Owner’s Guide
10
Connecting the Hardware
The PowerLab C and C Series devices use USB-C to communicate with either a host
computer, or a PowerLab C.
With a PowerLab C
The PowerLab C should be connected to the host computer using either the included
USB-C to USB-A cable, or the USB-C to USB-C cable depending on port availability. The
PowerLab C can be powered in one of 3 ways:
• Using the included mains power cable: This is the recommended approach as it
ensures that the system has its full 320W power budget available.
• Host-Powered: If the host computer supports the USB-PD standard on the USB-C
port that the PowerLab is connected to the PowerLab can draw power directly
from the host computer. Note that the power budget of the downstream facing
ports will be limited by the power available from the host computer.
• Auxiliary Power Input: A second power-only USB-C connector on the back of the
PowerLab can be used to power it from a USB-PD compliant power supply, such
as battery packs, laptop chargers or car chargers. Note that the power budget
of the downstream facing ports will be limited by the power available from the
selected power supply.
Other C series devices (such as the Front End Interface) should be connected to the
downstream facing ports of the PowerLab C using the included USB-C to USB-C
Cable. This will provide both power and a data connection to the device.
Figure 3-2
Connecting a
PowerLab C to a
computer with USB
WARNING:
Ensure the
PowerLab is
positioned away
from any obstacles
(such as a wall)
that might
prevent access to
the power switch
in the case of any
emergency.
!
