Project:Pi-Power topping board

Brief

Creation of a power supply battery board for the Raspberry Pi computer, fit for long-term/perminant instalation (IE; not a hack-job). If sucessful, potential funding source for Hackspace. Codename; "Project Custard"

Spec

• Two to three outputs; 5v, 3.3v busses and an optional adjustable auxilary output for peripherals (EG: 6v for (small) servos or 3.7v for HUD power).
  • Switching regulators for higher efficiency
• Status to Pi through I2C bus (to prevent taking up single-use I/O pins)
  • Current use (ideally on each bus)
  • Batt voltage
  • Charging/batt-power status
  • Batt temp
  • Batt age/condition (software/logging)
  • etc..
• Lithium-Ion/Lithium-Poly battery pack for low weight
• Able to charge from USB and/or other higher current source (12v car supply or higher rated mains adaptor)
• 10-12hr min uptime

optional

• Same PCB to allow external power only through leaving charger section unpopulated/jump-linked

Power requirements

I've looked up the linear regulator used on the Pi, it's a 17-33G, rated for up to 800mA. Ohms law says that's 2.64Watts. But that's just output, I can't see anything about it's efficiency to infer it's input current. I hear the figure of 1/3rd power being converted to heat banded about though, so while it needs confirming it's something to be going on with. Would make the input to the regulator higher than the spec for the entire board. So it's safe to say the regulator capacity is not fully utilised. The spec power for the whole Pi is 700mA at 5v (3.5watt). Presuming a magic regulator that's 100% efficient, that's 860mA left to the 5v side.

Since these are inherently flawed figures though, it's only enough to give us a ballpark maximum current of about 800mA per 5/3.3v input.

Needs more research. Theoretical maximum will probably need adding up the max ratings on all component datasheets, or running stress-tests while on seperate current-monitoring power supplies. Elinux has monitored total 5v power use at 750mA during 1080p video playback: http://elinux.org/RPi_Performance#Power

Switching regulators

Initial findings presuming 800mA-1000mA per output.