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Raspberry Pi Forum RG1 1.8v regulator
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Related

RG1 1.8v regulator

Former Member
Former Member over 13 years ago

Ok, so in a different thread I threatened to remove RG1 and do some current measurements on it's output after seeing those thermal images that show it's not generating any heat...

 

Well, I did it tonight. Some photos here: https://picasaweb.google.com/selsinork/RPi18v

 

The jumper pins in the output let me either just put a jumper on and verify the Pi boots ok, or wire a multimeter in series to get some current readings.

 

The results were interesting to say the least. I had to go back and check I was reading the multimeter correctly, that it wasn't broken etc.

 

On initial power up I see a negative current for a second or so which then reverses to about 0.5mA (yes half a milliamp, that's not a typo) for a few seconds while we get the first sd-card accesses. Once we're booted and sitting at the login prompt the current reading fluctuates from around 0.001mA to maybe 0.04mA. 

 

I'm using the 40mA range on a decent Fluke multimeter, so I've no reason to doubt the results. There's obviously going to be some inaccuracy down at that level due to length of meter leads etc, but the result is fairly clear.  You'll understand why I was checking the meter was working and I was reading it correctly though image

 

 

So from there onto the next test, lets try completely disconnecting RG1 and see if the Pi boots while using the LAN9512 1.8v 'output'.  Yes it does! 

 

I think that's reasonably good indication that jamodio got it spot on, the lan9512 shouldn't be connected to the 1.8v plane and it's heat problems are going to be largely due to supplying current on it's 1.8v filter pin that it was never designed to do.

 

So anyone willing to pull RG1 off a Pi and verify my results ?

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  • Former Member
    Former Member over 13 years ago

    Hi all and hallo to the forum from Copenhagen Denmark

     

     

    I have done some testing to try out what your guys saying.

     

    1. using switchmode power
    2. the LAN9512 is having an buildin LDO there is haveing higher volt level then the LDO RG1 has and because of this then the LAN9512 LDO is powering the other items there is using the 1V8 and the LDO RG1 is not doing any work.

     

    So i was thinking why not just try add some ebay LM2596 switchmode boards in paralle with the two LDO RG2 3V3 and RG1 1V8 to see if i can get it to use less power and get the LAN9512 to run cooler, so i just add some wires to the RG1 and RG2 and then add the LM2596 with the volt level just an small bit higher then the RG1/LAN9512 and RG2 was showing and by this let the LM2596 do the work..

     

    To the raspberry i connected the buildin network card to the switch and then another usb wireless netcard connected to my wireless network with WPA2 encryption and then an usb webcam to have some things to use power via the network and usb ports.

    I then ask the raspberry to take 10000 single images from the webcam with ffmpeg and at the same time i copy some files over the wireless network, this process was running for about 30-45 minutes each time to get the temperature to get stabile

     

    Background rum temperature is 25.5C (measured with Fluke 54II)

     

    The Volt level is measured with an Fluke 8846A

     

    The Amp reading is the reading from the powersuppy (HP 6632B)


    This is photo of the setup (and alot other things sorry for the mess)
    image

     

     

     

     

     

    Here is test 1

    Work: Idle mode
    Power: Power from buildin RG1 and RG2 LDO
    Amp reading = 541.10 mA
    RG2 5V0 pin = 4.96150v
    RG1 3V3 pin = 3.32753v
    RG1 1V8 pin = 1.81029v
    Raspi watt =  (4.96150v * 0.54110A) = 2.68466W
    temperature - sorry have not taking any images of this

     

     

     

     

     

    Here is test 2

    Work: Idle mode
    Power: Power from the onboard LDO and two paralle switchmode LM2596 there is set to 1V8 and 3V3
    Amp reading = 443.20 mA
    RG2 5V0 pin = 4.98338v
    RG1 3V3 pin = 3.35214v
    RG1 1V8 pin = 1.84575v
    Raspi watt =  (4.98338v * 0.44320) = 2.20863W

    Here is an IR images of the PI at this test and the temperature is 49.5C on the LAN9512
    image

     

     

     

     

     

    Here is test 3

    Work: capturing images from webcam and copy data via the wireless network
    Power: Power from buildin RG1 and RG2 LDO
    Amp reading = 671.51 mA
    RG2 5V0 pin = 4.93466v
    RG1 3V3 pin = 3.32762v
    RG1 1V8 pin = 1.81068v
    Raspi watt = (4.93466V * 0.67151A) =  3.31367W

    Here is an IR images of the PI at this test and the temperature is 59.2C on the LAN9512
    image

     

     

     

     

     

    Here is test 4

    Work: capturing images from webcam and copy data via the wireless network
    Power: Power from the onboard LDO and two paralle switchmode LM2596 there is set to 1V8 and 3V3
    Amp reading = 553.19 mA
    RG2 5V0 pin = 4.96022v
    RG1 3V3 pin = 3.34853v
    RG1 1V8 pin = 1.84341v
    Raspi watt = (4.96022v * 0.55319A) =  2.74394W

    Here is an IR images of the PI at this test and the temperature is 51.3C on the LAN9512
    image

     

     

     

     

    So it seems by add two switchmode power suppy modules for the 3.3V and 1.8V instedt of the LDO then it is using 0.5 watt less power and is running around 8C cooler on the LAN9512.

