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Power multiple SBCs

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  • pkfoxP pkfox

    Hi all, I have 4 single board computers each with its own power supply - I would like to have a single power supply power them all ( they have a USB C power input socket ) Despite googling I can't find anything - any of you gurus know a way ( I can't use POE as I can't get a cable to where they are ) I magine something like a powered USB hub with C outlets

    "I didn't mention the bats - he'd see them soon enough" - Hunter S Thompson - RIP

    L Offline
    L Offline
    Len_R
    wrote on last edited by
    #4

    Have you considered a 3-port USB charger such as KOPPLA from I K E A (I won't post a link but google it). I appreciate you have 4 devices, but it would reduce the number of power supplies a little. Not sure if it would provide your power requirements, but it is rated at 2.4A per port. I have had one for several years and I use it regularly for phones & tablets.

    pkfoxP 1 Reply Last reply
    0
    • pkfoxP pkfox

      Hi all, I have 4 single board computers each with its own power supply - I would like to have a single power supply power them all ( they have a USB C power input socket ) Despite googling I can't find anything - any of you gurus know a way ( I can't use POE as I can't get a cable to where they are ) I magine something like a powered USB hub with C outlets

      "I didn't mention the bats - he'd see them soon enough" - Hunter S Thompson - RIP

      T Offline
      T Offline
      trønderen
      wrote on last edited by
      #5

      I have got only a couple USB-C devices. Both came with A-to-C charging cables, so they can be charged from any good old USB hub (or whatever kind of charging adapter you use). If you google for 'USB A-C cable', you'll find a large selection. I wouldn't take for granted that all of these cables have a USB 3.1 A-plug, for higher effects. The cable I got at hand looks like having a traditional 4-pin A-plug, and if your SBCs require more than a couple of watts you must make sure to both choose cables and USB hub that can can handle it. I have never handled any hub capable of delivering more than 2.5 watt per port, but I guess they exist. (Most of my USB equipment is so old that USB 3.x wasn't firmly established when I bought it!)

      pkfoxP 1 Reply Last reply
      0
      • L Len_R

        Have you considered a 3-port USB charger such as KOPPLA from I K E A (I won't post a link but google it). I appreciate you have 4 devices, but it would reduce the number of power supplies a little. Not sure if it would provide your power requirements, but it is rated at 2.4A per port. I have had one for several years and I use it regularly for phones & tablets.

        pkfoxP Offline
        pkfoxP Offline
        pkfox
        wrote on last edited by
        #6

        I think the power requirements are 5v 2.5 amp for these boards - I'm not that up on electronics so don't know if there's any leeway here Edit It's 5v 3 amp [Link](http://wiki.friendlyarm.com/wiki/index.php/NanoPi\_M4V2)

        "I didn't mention the bats - he'd see them soon enough" - Hunter S Thompson - RIP

        1 Reply Last reply
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        • T trønderen

          I have got only a couple USB-C devices. Both came with A-to-C charging cables, so they can be charged from any good old USB hub (or whatever kind of charging adapter you use). If you google for 'USB A-C cable', you'll find a large selection. I wouldn't take for granted that all of these cables have a USB 3.1 A-plug, for higher effects. The cable I got at hand looks like having a traditional 4-pin A-plug, and if your SBCs require more than a couple of watts you must make sure to both choose cables and USB hub that can can handle it. I have never handled any hub capable of delivering more than 2.5 watt per port, but I guess they exist. (Most of my USB equipment is so old that USB 3.x wasn't firmly established when I bought it!)

          pkfoxP Offline
          pkfoxP Offline
          pkfox
          wrote on last edited by
          #7

          Hi there, the power requirement is 5v 3 amp - doesn't mention watts

          "I didn't mention the bats - he'd see them soon enough" - Hunter S Thompson - RIP

          J 1 Reply Last reply
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          • pkfoxP pkfox

            Hi there, the power requirement is 5v 3 amp - doesn't mention watts

            "I didn't mention the bats - he'd see them soon enough" - Hunter S Thompson - RIP

            J Offline
            J Offline
            jeron1
            wrote on last edited by
            #8

            Power = Current (Amps) * Voltage 15W in your case.

            "the debugger doesn't tell me anything because this code compiles just fine" - random QA comment "Facebook is where you tell lies to your friends. Twitter is where you tell the truth to strangers." - chriselst "I don't drink any more... then again, I don't drink any less." - Mike Mullikins uncle

            pkfoxP 1 Reply Last reply
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            • J jeron1

              Power = Current (Amps) * Voltage 15W in your case.

