No charge while connected to a USB-C monitor with Power delivery

[ximian]

I've got an iiyama ProLite XCB4594DQSN-B1 monitor. It has a USB-C connection with built-in support for Power delivery (up to 90w). It works perfectly fine with my, aging HP EliteBook 840r G4 running Linux but not so well with my Steam Deck LCD. When I connect it through a USB-C cable, it works everything (screen, mouse, keyboard) except charging (it charges for a split second after connecting).
OS Info:
SteamOS 3.6.3 20240516.100

[ximian]

I've just noticed that Steam Deck starts to charge when It's turned off or goes to sleep.

[Prezidentas]

Originally posted by ximian:

I've just noticed that Steam Deck starts to charge when It's turned off or goes to sleep.

Is the monitor a dual role device which can also be powered from USB-C? sounds like the deck is powering the monitor and that's why it doesn't charge.

[ximian]

Originally posted by Prezidentas:

Originally posted by ximian:

I've just noticed that Steam Deck starts to charge when It's turned off or goes to sleep.

Is the monitor a dual role device which can also be powered from USB-C? sounds like the deck is powering the monitor and that's why it doesn't charge.

It doesn't seem to be the case. A monitor goes black after disconnecting the power cord and also the documentation doesn't mention anything about the possibility of powering it through a USB-C cable.

[Prezidentas]

Originally posted by ximian:

Originally posted by Prezidentas:

Is the monitor a dual role device which can also be powered from USB-C? sounds like the deck is powering the monitor and that's why it doesn't charge.

It doesn't seem to be the case. A monitor goes black after disconnecting the power cord and also the documentation doesn't mention anything about the possibility of powering it through a USB-C cable.

you would need a USB-C multimeter like fnirsi fnb58 to verify it, it's possible your monitor was manufactured by morons who forgot to disable it from their USB-C controller/chipset.

or it could be completely unrelated issue

[ximian]

Originally posted by Prezidentas:

Originally posted by ximian:

It doesn't seem to be the case. A monitor goes black after disconnecting the power cord and also the documentation doesn't mention anything about the possibility of powering it through a USB-C cable.

you would need a USB-C multimeter like fnirsi fnb58 to verify it, it's possible your monitor was manufactured by morons who forgot to disable it from their USB-C controller/chipset.

or it could be completely unrelated issue

Before spending another 50$ I sent a support request to iiyama itself. I've also noticed that today Steam Deck "knows" that It's connected to a power source (the white LED is turned off but there is a power plug icon in the system tray) but It still discharges albeit slowly.

[deaddoof]

Op, I tested this eink monitor and the display and charge feature work. I tested with usb drd enabled in the bios. I never tested xhci mode. You can try to enter the bios and change xhci to drd to see whether it works.

https://www.usa.philips.com/c-p/13B1K3300_27/business-monitor-electronic-paper-display

[Prezidentas]

Originally posted by ximian:

Originally posted by Prezidentas:

you would need a USB-C multimeter like fnirsi fnb58 to verify it, it's possible your monitor was manufactured by morons who forgot to disable it from their USB-C controller/chipset.

or it could be completely unrelated issue

Before spending another 50$ I sent a support request to iiyama itself. I've also noticed that today Steam Deck "knows" that It's connected to a power source (the white LED is turned off but there is a power plug icon in the system tray) but It still discharges albeit slowly.

Oh that multimeter was not a purchase suggestion, I just said that you would need additional tools to verify. From my testing the deck can be a power output, but only when it's ON, so your symptoms reminded me of that. Perhaps there are cheaper USB-C multimeters that can show what is happening between two devices in terms of power delivery?

[Prezidentas]

You could try enabling/disabling USB BC in your monitor settings and see if it changes anything, it should only affect USB-A ports but maybe it has something to do with C as well. Also you could try plugging your deck charger into the USB-C port, if the monitor lights up then it would be proof that it does try taking power from USB-C. The deck doesn't have enough power output to light such display anyways.

[ximian]

Originally posted by Prezidentas:

You could try enabling/disabling USB BC in your monitor settings and see if it changes anything, it should only affect USB-A ports but maybe it has something to do with C as well. Also you could try plugging your deck charger into the USB-C port, if the monitor lights up then it would be proof that it does try taking power from USB-C. The deck doesn't have enough power output to light such display anyways.

I've tried both. Disabling/enabling USB BC changes nothing. After unplugging the power cord and plugging in a Deck wall charger nothing happens. I've also tried changing the USB-C speed in the monitor to 3.0 but that also changed nothing (except capping the maximum resolution to 3840x1080@85Hz but that's the way this monitor works).

[ximian]

Originally posted by Prezidentas:

Originally posted by ximian:

Before spending another 50$ I sent a support request to iiyama itself. I've also noticed that today Steam Deck "knows" that It's connected to a power source (the white LED is turned off but there is a power plug icon in the system tray) but It still discharges albeit slowly.

Oh that multimeter was not a purchase suggestion, I just said that you would need additional tools to verify. From my testing the deck can be a power output, but only when it's ON, so your symptoms reminded me of that. Perhaps there are cheaper USB-C multimeters that can show what is happening between two devices in terms of power delivery?

It's O.K. No hard feelings ;-) I appreciate Your willingness to help :-)

[ximian]

Originally posted by deaddoof:

Op, I tested this eink monitor and the display and charge feature work. I tested with usb drd enabled in the bios. I never tested xhci mode. You can try to enter the bios and change xhci to drd to see whether it works.

https://www.usa.philips.com/c-p/13B1K3300_27/business-monitor-electronic-paper-display

Enabling DRD (it was set to XHCI) also didn't fix the problem.

[aepallen84]

Originally posted by ximian:

I've just noticed that Steam Deck starts to charge when It's turned off or goes to sleep.

Mine does the same thing did you ever figure it out

[ximian]

Originally posted by aepallen84:

Originally posted by ximian:

I've just noticed that Steam Deck starts to charge when It's turned off or goes to sleep.

Mine does the same thing did you ever figure it out

Unfortunately not. Matter of fact I've found another weird behavior of this monitor. Sometimes it stops charging my laptop after the monitor goes to sleep. It happens only when the laptop is fully charged. I plan to contact local iiyama support this weekend. (iiyama global hasn't responded yet)

[ximian]

So I've got a reply from the iiyama tech support who suggested an update of the firmware. Unfortunately, that has solved nothing (at least regarding Steam Deck charging). You can check Your current firmware by turning the monitor off and turning it on while pressing the Center button (navigation key). My current FW version is VP16 240126.

[NinjaHamsters101]

This is a reoccuring issue with a few friends of mines who use gamepads as well.