iCharge — a powerful modular charging block

iCharge — a powerful modular charging block   Why build it? A few years ago, I bought the SW3518 module. It caught my attention as a buck converter supporting a wide range of charging protocols. It was stable, reliable, and most importantly — affordable. Even now, it remains popular, with plenty of positive reviews. I’d recommend it myself — especially the S version rated at 65 watts. If you want more power, go for the P version, which delivers up to 100 watts. But keep in mind: any of these will get hot under full load. That’s why it makes sense to run them at no more than 70% of their rated output — a fair rule for most charging modules with high-frequency MOSFETs inside. Concept and execution Over time, I decided not just to use the module, but to build my own charging station based on the SW3518. The idea was simple: each module is independent, all wired to a common power rail. This adds reliability — if one fails (hasn’t happened in years), just pull it and drop in a new one.   Originally, I planned to use three modules, but that quickly seemed insufficient. I ended up with five. The result? 10 ports total — half Type-A, half Type-C. Type-C handles Power Delivery and other fast-charging protocols. Technical nuance In all SW3518 modules, whether S or P, both ports are controlled by the same internal chip. That means only one port can deliver PD or other fast-charging protocols at a time. As soon as two devices are connected, the controller drops both ports to standard 5V output, disabling PD and QC. The main difference between the S and P versions is power capacity (65W vs 100W) and current rating — not protocol logic. Simultaneous PD on both ports just isn’t supported. Power considerations My current setup houses five modules. You could scale it up to 10 or even 20, creating a serious power hub — provided you have the right PSU. But in practice, even a 200W unit from Mean Well handles it without issue. Why? Because full simultaneous load on all ports is rare. D