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Pi Desktop: max current output?

rootard

Hello

 

I have purchased a Element14 Pi Desktop that I'm using with my Pi 3B+ and the original Raspberry 2.5A PSU.


So far it was running fine with the RTC hat + SSD + 2 fans on the GPIO (1 for the heatsink and one for the case) + an Aeotec ZWave key connected on the USB port.

However the Pi froze after a few hours when I added an USB RFXCom device.

I suspect a power issue. I've tried to used a bigger 3A PSU with same results.

 

What is the maximum current provided by the Pi Desktop Hat?

Is there a fuse limiting the power provided to the Pi board?

Is there a way to solder the fans directly to the Hat input in order to avoid voltage drop? If yes on which pins?

 

Thanks

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  • 0

    thank you for your reply. Unfortunately this Element14 case is very tight and suffers from poor ventilation so a passive heatsink is not enough.

    This Pi is critical as it runs all my home's domotics 24/7 incl heating, roller shutters and light.

    I had to dig holes in the case and added 2 fans, one on the case side and one on the CPU heatsink to have the cpu temperature drop down to 55°C.
    As I have a 3A PSU I'm going to investigate connecting the fans directly to the PSU, not to the Pi.

  • 0 in reply to rootard

    That's a good option, to connect directly to the PSU.

    As a datapoint, I'm running a Pi 4 with no fan, in an enclosure with vents, and it runs very warm, but it's been stable for weeks in a room at 23 degrees ambient.

    Pi 3's are easier to manage with some vents (could cut them in the enclosure) and a small heatsink, although if you expect to use all four cores, then it's more difficult (It can be solved with a larger heatsink and heat pipe for a fully passive solution, or with a single small fan + heatsink).

    I've one Pi 3 in a capacitive touch display enclosure, relying solely on some vents, and several others just run with a heatsink. I don't believe they have throttled, but I expect them to do so if all four cores are used. My workloads don't usually involve that, your might be different.

  • 0 in reply to shabaz

    Indeed. I"m looking for Element14 Pi Desktop RTC schematics as this would require to take the +5V after the on-off logical switch.
    Not sure how this can be done

  • 0 in reply to rootard

    It's not an open hardware product as I understand, official schematics won't be available (it will require someone to manually trace them out, if they needed the schematic).

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