TinyPFA - don't blow it up - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: mojoe
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 04, 2025, 09:15:51 pm
content: I have a question, similar to the well know issue of blowing up an o'scope when plugged into the AC outlet.Assume I have a laptop that is powered via its AC/DC adapter, two DUT also powered from AC/DC adapters, and the TinyPFA is plugged into the laptop USB port. Is this a problem?

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 04, 2025, 11:17:14 pm
content: Quote from: mojoe on September 04, 2025, 09:15:51 pmIt could be. Just make sure all the circuit grounds (including the tinyPFA) are connected before connecting the signals.

author: gamerpaddy
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 04, 2025, 11:21:35 pm
content: those adapters are galvanically isolated so it shouldnt be an issue.but if they are of the "ungrounded" type like almost all usb-c adpaters with just two pins at the socket, you may have leakage current that can lift its potential to 60V or more.. you feel it when you brush the DC side of the cable over your arm, if it tingles or stings you got leakage.make sure to connect the grounds first.if theres a potential across and your first pin to contact is a signal pin, it might get damaged.

author: Aldo22
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 05, 2025, 06:09:17 am
content: To protect the computer, I use a USB isolator:https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002959825296.htmlI don't know if this will help much in your case, but it actually works without any problems.

author: Ian.M
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 05, 2025, 07:24:49 am
content: The problem with the cheap USB isolators is they are USB 2 Low or Full (12 Mbps) speed only, no High (480 Mbps) speed, so don't play well with anything that needs to stream a lot of data fast. The power isolation particularly sucks as the DC-DC converter used typically is rather noisy with very poor regulation, and is often a 1W model so limiting the device side load to under 200mA. However if one works for your particular application, great, as they do provide useful additional protection, though I wouldn't trust them if you actually need to float instrumentation at a high voltage with respect to ground, as although a genuine ADuM3160 is rated for 2.5kV isolation, its likely the far east manufacturers have FUBARed their PCB creepage and clearance distances, or used a DC-DC converter that cant pass a HiPot test at anywhere near that voltage.I recommend plugging the PC and all the other power supplies into the same power strip to ensure any ground loops are minimum length and area (i.e. not right back to your main breaker panel), and in North America to guarantee everything is on the same mains phase to reduce the possible potential between devices due to SMPS Y capacitor leakage currents.As Nctnico and Gamerpaddy have pointed out, bond the chassis and/or signal grounds of all the kit you are working with, (if you aren't using a USB isolator, including the PC), to create an equipotential zone, and you wont have any issues when you connect/disconnect stuff. Laptops can be difficult to bond to, as ones with accessible ground points like the jack posts of D connectors for legacy ports are likely too old to run the software you need. On modern laptops you may have to settle for bonding to the shell of a dummy USB or HDMI plug, after checking that all the port shells are actually commoned together. If that's too difficult, then at least isolate the mains supply to the whole setup before changing any connections.If you do bond everything and have a good earth ground to your bench (i.e. a dedicated clean ground for RF work), you may want to ground the whole setup to see if you get any useful noise reduction.

author: Aldo22
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 05, 2025, 08:16:36 am
content: Quote from: Ian.M on September 05, 2025, 07:24:49 amThere are some with 480 Mbps, but I haven't tried them myself yet.https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005009591249007.html

author: Ringmodulator
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 05, 2025, 10:49:31 am
content: Quote from: mojoe on September 04, 2025, 09:15:51 pmGood question!With laptops, there can be an issue with the ac/dc adaptors if they have only a 2 prong mains connector without the protective ground.Then the chassis, which is the ground for the laptop can carry a sigificant voltage in relation to a device, which is grounded via a connection to the protective ground lead of the power outlet. This can be a separate power supply of the device or another device connected to this device.Although there is not much current involved, the voltage differene can cause defects and damage the usb ports.As alredy suggested, port isolators with galvanic seperation can take care of this.RegardsChris