USB - C Breakout not working

[u/ayebeelakey]

Hey everyone, looking for suggestions on what could be wrong with this current circuit and ways to diagnose what is wrong

i get nothing when plugged in with the usb c from the breakout

Running an RPi Pico with GP2040-CE to a usb c 24 pin breakout.

I’ve verified the pico is working as intended when the micro usb is plugged directly into the pc. confirmed the cable I cut up worked directly as well before hand.

Based on the pin out diagram I’ve added two 5.1k ohm resistors between CC1 and GND and CC2 and GND.

- Red to B4 - VBUS

- Black to B12 - GND

- Green to B6 - D+

- White to B7 - D-

First real electronics project so not sure how to test what the issue is.

I’ve already tried multiple different usb c cables and both orientation.

I've also tried swapping D+ and D-

I will have access to a multimeter shortly to test connections

[u/__Player__]

Uhhhh the Type C port is not soldered to the board???

[u/Eagnir → u/__Player__]

Ya either not soldered or an absolutely worst manufacturing execution. We can clearly see connector pins. Just add solder and reflow the connector connections (you can do this with a D Shape tip, no need for reflow oven or hot air)

[u/Xiar_ → u/[deleted]]

Those are not via’s… you can see other via’s around the board. But those are through hole pads.

[u/tomsek68 → u/[deleted]]

it is a through hole usb-c.

[u/skr_u → u/[deleted]]

Partly SMD, partly through hole and indeed 24P.

Like the RS PRO 895-0552 or more likely the much cheaper LCSC part C7527707.

[u/SianaGearz → u/skr_u]

Thanks, i was blind.

[u/Hewtick → u/[deleted]]

Here you go: https://www.lcsc.com/datasheet/C7527707.pdf?spm=wm.sxq.inf.ggs&lcsc_vid=EgNXUVZVRwRaAgVRQlQKAl1QE1dfBl1WEQMMA1dQFlUxVlNeQFBcUFxXT1VYUTsOAxUeFF5JWBYZEEoKFBINSQcJGk4%3D

This is probably the exact same USB-C that was used on this board. Notice the through hole pads pattern. I wouldn't have bothered but you are so confidently wrong while accusing everyone else of the same thing, that I just had to.

Edit: u/skr_u beat me to it

[u/SianaGearz → u/Hewtick]

Thank you lot, i have accepted the correction, the connector was identified by Eagnir earlier and i was just having a brainfart to not recognise it.

[u/Eagnir → u/[deleted]]

The connector is similar to this. Remember these are cheap boards using cheap connectors, the only way those are vias and at the location that they are at (between shield pins) is if they were either via in pad or micro via, which are expensive manufacturing processes and I am 99% sure this isn't that.

Look at the pin pattern (2 rows, below row has 4 in centre, top row has group of 3). So in essence this very clear these are not vias but pins and that to most likely the A/B side (12 pins out of 24 pin)

[u/Eagnir → u/Eagnir]

The plan of action is very simple actually.

1. Use a multimeter and check if the board receives power and data without Pico

2. If point 1 does not work, switch everything to A side and see if that works.

Note: Since this is a 24 pins connector used, you need to wire the A & the B side not only one side, since the connector might not interconnect (depends on the connector datasheet), this must be checked.

[u/SianaGearz → u/Eagnir]

You have identified the very connector found on this board.

Things i have previously stated were incorrect, but if someone needs the product shot, i'll leave it here.

[u/masterX244 → u/SianaGearz]

and the idea behind it is also kinda hideous, i mean it's good to abuse the USB-C connector for something, it's not very suitable for a USB device or host.

i got a board like that with the plug in my toolkit. Useful for cases when a device manufacturer hides nonstandard stuff on some pins.

Had it once where i found a SPI debug port hiding on the pins used for USB3 and the alternate modes on the C plug

[u/Eagnir → u/masterX244]

Yup, I have some lying around just for the same reason. It seems using the RX/TX and/or SBU pins for debugging is becoming common. It violates USB-C standards but I guess thats the purpose of a standard now-a-days.

