Low power draw but ridiculous power supply requirements of 5V5A (depending on the model) with a USB-C connector which isnt a thing outside of this specific application meaning
they’re going to be expensive and hard to source.
That’s only for the Pi 5 (the highest end unit), and I’ll agree that at that level its hard to justify a Pi over a larger computer. Even for the Pi 5 its not that hard to find those Power Supplies. Most laptops today use power supplies that meet or exceed those specs. You’re right that those are more expensive than Pi 4 and below Power Supplies.
They should have just done a barrel plug or put an effing voltage regulator on board like Arduinos.
Again, no defense of Pi 5 from me. However, for everything below Pi 5, HARD PASS on a voltage regulator. I don’t want that heat in the tiny Pi case. At the lower power requirements of Pi4 and below USB power is fine.
Yeah a voltage regulator would be a bad idea, however a well designed DC-DC buck converter can be in the 95%+ efficiency range and produce very little heat.
Most laptops today use power supplies that meet or exceed those specs.
Non those are USB-PD power supplies that increase voltage up to 20V in order to deliver more power. No USB standard that I’m aware of offers 5A at 5V.
As far as heat goes, these devices already need heatsinks and case fans, so the difference seems negligible.
Also, good luck using a Pi5 any further than 3ft from a wall outlet unless you want to rig up your own power supply using some 14/2 Romex with a USB C connector soldered to the end.
I’m not sure why you’re referring to the Pi4 since it doesn’t require this entirely non-standard power supply and isn’t their current flagship model. Nobody is asking for old models to be retrofitted with voltage regulators so that they don’t have to use a power supply that they already don’t need to use.
You say you don’t use or recommend the Pi5 and yet you’re seemingly arguing that its power supply requirements aren’t a big deal and that improvements should absolutely not be made to it.
That’s only for the Pi 5 (the highest end unit), and I’ll agree that at that level its hard to justify a Pi over a larger computer. Even for the Pi 5 its not that hard to find those Power Supplies. Most laptops today use power supplies that meet or exceed those specs. You’re right that those are more expensive than Pi 4 and below Power Supplies.
Again, no defense of Pi 5 from me. However, for everything below Pi 5, HARD PASS on a voltage regulator. I don’t want that heat in the tiny Pi case. At the lower power requirements of Pi4 and below USB power is fine.
Yeah a voltage regulator would be a bad idea, however a well designed DC-DC buck converter can be in the 95%+ efficiency range and produce very little heat.
Non those are USB-PD power supplies that increase voltage up to 20V in order to deliver more power. No USB standard that I’m aware of offers 5A at 5V.
As far as heat goes, these devices already need heatsinks and case fans, so the difference seems negligible.
Also, good luck using a Pi5 any further than 3ft from a wall outlet unless you want to rig up your own power supply using some 14/2 Romex with a USB C connector soldered to the end.
Pi 4 and below don’t require active cooling. I want to keep it that way.
Again, I offer no defense of Pi5. I don’t use it and don’t recommend it.
I’m not sure why you’re referring to the Pi4 since it doesn’t require this entirely non-standard power supply and isn’t their current flagship model. Nobody is asking for old models to be retrofitted with voltage regulators so that they don’t have to use a power supply that they already don’t need to use.
You say you don’t use or recommend the Pi5 and yet you’re seemingly arguing that its power supply requirements aren’t a big deal and that improvements should absolutely not be made to it.