- Definition
- The USB Power Delivery specification is divided into two power ranges: the Standard Power Range up to 100 W, and the Extended Power Range from above 100 W up to 240 W, which adds higher fixed voltages and requires cables that declare their capability.
This page defines the term. For what it means in practice, see USB Power Delivery and PPS: how to read a charger specification.
The split
The specification divides power delivery into two ranges at the 100 W line.
Standard Power Range (SPR) covers everything up to 100 W, using the familiar fixed voltages of 5 V, 9 V, 15 V and 20 V, with a maximum current of 5 A at the top end. This is the range that phones, tablets, power banks and most small chargers operate in.
Extended Power Range (EPR) covers 100 W to 240 W. It adds fixed voltages at 28 V, 36 V and 48 V, and it introduces the higher-voltage adjustable mode. The higher voltages exist so that the power can be delivered without pushing more current through the connector.
Why the cable matters above 100 W
Above the 100 W line, the cable becomes part of the electrical design rather than an accessory. A cable rated for the extended range declares its capability electronically, and the source will not offer the higher voltages to a cable that has not declared them.