIeCOMPUTERconGabriele]

Your diversion about the frustration free package, and the spoiled frustrated kids of today was quite on point!

[@carlosvalencia1055]

Děkuji, vaše videa jsou skvělá, škoda, že nedáváte titulky. Pozdravy ze španělské Barcelony.

[@vaclavtrpisovsky]

He would add auto-generated subtitles if he knew how... I suggest you comment in English for more people to understand (assuming you are not Czech) - DGW does not seem to read most comments anyway, and is hard to contact overall. Your best chances are over Patreon DMs, I believe.

[@carlosvalencia1055]

@@vaclavtrpisovsky Gracias, tus videos son geniales, Saludos desde Barcelona, ​​España. Thanks, your videos are great, Greetings from Barcelona, Spain.

[@imnotbeluga007]

He had them turned on at some point. You can submit subtitles, but they have to be verified by the creator. I tried subtitling his security tag video, but I couldn't submit the subtitles.

[@gblargg]

17:08 the diode is probably for startup, to power the secondary side until it can start switching the MOSFET.

[@Basement-Science]

The Mosfet also contains a body diode. It would be enough just for startup. But later, on the oscilloscope you can see that it switches off a bit before the energy runs out in the transformer, and the diode will probably have a lower voltage drop at that time than the body diode. It's also very cheap to add a regular silicon diode, so they just added it.

[@amkp40technology]

*Very clever cheap 😀😀👍🏻👏🏼 two totally separate power supply 👍🏻🙏🏻👏🏼👏🏼❤️🇮🇳*

[@ryzenryne8747]

Could you include the Bavin PC529 charger in the "dodgy or not" video?

[@edgeeffect]

What is the red board that you're using in between the charger and your tester? I love your angle-grinder-tomography!!!

[@SirWolfCZ]

It's QC trigger board. It asks the charger for different voltages using Qualcomm's QuickCharge protocol. Most of the modern power supplies support at least USB Power Delivery and QC.

[@edgeeffect]

@@SirWolfCZ That's new to me. :) I always thought USB only did 5V. I assume the request for higher voltage is implemented as part of the USB protocol????

[@Basement-Science]

@@edgeeffect Yes it basically uses the data pins to communicate what it wants digitally.

[@christianadamo]

You should do one of these on a genuine Apple charger

[@imnotbeluga007]

He did.

[@Rich-on6fe]

It was noble of you to inhale the whole of that chip for us all during the tomography process.

[@ivankirola2707]

Can you do autopsy of Huawei chargers?

[@mysock351C]

Im pretty sure by "trouble-free" they mean that its not in that heat-staked blister packaging that is more dangerous than the box cutter or sheet metal shears you need to open it. That shit _is_ frustrating, and annoying when it cuts you open.

[@matyasnyilas]

Yeay! I'm at the first second and I'm already happy to see Alza on the box! They're my favorite shop! (Hungary)

[@albin6382]

1:55 1.1A, Is this inrush current? Seems very high to be normal operating current.

[@Zebra_Paw]

Qualcomm is actually a well known brand. They also make computer hardware, usually network cards, but now also ARM processors!

[@309electronics5]

They already made phone processors

[@Zebra_Paw]

@@309electronics5 yes, these are the ARM processors

[@richardappow6770]

please teach us how to draw the schematic diagrams from pcbs

[@AntonioBdeJesus]

What a great job! Thank you very mutch.

[@The_Hanter]

Když už existuje hodnocení "super dodgy", tak nechtěl bys zavést i "super nice"? Myslím, že tahle nabíječka si to zaslouží 🙂

[@buscoparan1772]

awesome video!

[@nvsproduction1570]

Tell me how to make adjustable Load current. You are good teacher

[@theo2378]

This channel is the jerryrigeverything of power electronics 😁

[@marcin-_]

You should check the melting point of the insulating (isolate) tape of the transformer windings.

[@klave8511]

How does the large gap on the pcb help the isolation when the ferrite itself is conductive and bridges the gap? I can see it’s wrapped in tape but not all paths from the windings to the ferrite are covered. In terms of tracking difference it would be much shorter than the pcb. My high voltage transformer failed by arcing to the core.

[@Basement-Science]

Good question. I'm pretty sure most ferrite has quite a low conductivity and almost behaves like an insulator. Keeping the wires away from the ferrite is still important, but mostly at higher voltages. I'd say this transformer is not the best I've seen in a USB power supply, but still massively better than the ebay junk. The PCB gap is probably also bigger than it needs to be, but it's still nice. If conductive dirt or a drop of water made it onto the PCB there, it would effectively reduce the gap. That's where a larger gap can still be beneficial. It's very niche of course, but not pointless.

