SidecarTridge USB-C PD Multi-Rail Power Supply Unit board
The USB-C PD Multi-Rail Power Supply Unit board
This USB-C Power Delivery multi-rail converter board is designed to generate clean, regulated +5 V, +12 V, and −12 V inside the machine. The output rails can deliver up to 3 A on +5 V, 3 A on +12 V, and 0.3 A on −12 V. It is intended for use in retro computing applications, such as powering vintage computers like the Atari ST/STE/MegaST or Amiga 500 or other electronics projects that require multiple voltage rails.
The board is powered by a USB-C PD charger that must provide either 15 V or 20 V input voltage. It includes overcurrent and thermal protection features to ensure safe operation. The board is compact and easy to integrate into existing systems, making it a convenient solution for powering retro computing devices.
USB-C PD charger requirements
It is important to note that this board is not a standalone power supply and requires an external USB-C PD charger to function.
- Minimum output: 60 W
- Required PD profiles: 15 V and 20 V
- Recommended capability: 15 V 3 A and 20 V 3 A or higher
- Cable: certified USB-C rated 60 W or 100 W
- Multiport chargers must deliver the full 60 W on the chosen port
- PD is required; QC-only or PPS-only chargers are not supported
List of charger models tested
Warning: Power adapters must be PD 3.0 compliant. Some chargers with PD 3.1 may not work properly -specifically with support for Extended Power Range (EPR), although they announce backwards compatibility with PD 3.0.
| Brand | Model | Output Power | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anker | A2039 (523-Series) Power Adapter | 47 W | OK. A user reported ghosting issues. |
| Apple | A2166 USB-C Power Adapter | 96 W | OK |
| Apple | A2743 USB-C Power Adapter | 70 W | OK |
| Baseus | GaN PD Power Adapter | 65 W | OK. With STE computers fails to deliver enough power. |
| Baseus | GaN PD Power Adapter | 100 W | OK |
| BIOnd | BGG-GRS-65W Power Adapter | 65 W | OK. Low cost device in GAME stores. It says it has 65W but I doubt (45W?) |
| Dell | LA60NM200 Power Adapter | 60 W | OK |
| Essager | GaN PD Power Adapter | 100 W | OK. Reported ghosting issues. |
| Lenovo | ADLX65YLC3D Power Adapter | 65 W | OK |
| Raspberry Pi | P4123 - 27W USB-C Power Adapter | 27 W | OK with 15V. With STE computers fails to deliver enough power. |
| Raspberry Pi | P5224 - 45W USB-C Power Adapter | 45 W | OK. Cheapest option with remarkable quality. |
List of SidecarTridge products using the USB-C PD Multi-Rail board
USB-C PD Multi-Rail PSU Drop-In Replacement Kit for Atari ST/STE/MegaST
External USB-C PD Multi-Rail PSU + Enclosure + Cable Harness for Atari “short model” ST
Our external kit is aimed at the earliest “short model” Atari ST units that originally relied on an internal linear PSU. It ships fully assembled: the USB-C PD multi-rail board is pre-mounted inside a resin enclosure, the harness terminates in the correct 6-pin power connector, and the cable exit already includes strain relief. Add any 60 W (or higher) USB-C PD charger that supports 15 V/20 V profiles and you can power an ST without re-opening the case.
Key points:
- Single USB-C PD input, regulated +5 V/+12 V/−12 V output for the short-model ST mainboard
- Harness length matched to fit directly into the rear power inlet of a bare chassis
- Includes printed enclosure, fasteners, and internal wiring loom — just plug into a PD brick and your Atari
- Ideal for labs/repairs when you need an immediately swappable supply for case-less boards
External USB-C PD Multi-Rail PSU + Cable Harness Kit for Atari “short model” ST
Prefer to print your own shell? This version bundles the populated USB-C PD board plus the short-model ST harness and strain-relief hardware, letting you reuse an enclosure of your choice.
- Ships with the same wiring loom and rubber grommet as the pre-built external unit
- Download the enclosure STL from the product page (or remix your own); the design uses standard M3 machine screws and nuts to clamp the two halves together
- Recommended hardware: four M3 × 12 mm pan-head screws with matching M3 hex nuts for the enclosure, plus two M2.5 × 10 mm self-tapping screws for the cable clamp
- Perfect if you already have a 3D printer or want to match a custom color/finish
Both external options rely on the same USB-C PD charger requirements listed above, so you can share a single high-quality PD brick across multiple Atari systems.