Actions
Forum Thread Details
  • State Suggested Answer
  • Replies 1 reply
  • Answers 1 answer
  • Subscribers 570 subscribers
  • Views 441 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Related

Powering a RPi Display

jakeboothy

Hey,

 

This may seem like a bit of a nooby question but bear with me.

 

I'm wanting to build a smart display out of a rpi and an old laptop monitor + driver board and i'm just figuring out how to power it. I only really want one wire going into the thing and I want to avoid the pitfalls of buying cheap/dangerous psus so I thought i'd ask here.

 

The monitor needs 12v at 4a (ive used 3.3a and its worked fine) and the Rpi needs the 5v ~700mA. I was maybe hoping to find a dual power supply or try to pull 5v somewhere off of the displays driver board but on second thought I probably won't mess with it. Instead I think i'll try and use an adapter and just plug in a monitor power supply off of amazon and a rpi power supply.

 

Would something like this be ok? (https://www.amazon.ca/T-Power-Adapter-Microsoft-SURFACE-DOCKING/dp/B01EXP84G4/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1466353508&sr=8-6&k… )

What about potentially something like this and then either using a splitter and another adapter for my pi or trying to find 5v from the driver board and soldering it directly to the pi's power pin? (https://www.amazon.ca/Susay%C2%AE-Switching-Switch-Supply-Driver/dp/B00FEYHLQ8/ref=sr_1_23?ie=UTF8&qid=1466354440&sr=8-23&keywords=12v+4a+power+supply)

 

What would you do and what are some common power supply pitfalls and stuff?

 

Sorry if this is a bit of a boring question, thanks for the help

  • 0

    Hi Jacob,

     

    I wouldn't buy either from Amazon, they are both some unknown possibly dubious brand from third party sellers on Amazon. That is sometimes fine for some things, however for mains power supplies it is too high a risk. If I get something with an unknown brand PSU then I usually throw it away and get a more reputable brand PSU. Go to an electronics distributor like Farnell or Newark and you can trust the PSUs there. You can get dual output PSU but will cost more than a monitor possibly. You should go for a lower-cost single (say) 12V 6A supply. You need the "external plug-in adapter" kind, not the ones with screw terminals for the mains supply. The latter kind cannot be used without meeting additional requirements due to regulations (which can vary from country to country).

    You'll also need a converter from 12V to 5V for powering the Pi. If you're willing to hack then you could buy a 12V car phone charger adapter thing and use the circuit from inside there. Again, obtain a reputable one that won't overheat and can supply at least 2A.