Powering a PI 4 with UBEC DC/DC 5V@3A (P1385)

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incrediblelittlebee
 
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Powering a PI 4 with UBEC DC/DC 5V@3A (P1385)

Post by incrediblelittlebee »

Hi!

I'm using https://www.adafruit.com/product/1385 to power a Raspberry Pi4. My application is also using a Intel Realsense USB depth camera, Coral USB coprocessor, Braincraft Hat with LCD, plus several I2C components.

When I have everything plugged in and drawing power, I'm getting low voltage warnings (flashing red LED on Pi) and the Pi is throttling back. This only happens when powering through the UBEC converter. If I plug the Pi into a wall power supply (5V@4A) everything works and no low voltage warnings. The errors are only happening when powering the Pi and all of its accessories through the UBEC. I'm using a bench supply 12V@10A into the UBEC.

Question (which is probably really stupid): Can I wire two of the UBECs in parallel? That seems like too easy of a solution that probably results in frying both UBECs, but that would up the current out to 6A.

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adafruit_support_bill
 
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Re: Powering a PI 4 with UBEC DC/DC 5V@3A (P1385)

Post by adafruit_support_bill »

Generally speaking, it is not a good idea to connect two power supplies in parallel. The regulators end up fighting each other. Pololu has a good selection of step-down converters - some with impressive current capabilities:
https://www.pololu.com/category/131/ste ... regulators

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