              "the debugger doesn't tell me anything because this code compiles just fine" - random QA comment "Facebook is where you tell lies to your friends. Twitter is where you tell the truth to strangers." - chriselst "I don't drink any more... then again, I don't drink any less." - Mike Mullikins uncle

              pkfoxP Offline
              pkfoxP Offline
              pkfox
              wrote on last edited by
              #9

              Hi and thanks for that so for 4 devices I need at least a 60 watt charger / power supply with 15 watt outputs ?

              "I didn't mention the bats - he'd see them soon enough" - Hunter S Thompson - RIP

              J T 2 Replies Last reply
              0
              • pkfoxP pkfox

                Hi and thanks for that so for 4 devices I need at least a 60 watt charger / power supply with 15 watt outputs ?

                "I didn't mention the bats - he'd see them soon enough" - Hunter S Thompson - RIP

                J Offline
                J Offline
                jeron1
                wrote on last edited by
                #10

                Yep, 'at least' being the operative words, factor in some derating (20%-30% maybe).

                "the debugger doesn't tell me anything because this code compiles just fine" - random QA comment "Facebook is where you tell lies to your friends. Twitter is where you tell the truth to strangers." - chriselst "I don't drink any more... then again, I don't drink any less." - Mike Mullikins uncle

                1 Reply Last reply
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                • pkfoxP pkfox

                  Hi and thanks for that so for 4 devices I need at least a 60 watt charger / power supply with 15 watt outputs ?

                  "I didn't mention the bats - he'd see them soon enough" - Hunter S Thompson - RIP

                  T Offline
                  T Offline
                  trønderen
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #11

                  Your math is correct - and that sort of hub may be slightly above bargain price :-) Now, I think that 15 Watt sounds like a lot for a tiny SBC. That probably is a maximum if you put a whole pile of stash onto it. If you've got a plain Arduino, Raspberry Pi or something comparable, with little or no extras (such as LEDs, sensor, motors...) driven off the SBC, the power consumption is a fraction of 15 Watt. (Google ' power consumption', and chances are that you will find some comforting results. If you have a lot of equipment powered through your SBC, you should be more careful, though.

                  pkfoxP 2 Replies Last reply
                  0
                  • T trønderen

                    Your math is correct - and that sort of hub may be slightly above bargain price :-) Now, I think that 15 Watt sounds like a lot for a tiny SBC. That probably is a maximum if you put a whole pile of stash onto it. If you've got a plain Arduino, Raspberry Pi or something comparable, with little or no extras (such as LEDs, sensor, motors...) driven off the SBC, the power consumption is a fraction of 15 Watt. (Google ' power consumption', and chances are that you will find some comforting results. If you have a lot of equipment powered through your SBC, you should be more careful, though.

                    pkfoxP Offline
                    pkfoxP Offline
                    pkfox
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #12

                    Thanks for that, the only thing that might require a bit of extra power is, they are all fitted with a NVME M2 SSD drive

                    "I didn't mention the bats - he'd see them soon enough" - Hunter S Thompson - RIP

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • T trønderen

                      Your math is correct - and that sort of hub may be slightly above bargain price :-) Now, I think that 15 Watt sounds like a lot for a tiny SBC. That probably is a maximum if you put a whole pile of stash onto it. If you've got a plain Arduino, Raspberry Pi or something comparable, with little or no extras (such as LEDs, sensor, motors...) driven off the SBC, the power consumption is a fraction of 15 Watt. (Google ' power consumption', and chances are that you will find some comforting results. If you have a lot of equipment powered through your SBC, you should be more careful, though.

                      pkfoxP Offline
                      pkfoxP Offline
                      pkfox
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #13

                      Thanks so what should I buy ?

                      "I didn't mention the bats - he'd see them soon enough" - Hunter S Thompson - RIP

                      K 1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • pkfoxP pkfox

                        Thanks so what should I buy ?

                        "I didn't mention the bats - he'd see them soon enough" - Hunter S Thompson - RIP

                        K Offline
                        K Offline
                        kalberts
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #14

                        The 75 watt, 4 outlet charger I bought was a Chinc product (aren't they all, nowadays?), branded Satechi. I cannot say more about it than it works for me, but I have never been within the claimed 75 Watt output power. In particular, I do not know if it would work satisfactorly if you draw that maximum from a single one of the four ports. I wouldn't be surprised if the max power should rather be distributed over all four outlets! So far, products from China ("which we call Red China") cannot unconditionally be trusted for through quality. In the 1960s and 1970s we were thinking of Japanese crap in similar terms. Behind that blurred curtain of mistrust, Japan built a truly high quality camera industry, an electronics industry and a car industry that knocked the feet away under hundreds of Western manufacturers. Chinese manufacturers are no longer a joke. Some of the procucts they make are certainly up to standards.