    I guess it will be even better if removing the LDO's from the board and only use the switchmode modules like the ebay LM2596 modules i got from china.

     

     

    as a side note, i have also bypassed the USB fuses with direct 5v at the fuse on the usb side and i need this to be powering the usb netcard and webcam.

     

     

     

    Tooms

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  • Former Member
    Former Member over 13 years ago

    Hi all and hallo to the forum from Copenhagen Denmark

     

     

    I have done some testing to try out what your guys saying.

     

    1. using switchmode power
    2. the LAN9512 is having an buildin LDO there is haveing higher volt level then the LDO RG1 has and because of this then the LAN9512 LDO is powering the other items there is using the 1V8 and the LDO RG1 is not doing any work.

     

    So i was thinking why not just try add some ebay LM2596 switchmode boards in paralle with the two LDO RG2 3V3 and RG1 1V8 to see if i can get it to use less power and get the LAN9512 to run cooler, so i just add some wires to the RG1 and RG2 and then add the LM2596 with the volt level just an small bit higher then the RG1/LAN9512 and RG2 was showing and by this let the LM2596 do the work..

     

    To the raspberry i connected the buildin network card to the switch and then another usb wireless netcard connected to my wireless network with WPA2 encryption and then an usb webcam to have some things to use power via the network and usb ports.

    I then ask the raspberry to take 10000 single images from the webcam with ffmpeg and at the same time i copy some files over the wireless network, this process was running for about 30-45 minutes each time to get the temperature to get stabile

     

    Background rum temperature is 25.5C (measured with Fluke 54II)

     

    The Volt level is measured with an Fluke 8846A

     

    The Amp reading is the reading from the powersuppy (HP 6632B)


    This is photo of the setup (and alot other things sorry for the mess)
    image

     

     

     

     

     

    Here is test 1

    Work: Idle mode
    Power: Power from buildin RG1 and RG2 LDO
    Amp reading = 541.10 mA
    RG2 5V0 pin = 4.96150v
    RG1 3V3 pin = 3.32753v
    RG1 1V8 pin = 1.81029v
    Raspi watt =  (4.96150v * 0.54110A) = 2.68466W
    temperature - sorry have not taking any images of this

     

     

     

     

     

    Here is test 2

    Work: Idle mode
    Power: Power from the onboard LDO and two paralle switchmode LM2596 there is set to 1V8 and 3V3
    Amp reading = 443.20 mA
    RG2 5V0 pin = 4.98338v
    RG1 3V3 pin = 3.35214v
    RG1 1V8 pin = 1.84575v
    Raspi watt =  (4.98338v * 0.44320) = 2.20863W

    Here is an IR images of the PI at this test and the temperature is 49.5C on the LAN9512
    image

     

     

     

     

     

    Here is test 3

    Work: capturing images from webcam and copy data via the wireless network
    Power: Power from buildin RG1 and RG2 LDO
    Amp reading = 671.51 mA
    RG2 5V0 pin = 4.93466v
    RG1 3V3 pin = 3.32762v
    RG1 1V8 pin = 1.81068v
    Raspi watt = (4.93466V * 0.67151A) =  3.31367W

    Here is an IR images of the PI at this test and the temperature is 59.2C on the LAN9512
    image

     

     

     

     

     

    Here is test 4

    Work: capturing images from webcam and copy data via the wireless network
    Power: Power from the onboard LDO and two paralle switchmode LM2596 there is set to 1V8 and 3V3
    Amp reading = 553.19 mA
    RG2 5V0 pin = 4.96022v
    RG1 3V3 pin = 3.34853v
    RG1 1V8 pin = 1.84341v
    Raspi watt = (4.96022v * 0.55319A) =  2.74394W

    Here is an IR images of the PI at this test and the temperature is 51.3C on the LAN9512
    image

     

     

     

     

    So it seems by add two switchmode power suppy modules for the 3.3V and 1.8V instedt of the LDO then it is using 0.5 watt less power and is running around 8C cooler on the LAN9512.

    I guess it will be even better if removing the LDO's from the board and only use the switchmode modules like the ebay LM2596 modules i got from china.

     

     

    as a side note, i have also bypassed the USB fuses with direct 5v at the fuse on the usb side and i need this to be powering the usb netcard and webcam.

     

     

     

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  • Former Member
    Former Member over 13 years ago in reply to Former Member

    The more I think about it, I think I like Tooms idea better. By replacing the 1.8V reg with a slightly higher switcher, you have the added benefit of bypassing the internal linear regulator of IC3 and saving even more power. It has been stated that the LAN chip was not indended to be driven from these pins, but I don't think that's going to be any worse than the current situation. It obviously "works" in this configuration.

    (edit) If only the 1.8V rail was exposed on the GPIO this power saving "feature" could be a plug-in solution. They really are quite clever, the other SMSC chips with documented "internal regulator disable mode" probably cost more. How's that for spin?

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