[Pinecil v2] USB-C PD charger compatibility issue question: HP GaN 65W

[Fironet]

Since I saw a thread about compatible chargers I thought I'd see if anyone knew why this charger I bought doesn't seem to be compatible with the Pinecil v2 (bought this year directly from Pine64).

It's a HP GaN 65W USB-C PD charger, with 2x detachable ports and grounded power socket. The detachable cables and grounded power socket were the key reasons I bought it, and since the short tips for Pinecil are said to require 20V/65W.

Datasheet of the charger.

• Supports fast charging protocols: PD/PPS/QC5.0/AFC
• 20V/3.25A max for single port output.

However when plugged into the Pinecil (using either the official silicone 1.5m cable or a 15cm USB-C cable) the Pinecil screen doesn't display.

Yet if I plug the Pinecil into a 65W Anker Powerport Atom III (45W max only on the 'PowerIQ 3.0' USB-C port) the Pinecil screen displays and works fine (and solders okay with the fine short Pinecil tips).

Problem is I'd like to use the HP charger so the Pinecil tip is auto grounded, to avoid having to manually ground the Pinecil via the lug.

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Any ideas? The Pinecil wiki says that some GaN chargers think they need to go into overcurrent protection, could this be what is occurring and is there any workaround?

[Fironet]

Tried plugging in the cable while the rear/negative button held, based on this thread, to boot in debug mode, though similarly the screen remains blank (whether using either of the aforementioned cables).

Debug mode is said to disable all PD functionality and just present the iron as a generic 5V device.

Does this suggest there's someone faulty with the charger or does the debug mode require the boot menu appear before holding the rear/minus button? Reading conflicting things about how the debug menu is meant to be accessed, since the wiki states it requires being first on the main menu (rather than holding before plugging in the cable).

As the charger works otherwise for things like phones.

[Fironet]

I've since tried flashing with latest stable firmware via pineflash (iron came out of box with v2.20 firmware) to version 2.23 (2025-03-01). Unfortunately no change, even with no tip attached the display never turns on with the HP charger.

Tried this since I read one user in one of the issues here saying disabling Bluetooth fixed power on issues with some of their chargers (and the latest firmware disables BT by default and offers a settings item).

Curiously I noticed in the debug menu (holding negative button after the main screen appears) the Anker 65W adapter that has been working shows as 'PWR DC' which the wiki says is 'dumb' (ie: I think IronOS thinks it's connected to a dumb DC barrel input?). Maybe Anker's 'PowerIQ' is some non-QC and non-PD type that nevertheless still works similarly? Since I've soldered with it at 300 degrees and it seems okay. Edit: didn't have the tip attached, with the tip it says 'PWR PD No VBus'.

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Is my only option to get the HP charger compatible to buy a USB-C to DC5525 barrel fixed 20V negotiation adapter? I can't tell where the issue lies though so idk if I'd just experience the same thing again.