                        pkfoxP 1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • K kalberts

                          The 75 watt, 4 outlet charger I bought was a Chinc product (aren't they all, nowadays?), branded Satechi. I cannot say more about it than it works for me, but I have never been within the claimed 75 Watt output power. In particular, I do not know if it would work satisfactorly if you draw that maximum from a single one of the four ports. I wouldn't be surprised if the max power should rather be distributed over all four outlets! So far, products from China ("which we call Red China") cannot unconditionally be trusted for through quality. In the 1960s and 1970s we were thinking of Japanese crap in similar terms. Behind that blurred curtain of mistrust, Japan built a truly high quality camera industry, an electronics industry and a car industry that knocked the feet away under hundreds of Western manufacturers. Chinese manufacturers are no longer a joke. Some of the procucts they make are certainly up to standards.

                          pkfoxP Offline
                          pkfoxP Offline
                          pkfox
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #15

                          Hi I couldn't get a Satechi but got something similar - as for Chinese quality the boards are made in China anyway :-D

                          "I didn't mention the bats - he'd see them soon enough" - Hunter S Thompson - RIP

                          1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • pkfoxP pkfox

                            Hi all, I have 4 single board computers each with its own power supply - I would like to have a single power supply power them all ( they have a USB C power input socket ) Despite googling I can't find anything - any of you gurus know a way ( I can't use POE as I can't get a cable to where they are ) I magine something like a powered USB hub with C outlets

                            "I didn't mention the bats - he'd see them soon enough" - Hunter S Thompson - RIP

                            realJSOPR Offline
                            realJSOPR Offline
                            realJSOP
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #16

                            could you use a 24v psu, and hook 4 adjustable power bucks up to it, and power the SBCs from that? I don't think a powered USB hub would provide enough power (1-2 amps at the most, and a raspberry pi (for instance) needs three amps for power.

                            ".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
                            -----
                            You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
                            -----
                            When you pry the gun from my cold dead hands, be careful - the barrel will be very hot. - JSOP, 2013

                            pkfoxP 1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • realJSOPR realJSOP

                              could you use a 24v psu, and hook 4 adjustable power bucks up to it, and power the SBCs from that? I don't think a powered USB hub would provide enough power (1-2 amps at the most, and a raspberry pi (for instance) needs three amps for power.

                              ".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
                              -----
                              You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
                              -----
                              When you pry the gun from my cold dead hands, be careful - the barrel will be very hot. - JSOP, 2013

                              pkfoxP Offline
                              pkfoxP Offline
                              pkfox
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #17

                              Hi John, not familiar with power bucks I'll check them out

                              "I didn't mention the bats - he'd see them soon enough" - Hunter S Thompson - RIP

                              realJSOPR 1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • pkfoxP pkfox

                                Hi John, not familiar with power bucks I'll check them out

                                "I didn't mention the bats - he'd see them soon enough" - Hunter S Thompson - RIP

                                realJSOPR Offline
                                realJSOPR Offline
                                realJSOP
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #18

                                Amazon.com: MEAN WELL LRS-350-24 DC Switching Power Supply, 24V 14.6A 350W for 3D Printer, LED Strip Light, Industrial Control System NES/SE/S: Computers & Accessories[^] Amazon.com: Buck Converter 12v to 5v, DROK 5A USB Voltage Regulator DC 9V-36V Step Down to DC 5V-5.3V 5.2V 3.5-6A Volt Transformer Power Supply Module for Phone Fast Charging: Home Audio & Theater[^] Raspberry Pi 4 and Pi 3 Low Voltage Problems Solved 5.00 Volts Not Enough![^]

                                ".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
                                -----
                                You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
                                -----
                                When you pry the gun from my cold dead hands, be careful - the barrel will be very hot. - JSOP, 2013

                                pkfoxP 1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • realJSOPR realJSOP

                                  Amazon.com: MEAN WELL LRS-350-24 DC Switching Power Supply, 24V 14.6A 350W for 3D Printer, LED Strip Light, Industrial Control System NES/SE/S: Computers & Accessories[^] Amazon.com: Buck Converter 12v to 5v, DROK 5A USB Voltage Regulator DC 9V-36V Step Down to DC 5V-5.3V 5.2V 3.5-6A Volt Transformer Power Supply Module for Phone Fast Charging: Home Audio & Theater[^] Raspberry Pi 4 and Pi 3 Low Voltage Problems Solved 5.00 Volts Not Enough![^]

                                  ".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
                                  -----
                                  You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
                                  -----
                                  When you pry the gun from my cold dead hands, be careful - the barrel will be very hot. - JSOP, 2013

                                  pkfoxP Offline
                                  pkfoxP Offline
                                  pkfox
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #19

                                  Getting a bit out of my depth here methinks - how would i connect 4 of them to a power supply and then out to my boards ?

