The USB Power Delivery protocol (USB PD) defines power negotiation.

For example, USB trigger boards negotiate power requirements with a USB power source (like a charger or a powerbank), and can ask for a higher voltage than the standard 5V of a USB source that does not support USB PD.

This also explains why there are (cheap) devices with a USB-C port, that can only be powered with a USB-A to USB-C cable, and not with a USB-C to USB-C cable. These devices are not capable to negotiate their power requirements, they expect 5.0 Volts on the VBUS pins. These devices do not support USB PD.

USB PD made it possible to invent all kinds of gadgets, adapters, …

One adapter I want to talk about in this blog post, allows me to charge my Philips electric razor with a USB-C powerbank.

My Philips electric razor has its own proprietary charger and connector, operating at 15 Volts. When I travel, I need to remember to bring along the charger (it does not fit in the razor’s case).

But now I have this adapter:

On one end, it has a USB-C receptacle:

And on the other end, it has the Philips proprietary razor plug.

The adapter negotiates 15 volts with the USB power source:

I didn’t know such adapters existed, but while experimenting with USB PD, I realized that it makes such adapters possible, and so I started to search and found one on AliExpress.

This allows me to travel without an extra charger, just with a very small adapter (and a USB power source).

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