Argh, I hate laptops that don’t have USB-A ports. Especially today, as I forgot my adapters at the office. Again!
I happened to have a micro USB connector with exposed conductors. I happened to have a micro USB to USB-C adapter. I have a (non-janky!) USB port with Dupont connectors. One of my best purchases from Hard Off ever. And of course I have plenty of test clips.
(I’m actually supposed to have a USB-C connector with exposed conductors, I just did a couple months ago. But I just can’t find it. Maybe haven’t seen it since moving house.)
And because the power wires on this connector look rather anemic I used a powered hub. A USB 1.1 hub, BTW. Not sure if this is too janky for the blazing speeds of USB 2.0. (Also a great purchase from Hard Off, BTW.) Microcontrollers like the RP2040 and ESP32S3 only support USB 1.1 so these things are useful again these days. E.g. USB (UVC) cameras set a different descriptor when connected via USB 1.1 vs. USB 2.0. Note: my particular hub wouldn’t work until I connected the VCC wire. I don’t think this is required for all hubs.