                                  "I didn't mention the bats - he'd see them soon enough" - Hunter S Thompson - RIP

                                  realJSOPR 1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • pkfoxP pkfox

                                    Getting a bit out of my depth here methinks - how would i connect 4 of them to a power supply and then out to my boards ?

                                    "I didn't mention the bats - he'd see them soon enough" - Hunter S Thompson - RIP

                                    realJSOPR Offline
                                    realJSOPR Offline
                                    realJSOP
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #20

                                    run wires from the psu to the power bucks, and then run cables from the bucks to the Pis. Your other option is a UPS and plug all the pis's into it. That's much more expensive, but you get the highly valuable added protection of the UPS. I have an 1100ma UPS dedicated to a bank of six Pi's.

                                    ".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
                                    -----
                                    You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
                                    -----
                                    When you pry the gun from my cold dead hands, be careful - the barrel will be very hot. - JSOP, 2013

                                    pkfoxP 1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • realJSOPR realJSOP

                                      run wires from the psu to the power bucks, and then run cables from the bucks to the Pis. Your other option is a UPS and plug all the pis's into it. That's much more expensive, but you get the highly valuable added protection of the UPS. I have an 1100ma UPS dedicated to a bank of six Pi's.

                                      ".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
                                      -----
                                      You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
                                      -----
                                      When you pry the gun from my cold dead hands, be careful - the barrel will be very hot. - JSOP, 2013

                                      pkfoxP Offline
                                      pkfoxP Offline
                                      pkfox
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #21

                                      The UPS sounds good John my boards aren't Pi's but they have very similar power requirements - running cables from the bucks would be tricky as all the boards are in cases. What do you use your Pi's for ? I've used one for years coupled with a £35 DAC hat from hifiberry to stream my digital files to my analog amplifier - it has no right to sound as good as it does. I also have a £1500+ DAC and while it's better quality - it certainly isn't £1465 different. Can you send a link for the UPS ?

                                      "I didn't mention the bats - he'd see them soon enough" - Hunter S Thompson - RIP

                                      realJSOPR 1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • pkfoxP pkfox

                                        The UPS sounds good John my boards aren't Pi's but they have very similar power requirements - running cables from the bucks would be tricky as all the boards are in cases. What do you use your Pi's for ? I've used one for years coupled with a £35 DAC hat from hifiberry to stream my digital files to my analog amplifier - it has no right to sound as good as it does. I also have a £1500+ DAC and while it's better quality - it certainly isn't £1465 different. Can you send a link for the UPS ?

                                        "I didn't mention the bats - he'd see them soon enough" - Hunter S Thompson - RIP

                                        realJSOPR Offline
                                        realJSOPR Offline
                                        realJSOP
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #22

                                        A database server for my three home theater boxes (also Pi's), three DNS servers (using PiHole), and a controller for my 3D printer. One pi is simply a spare in case one of the other ones fail. I have a crapload of Pi's (all are Pi4). They're smaller and more economical than a full-blown PC, and can be fully outfitted for less than $100 (each):)

                                        ".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
                                        -----
                                        You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
                                        -----
                                        When you pry the gun from my cold dead hands, be careful - the barrel will be very hot. - JSOP, 2013

                                        pkfoxP 2 Replies Last reply
                                        0
                                        • realJSOPR realJSOP

                                          A database server for my three home theater boxes (also Pi's), three DNS servers (using PiHole), and a controller for my 3D printer. One pi is simply a spare in case one of the other ones fail. I have a crapload of Pi's (all are Pi4). They're smaller and more economical than a full-blown PC, and can be fully outfitted for less than $100 (each):)

                                          ".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
                                          -----
                                          You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
                                          -----
                                          When you pry the gun from my cold dead hands, be careful - the barrel will be very hot. - JSOP, 2013

                                          pkfoxP Offline
                                          pkfoxP Offline
                                          pkfox
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #23

                                          I love playing with these little boards I use these [NanoPi](https://www.friendlyarm.com/index.php?route=product/product&product\_id=268) and use them for hosting personal Docker NetCore API projects which utilise a postgres database , NGinx as a reverse proxy etc...

                                          "I didn't mention the bats - he'd see them soon enough" - Hunter S Thompson - RIP

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