[@309electronics5]

What a nice video and autposy of the chip if there are more super nice adapters with weird/unknown chips then i also like to see how they are built also whats nice about those dual adapters with 2 chips is you can do a full autopsy of the other side(including autopsy of the chip) while the other side(if you have not damaged anything) still works

[@256byteram]

I wonder if the control method for the primary switch is some sort of Delta-Sigma modulation?

[@swiftsilver]

a bit strange the usb c is only 5v and not qc protocol

[@dosgos]

Superb clinic. I didn't think the good parts would be fun to analyse. Would like more cat time also.

[@alberts6096]

Are there any educational videos for beginners on this channel?

[@Tsiikki]

25:45 you're right. Also finally joined your Patreon. I put some random country, so I don't have to pay VAT! :)

[@snipersquad100]

How frustrating was that transformer to unpack lol?

[@ovalwingnut]

A non-doggy ps? I knew they exsisted. I knew it! Very COoL.

[@hermannschaefer4777]

"Frustration free" just means it is not inside some kind of plastic blister packages with no way to open it without either a sharp knife, a sharp and strong scissor or a suitable flame thrower..

[@lauraiss1027]

Using just a blade of hacksaw - classic. I once sawed steel armature bar this way, just because could not find a hacksaw itself in my pile of very important not to throw away stuff.

[@xabysebastian529]

Try opening up anker, aukey, ugreen chargers

[@iontrandafir5762]

I very much appreciate and thank you for your high level work , your funny accent being a bonus :-)

[@MassimoTava]

@chargerlab do you have nice USB-C testers?

[@kendexter]

Very good .thank you soooo much

[@laberlaber]

Can you test Car phone chargers?

[@bottering_one]

can you put the buy link in the description or on one clipped comment¿??

[@KeritechElectronics]

Nice "torture test" of that little charger :)

[@Ale-iq3zo]

Next time can you make a stress test of the charger? Like an hour at the maximum power for 5v and 12v?

[@westelaudio943]

I like the transformer... What I don't like is the Сhineesy red PCB. Also too much SMD and glue, but that's probably unavoidable in a small PSU like that. Oh, and of course, the glued (or welded) case, even though it seemed like this can be opened with relatively low damage. Also having the chip span the isolation distance (which would otherwise be wasted space) is kinda smart.

[@fabiomuzzi7047]

Angle Grinder Tomography, LOL!

[@Freki]

I literary bought one of these, because I was curious how are there safe since watching your videos, so I took one apart :D

[@MrKillswitch88]

I had one that was included with an Amazon HD Fire tablet not only go bad the caps leaked the electrolyte and corroded everything inside.

[@zyghom]

@0:45 - yes! I remember these times! And the equipment that lasted for ages (even if the performance was not as good as nowadays). And how about calling the technician who was coming home and repairing the... black and white TV? These were the times.... ;-) "frustration free package" - what the duck? ;-)

[@LiveEnjoyment]

why the huge spark gaps next too U3, what massive voltage spike is needed to trigger those?

[@Basement-Science]

yeah seems a bit weird tbh.

[@ketas]

12:12 opportunity to steal fingerprint of diodegonewild

[@albinklein7680]

Love the cat hair screwdriver!

[@krahaborowski]

Finally we can see you. Just a reflection on the scope's screen, but that's the easiest way to show yourself on a scope, right? :)

[@vaclavtrpisovsky]

He has already published autoportraits on his website...

[@krahaborowski]

@@vaclavtrpisovsky OK, probably, but on a scope screen it's different:)

[@meepk633]

I remember the good old days of cutting open plastic clamshells. It was just like Christmas morning. I remember the smell of electronics from the early 90s: solid steel and the sweat of NASA engineers. Millennials will never know the joy of buying car lighter chargers with over one trillion connectors and using them for 30 years. #Blessed

[@katsuoto4684]

4:25 Power Integrations devices! I worked for this company before!

[@Arhentir]

24:01 hello :)

[@edgeeffect]

He does have photos of himself on his website.

[@vaclavtrpisovsky]

@@edgeeffect Also beach ones from Australia journey (site is Czech only)

[@abusukar]

Hi You have to try to disassemble wx-dc12003