@CmdrShepard49@sh.itjust.works
Post #1138202
2026-04-01 18:24 UTC
Replies (3)
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@partial_accumen@lemmy.world 2026-04-01 19:39
Low power draw but ridiculous power supply requirements of 5V5A (depending on the model) with a USB-C connector which isnt a thing outside of this specific application meaning they’re going to be expensive and hard to source. That’s only for the Pi 5 (the highest end unit), and I’ll agree that at that level its hard to justify a Pi over a larger computer. Even for the Pi 5 its not that hard to find those Power Supplies. Most laptops today use power supplies that meet or exceed those specs. You’re right that those are more expensive than Pi 4 and below Power Supplies. They should have just done a barrel plug or put an effing voltage regulator on board like Arduinos. Again, no defense of Pi 5 from me. However, for everything below Pi 5, HARD PASS on a voltage regulator. I don’t want that heat in the tiny Pi case. At the lower power requirements of Pi4 and below USB power is fine.
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@empireOfLove2@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2026-04-01 18:35
It really needs USB-PD support with an onboard regulator, but of course that would be way too crazy to implement. Pi's were cool up until the 3b and everything after has just not been good for the form factor. Conveniently, the 3B was about the time they started prioritizing selling volume to commercial customers.
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@JohnEdwa@sopuli.xyz 2026-04-02 03:31
The 5V5A supply is optional, the Pi 5 alone works perfectly fine using a standard 5V3A USB-PD supply, it just limits the maximum combined USB port current to 600mA. But *technically* they are still in USB-PD spec: it's apparently okay for a charger to support 5V5A, and a device to "prefer" to use that if it's available. It can't be required, but as said, the Pi 5 works with 5V3A, so it isn't. It's still dumb, and they should have just used 9V3A instead and paid the dollar for the stepdown circuitry like everyone else.