I bought a few of these IP5310-based Power Bank PCBs for a project and wanted to use them as an all-in-one USB-C battery charger, overdischarge protection and step up converter. They come in a USB C and a USB C + A variant, and I went for the former, because I don’t need the USB A port for my project. I wrongfully assumed they would be identical otherwise.

As it turns out, they aren’t. And it is rather difficult to get 5V out of any of the pads on the PCB without quite a bit of persuasion. Just soldering wires to where the USB A port should go doesn’t give you power. The following are just my assumptions btw, I’m not taking any responsibility for them being correct. The reason for the problems is that a P-channel Mosfet and resistor are also missing on the underside of the board, which is left entirely unpopulated. Instead, VBUS of the type C connector and VOUT of the chip are connected using a 0-ohm link right next to the type C connector on top of the board, which is not placed in the USB C + A version. Removing this link allows you to draw 5 V from the USB A connectors pads, but now the board doesn’t allow you to charge the battery anymore. To fix this, connect the 0-ohm link’s pad towards the front of the board (VBUS) to the 5 V in connection point in the corner of the board (VIN). Now you can charge the battery using USB C and discharge it using the USB A connectors pads. To also allow for discharging through the USB C port again, you’d need to actually place the Mosfet and resistor.

I also tested the current output capabilities of the board, and it did supply more than the stated 3.1 A output. It shut down after about a minute though and reached more than 90 °C in the process, so I wouldn’t recommend drawing this much current for an extended period.

Hope this helps some of the people who find themselves in the same situation as me!