Comparison of power supply & management hardware

From eLinux.org
Revision as of 00:57, 8 January 2016 by Devon Fyson (talk | contribs) (to add)
Jump to: navigation, search

Comparison of power supply/management hardware

This comparison is designed with the goal of making it easier to sift through all the power supply solutions for embedded systems with an emphasis on UPS functionality. They are devices usually to be used in conjunction with basic PSUs. It could contain both commercially available products or just schematics of designs (ideally which have been tested).

Explanation of columns:

  • Input: list of input power sources (PSU, battery, etc) ordered by their priority. Voltage range, interface, (max current).
  • Output: list of outputs voltages, maximum currents, and interface.
  • Target system: the system it was tailored to. List what makes it specific.
    • 'backpack' (aka 'shields', 'capes', 'hats', 'cloaks', etc) denotes it was physically designed to piggyback onto that specific piece of hardware through header pins, fastener holes, etc.
    • 'software' denotes there is software to control the unit but which is specific to that platform (eg closed source, specific hardware interface, etc)
  • UPS:
    • yes (green): it is a fully fledged standalone UPS, requires no additional hardware other than a PSU. Plug it in and it works.
    • yes (yellow): if it was designed specifically as a key component to making a UPS (eg power managment regulator/controller/multiplexer/switch) but may require other pieces of off-the-shelf hardware (eg battery, battery charger, super capacitors, generator, etc.). Should list what is required.
  • Battery Charger: has a battery charger onboard. Should list types of batteries supported.
  • DC-DC converter: Type of onboard voltage converter. Linear regulators can be quite inefficient compared to switched regulators.
  • Interface: The interface with the embedded system, if any (I2C, 1-wire, SPI, etc)
  • Interrupts: List of interrupts it can signal system with (eg low battery)
  • Efficiency: A useful piece of information which should be supplied by manufacturer for matching a supply with the load requirements while maintaining decent efficiency to maximize battery life.
  • Docs: Documentation/datasheet available. Ideally should be a concise portable published document such as a PDF.
  • Open Source: if schematics are published.

TODO:

Name Input Output Target

Systems

UPS Battery Charger DC-DC converter Interface Interrupts Misc Features Efficiency Docs Open Source Commercially Available
PowerCape

by CircuitCo

  • 6-25VDC
  • 5V 2.5A

header, terminal block

BeagleBone (backpack) No No Linear No No Yes ~$25-$35
Pi UPS+

by CW2

  • 5V µUSB
  • 5-25V aux
  • 3.7V Li
  • 5V 2A

header

RPi (backpack)(software) +battery

Li-ion Li-polymer

Switched I2C

(undocumented) binary sw. pkg.

? [8] no API No €30
PiJuice
  •  ??
  • 3.7V Li ?

(undocumented)

  • 5V
RPi (backpack) Yes Yes? Yes? ? ? No No soon £21

1.4Ah battery inc.

Pi UPS

by CW2

  • 5V µUSB
  • 7.5-12V press-stud
  • 5V 1A

header

RPi (backpack) +battery No Linear? I2C
  • 1st supply state.
  • 2nd supply state.
  • low battery
[9] software only £25
Pi PoE Switch HAT

by Pi Supply

  • 5V 1.3A

header

RPi (backpack) No No Switched No No ≤ 87% No No £25
SmartUPS
  • 5V 1.2A µUSB
  • 3×NiMH AA
  • 5V 1.5A

USB-A female

RPi (software) +batteries NiMH Switched? I2C

battery info, battery temp, charge state, time to empty

buttons buttons [10] No $65
UPS PIco

by PiModules and ModMyPi

  • 5V header
  • 3.7V Li batt
  • 5V 2A

header

RPi (backpack) Yes Li-poly Switched? I2C

voltages, temperature

No buzzer

~RTC fan control, buttons, IR control

[11] No €26-32

[12]

PowerBoost 500C

by Adafruit

  • 5V µUSB
  • 3.7 Li batt
  • 5.2V 0.5A

USB-A female

+battery Li-ion Li-poly Switched, Linear? No Low battery [13] TPS61090 No $15 £12
PowerBoost 1000C

by Adafruit

  • 5V µUSB
  • 3.7 Li batt
  • 5.2V 1A

USB-A female

+battery Li-ion Li-poly Linear & Switched No Low battery [14] MCP73871 TPS61090 No $20
FPF1320 breakout

by Pololu

  • 1.5-5.5V µUSB
  • 1.5-5.5V solder
  • <1.5-5.5V 1.5A

solder

+battery (+battery boost/mgmt) No No No No [15] FPF1320 [16] $4
TPS2113A breakout

by Pololu

  • 2.8-5.5V µUSB
  • 2.8-5.5V solder
  • <2.8-5.5V 2A

solder

+battery (+battery boost/mgmt) No No No No [17] TPS2113A [18] $5
Name Input Output Target

Systems

UPS Battery Charger DC-DC converter Interface Interrupts Misc Features Efficiency Docs Open Source Commercially Available

Comparison of PSUs

TODO: compare basic power supplies, commercial or otherwise, from mains power eg wall warts.

  • name/brand/identification/markings
  • input specs
  • output specs
  • efficiency: how they actually perform % efficiency over their rated output. Maybe just state the peak % at V, A.
  • performance: how they actually perform in terms of input and output power (eg with output voltage dropping no less than -5% for 5V supply as per USB specs)
  • quality: does it work alright for things such as RPi or should it be avoided (some wall warts from ebay).