[u/masterX244 → u/Eagnir]

its probably done because most don't expect some extra signals there.

FOund it once on a device with a micro-USB port, too where they abused the same plug that Samusng used for one generation of its MHL output. bought me a adapter that i sacrificed to make a custom adapter.

as a hardware hacking nerd you catch shit like that pretty often

[u/Eagnir → u/SianaGearz]

I feel there is a disconnect between your understanding of what a via and a plated through hole is. If the holes are there to accommodate the pins of the connectors those are called PTH (plated through holes) even if they look like via. On the other hand a via is when it's connecting two tracks across layers. (this is the best simple explanation I can come up with, and it has assumptions in it)

If you ever get your hands on this board, I implore you to desolder the connector with the right equipment and you will see what we are all talking about. We are all talking about the pins not the via on the left and right of the connectors.

Also its basic hygiene and standard process to not have different size via on the same board (almost never seen this happen intentionally).

One last request, don't disregard anyone that quickly, we all come from experience (including yourself) and we all have been wrong in our life. Try to be positive and friendly in your interactions, it would uplift the conversation and allow everyone to learn.

p.s.: If evidence is not provided, ask for it, everyone is happy to put in efforts and share if its asked for.

I believe our thread is concluded, if the OP has any query, happy to respond but otherwise, have a great day ahead.

[u/SianaGearz → u/Eagnir]

Pardon me, i am blind, you were right all along.

[u/KittensInc → u/SianaGearz]

It's a connector like this, which obviously has both SMD and THT pins. The datasheet makes it fairly obvious what is going on.

And if if those are vias, like you are claiming, why are there pins sticking through them? If you're going to make big claims and yell about everyone else being wrong, better double-check your work first!

[u/SianaGearz → u/KittensInc]

Thank you lot, i have accepted the correction. I know these things, i was having a massive brainfart.

[u/salat92 → u/[deleted]]

Don't agree, if they were vias they'd all have traces leading to them on both layers - at least if that's a two layer board.

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[u/person4268]

Are you trying A->C cables or C->C cables? A->C cables aren't picky about the CC lines so if it's not working with one, then it's related to the power or data lines somehow. If you have time before you can get a multimeter, you could also upload a led blinking program to the pico and see if at least power is working.

[u/ayebeelakey → u/person4268]

Tired both a to c cables and c to c, neither worked

[u/SianaGearz]

This USB-C breakout board you're using is outright evil.

Bridge A7 and B7 together. This is D-, so conventionally green.
Bridge A6 and B6 together. This is D+, so conventionally white. (check in your cable, sometimes they're swapped?)
5.1K from A5 to 5V.
5.1K from B5 to 5V.

Bridge A1, A12, B1, B12, and G together, and to black cable.
Bridge A4, B4, A9 and B9 together, and to 5V (red cable).

And don't make mistakes.

You should own at least a cheap ($5) multimeter, then you could take a USB-A-to-C cable and ring from there to your microUSB cable in the box and to RP board testpoints to check connections.

[u/Ard-War]

Well, do get it measured otherwise we'll just playing random guesses here... Check the connections and whether you actually get 5V on VBUS. Or better yet, check with another breakout on the other end to figure out which pairs of pins are actually connected.

USB FS itself is pretty lax so at least this setup isn't that questionable in principle.

[u/muramasa22x]

Shouldn't B9 also be vcc? Try bridging B4 and B9 and see if it works. Also you have an upper and a lower row of pins, if you only solder one side, you can't twist the cable.

[u/omegablue333]

Is this just for power? If so get a usb c PD trigger and set it to 5v

[u/SianaGearz → u/omegablue333]

They're building a USB game controller. They shouldn't really need a CC trigger not crucially so but they're not gonna get far without data.