Safety and limits
BenchPod runs at low voltages from USB-C, so it is safe to touch. These rules keep you, the pod, your computer and your board out of trouble. Read them once before you wire your first board.
Rules
- Never connect mains. ADC IN measures up to ±30 V and is not for mains or anything connected to mains. The BNC shell is the pod's ground, which connects to your computer through the USB cable.
- EXT SUPPLY IN takes 2.7 to 20 V DC. Do not use a 24 V supply, and check the polarity: + on the left, GND on the right.
- 4-20 mA IN measures a current loop. Wire it in series with a transmitter. A supply wired straight to it overheats the input.
- Check each plug before you push it in. Several terminal blocks take the same plug. Supplies go only to EXT SUPPLY IN and the 4-20 mA OUT loop.
- DUT power can switch on at any time. Tests, CI pipelines, AI agents and the web app can turn it on remotely. Unplug the DUT power plug before you touch, probe or rework the board under test.
- Use wires rated for the current: up to 2 A on DUT 5V and 3 A on DUT EXT. Thin jumper wires get hot at those currents.
- Power it from a computer or a USB-C power supply with a CE or FCC mark, 5 V and at least 1.5 A (3 A when DUT 5V powers your board).
- Indoors, dry, on a non-conductive surface. Use the case, the stand or standoffs, not a bare metal bench. Keep cables under 3 m, except Ethernet.
- Not a toy. For adults; keep it, its plugs and its wires away from children.
Port limits
Port names match the labels on the board. Full pin assignments are on Pin-out & connectors.
| Port | Rating | Never |
|---|---|---|
| HOST / POWER (USB-C) | 5 V in from a computer or USB-C power supply | A power source that is not a USB-C source |
| EXT SUPPLY IN | 2.7 to 20 V DC, + on the left | More than 20 V, or + and GND swapped |
| DUT 5V, DUT 5V (USB-A) | 5 V out, 2 A together | A supply connected to it (it is an output) |
| DUT EXT | EXT SUPPLY IN switched out, 3 A | A supply connected to it (it is an output) |
| BRIDGE POWER (USB-A) | 5 V out, 1 A, for the Wi-Fi bridge | A supply connected to it |
| I/O HEADER (LA1 to LA14) | 1.8 V or 3.3 V, the I/O voltage you set | A signal above the I/O voltage you set |
| ADC IN (BNC) | ±30 V | Mains, or any circuit connected to mains |
| DAC OUT | Outputs: 0 to 3.3 V, 0 to 5 V, ±12 V | A voltage or supply connected to an output |
| 4-20 mA IN | Current input, up to 24 mA | A supply connected straight to it, with no transmitter in the loop |
| 4-20 mA OUT | Two-wire output, external floating loop supply of 12 to 30 V | A loop supply above 30 V, or anything in the loop tied to the pod's ground |
Something got hot, smoked or hurt someone?