power banks for Raspberry Pi 4

pmrid (Peter) · #1 13-12-2020, 06:24 PM

I am setting up Astroberry to run on a Pi 4. These require 5 volts at 3 Amps. Because I want to be able to operate away from an AC power source, I am looking at either a Power Bank or a 12 volt DC to 5 volt DC converter. Can anyone recommend a brand/source of either?

mswhin63 (Malcolm) · #2 13-12-2020, 07:14 PM

There are few variables missing.
One is how long to you require to connect for without battery charging?

For the Basic (5/12)V*3A*8hr = 10Ahr Battery. I would at a minimum operate at 20Ahr for that configuration at it has a good power/weight operation.

I currently use 2 regulators to convert, one at 5V for RPi and 8V for my Canon Camera. Both are cheap eBay unit which some people have imported at a good cost into Australia. These though require a bit of additional casing additions.

Factor is you have taken the power consumption of the RPi 4 specification, have you included the mount, camera and any other peripherals into the calculation. The RPi 8G model I have only draws 1.2 amps @ 12V including the camera, mount and focus module so the battery consumption will be a lot less.

I was up until 2 days ago was going to run Astroberry, because I am using a Focuser that was developed only for Linux, but I had too many issues with PHD2 chacking wobblies that it is to much for me to play around with. Already missed opportunities to image properly. I am for the meantime going back to Windows operation so I can start imaging.

Sunfish (Ray) · #3 13-12-2020, 07:17 PM

I have a Rock64 Pi copy . I use a Ryobi lithium drill battery with a USB power charger top. It offers a 2.1 amp USB connection which would never run out as well as a separate phone charge 1amp USB outlet. Very handy if you already have a drill battery, the USB charger top is cheap.

pmrid (Peter) · #4 13-12-2020, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mswhin63

There are few variables missing.
One is how long to you require to connect for without battery charging?

For the Basic (5/12)V*3A*8hr = 10Ahr Battery. I would at a minimum operate at 20Ahr for that configuration at it has a good power/weight operation.

I currently use 2 regulators to convert, one at 5V for RPi and 8V for my Canon Camera. Both are cheap eBay unit which some people have imported at a good cost into Australia. These though require a bit of additional casing additions.

Factor is you have taken the power consumption of the RPi 4 specification, have you included the mount, camera and any other peripherals into the calculation. The RPi 8G model I have only draws 1.2 amps @ 12V including the camera, mount and focus module so the battery consumption will be a lot less.

I was up until 2 days ago was going to run Astroberry, because I am using a Focuser that was developed only for Linux, but I had too many issues with PHD2 chacking wobblies that it is to much for me to play around with. Already missed opportunities to image properly. I am for the meantime going back to Windows operation so I can start imaging.

I don’t plan running everything off the same battery. Mount, cameras etc will run off a different setup. I have a plethora of deep cycle batteries ranging between 38 and 50 AH. So I’m not too worried on that score.

The Pi4 Specs put its power consumption at 15 Watts. Not sure about that figure of 1.2 Amps which would translate to about 6 Watts. Somehow that doesn’t sound right.

RAJAH235 · #5 14-12-2020, 12:25 AM

Hi Peter,
I have one of these units that work well for my various needs.....(Not astro related.)

> https://www.jaycar.com.au/60w-regula...aptor/p/MP3478

Cheap too.

pmrid (Peter) · #6 14-12-2020, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RAJAH235

Hi Peter,
I have one of these units that work well for my various needs.....(Not astro related.)

> https://www.jaycar.com.au/60w-regula...aptor/p/MP3478

Cheap too.

Thanks. That looks promising. I’ll check it out.

vin_ap (Caleb) · #7 14-12-2020, 01:29 PM

I am doing just that but plan to run it off pocket power box. If you are powering other devices like guide cam from the pi's usb ports you would need the full 3A if not 2A output from a common powerbank should be sufficient.

Edit: Cant run of PPB because its 12V output (:/) change of plan required.

pmrid (Peter) · #8 14-12-2020, 04:52 PM

I was in Jay$%^ earlier today and decided to buy a Battery Bank - 15600 MAh with 2 x USB 2.0 at 2.4 Amps and 1 x USB 3.0 at 3 Amps. Fortunately, I had a male-to-male USB C cable on hand so I can run my Pi4 8GB off that and get several hours of service before a recharge so it will be more than adequate for a night's imaging with Astroberry. I hope. Famous last words are always lurking in the background but I am hopeful it will work.

https://www.jaycar.com.au/15-600mah-...ports/p/MB3806

mswhin63 (Malcolm) · #9 14-12-2020, 11:09 PM

1.2A @ 12V -> 14.4W

You will never draw full power until you run it to the ground.

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmrid

I don’t plan running everything off the same battery. Mount, cameras etc will run off a different setup. I have a plethora of deep cycle batteries ranging between 38 and 50 AH. So I’m not too worried on that score.

The Pi4 Specs put its power consumption at 15 Watts. Not sure about that figure of 1.2 Amps which would translate to about 6 Watts. Somehow that doesn’t sound right.

pmrid (Peter) · #10 15-12-2020, 06:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mswhin63

1.2A @ 12V -> 14.4W

You will never draw full power until you run it to the ground.

Hello again Malcolm. I did my numbers based on 5 volts rather than 12. A Pi4 has a pretty tight requirement - or so I understand- for 5.1 volts.

phomer (Paul) · #11 15-12-2020, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmrid

Hello again Malcolm. I did my numbers based on 5 volts rather than 12. A Pi4 has a pretty tight requirement - or so I understand- for 5.1 volts.

Peter,

The RPi4 does not draw full power, except at startup, so I would expect that running INDI would draw around 1 amp or less while imaging. You should easily get a nights imaging with that powerbank.

Paul

mswhin63 (Malcolm) · #12 16-12-2020, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phomer

Peter,
The RPi4 does not draw full power, except at startup, so I would expect that running INDI would draw around 1 amp or less while imaging. You should easily get a nights imaging with that powerbank.

Paul

This is one of the reasons for heading over this direction, but recently found out that PHD2 is limited on Linux and the application is best used as a standalone for camera connectivity. Even though it is available for my camera on Windows, it is not available on Linux. I am going to have to wait till i get a new camera.