I need a low current video acquisition system
I'd like to connect a camera to the R Pi but operate with battery power and a Bluetooth interface -
What would be the current consumption of that configuration?
If I use a R Pi zero, can I run it slower to reduce current consumption, or will that mess
up the synchronization with the camera?
Do you have some other recommendation? (e.g. A feather-based system)
Many thanks !
Paul A
Raspberry Pi Zero current consumption
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Please be positive and constructive with your questions and comments.
- adafruit_support_carter
- Posts: 29473
- Joined: Tue Nov 29, 2016 2:45 pm
Re: Raspberry Pi Zero current consumption
How low is low? It might be difficult to come up with a usable number based on just general specs. You can get some sense for the current draw of just a Pi from here:
http://raspi.tv/2017/how-much-power-does-pi-zero-w-use
But you may want to measure actual current draw, using something like these:
https://www.adafruit.com/product/3388
https://www.adafruit.com/product/1852
http://raspi.tv/2017/how-much-power-does-pi-zero-w-use
But you may want to measure actual current draw, using something like these:
https://www.adafruit.com/product/3388
https://www.adafruit.com/product/1852
- Paul_Antonucci
- Posts: 26
- Joined: Fri Feb 16, 2018 5:51 pm
Re: Raspberry Pi Zero current consumption
Thanks so much !!! So it looks like about 100 ma minimum for the Pi zero.
My goal is 50 ma for the Pi plus video camera plus Bluetooth LE.
I don't need much processing power -
I am designing a hand-held video-based tracking system for mathematics
education/teaching that duplicates that function of a Wii remote.
I see that pixArt makes a camera (the PAJ7025R2) that only takes a few milliamps -
perhaps I can run that with one of the feather modules that has Bluetooth Low Energy.
IN that case total power would be well under 50 ma.
We would want to make this an open-source hardware device -
Would you people consider carrying that camera and/or the device
when it is done?
My goal is 50 ma for the Pi plus video camera plus Bluetooth LE.
I don't need much processing power -
I am designing a hand-held video-based tracking system for mathematics
education/teaching that duplicates that function of a Wii remote.
I see that pixArt makes a camera (the PAJ7025R2) that only takes a few milliamps -
perhaps I can run that with one of the feather modules that has Bluetooth Low Energy.
IN that case total power would be well under 50 ma.
We would want to make this an open-source hardware device -
Would you people consider carrying that camera and/or the device
when it is done?
- adafruit_support_carter
- Posts: 29473
- Joined: Tue Nov 29, 2016 2:45 pm
Re: Raspberry Pi Zero current consumption
Always looking for new things, but also no guarantees on anything. Sounds like a cool project. If you get something working with that camera, let us know.
- Paul_Antonucci
- Posts: 26
- Joined: Fri Feb 16, 2018 5:51 pm
Re: Raspberry Pi Zero current consumption
About how much current do the Feather Bluefruits take? I don't see a specification . . .
- MudAndSnow
- Posts: 24
- Joined: Mon Oct 23, 2017 5:33 pm
Re: Raspberry Pi Zero current consumption
You might want to check out ArduCAM.
http://www.arducam.com/camera-modules/
Their ArduCAM Mini 2MP worked well with an Adalogger Feather for me. My board drew over 100mA which isn't great but I preferred it over RPi because it turned on much faster.
RPi with Ultibo can turn on in a few seconds but Ultibo is not as easy as Rasbian and Python.
Could also check out the Jevois open source machine vision camera:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/16 ... ine-vision
I am guessing trail cameras are some of the lowest power cameras on the market and this website has a pretty good write up which includes some numbers you could use to set your goals. Keep in mind, their current draw measurements are from 8 to 12 AA's so if you are using lower voltage than that then you should expect higher current draw.
https://www.trailcampro.com/pages/game- ... nformation
http://www.arducam.com/camera-modules/
Their ArduCAM Mini 2MP worked well with an Adalogger Feather for me. My board drew over 100mA which isn't great but I preferred it over RPi because it turned on much faster.
RPi with Ultibo can turn on in a few seconds but Ultibo is not as easy as Rasbian and Python.
Could also check out the Jevois open source machine vision camera:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/16 ... ine-vision
I am guessing trail cameras are some of the lowest power cameras on the market and this website has a pretty good write up which includes some numbers you could use to set your goals. Keep in mind, their current draw measurements are from 8 to 12 AA's so if you are using lower voltage than that then you should expect higher current draw.
https://www.trailcampro.com/pages/game- ... nformation
- Paul_Antonucci
- Posts: 26
- Joined: Fri Feb 16, 2018 5:51 pm
Re: Raspberry Pi Zero current consumption
Wow - Thanks for the great suggestions. will check them out. I am also looking at a Pixart PAJ7025R4, which
draws very little current, ~ 6ma typical. They have to be ordered in substantial quantities.
I was thinking of one of the Feather-Bluetooth boards as a central processor, either the M0 or the one
that just has the Bluetooth chip . .
draws very little current, ~ 6ma typical. They have to be ordered in substantial quantities.
I was thinking of one of the Feather-Bluetooth boards as a central processor, either the M0 or the one
that just has the Bluetooth chip . .
Please be positive and constructive with your questions and comments.