Raspberry Pi is known for its portability and compactness. This small yet useful PC can be very handy to carry around or use for creating home security and automation.
But Raspberry Pi doesn’t come with any accessories, and you have to take a bunch of cables with you to connect each of them. A power cable is necessary since it is required to turn on and keep the Pi alive.
In such instances, you can make use of your mobile charger and power up your Raspberry Pi. But will it be a proper alternative? Let us discuss it in detail.
Can I use Mobile Charger for Raspberry Pi?
You can use a mobile charger or smartphone charger to power up your Raspberry Pi (RPi). But you must choose a charger with a compatible power rating to avoid any kind of issues with RPi. The RPi 4 requires 3A rated charger while older models require at least 2.5A. Also, you have to check which kind of USB port your RPi has. If you have a compatible USB cable you can use a mobile charger without any difficulty.
We shall now discuss in detail the different factors you must consider before using a mobile charger for your RPi.
Factors to consider before using a mobile charger for RPi
There are two main things you should consider before using your mobile charger for RPi. They are:
- Amps Rating of Charger
- USB port compatibility
Amps Rating of Charger
We all know that every smartphone has a different power and amp rating. With the advent of fast charging, you can find chargers to use higher power ratings. So, it is a must to look at the power ratings of your charger before using it for your Pi.
If you take your mobile charger, you can find the voltage and amps used by it. It will be mentioned in the disclaimer and writings present in the charging brick head.
When the amps rating is around 2.5A, you can use it for models below RPi 4. If the rating is 3A, you can use it for RPi 4.
Do not be casual with the use of chargers with your RPi. Because RPi may draw more power than it requires which might damage the device.
Therefore, it is very important to look into the charger ratings and especially the amperage of the charger to use it for your RPi.
USB port Compatibility
Similar to power rating, the type of USB version used in the mobile chargers is also different in every model. Although the latest smartphones have adopted the USB-C type, earlier versions have micro USB.
Therefore, it is very important to check the type of port you have with your charger and whether your RPi has the same port or a compatible one.
RPi4 has a USB-C port for power supply, and you can use your latest smartphone charger that has a USB-C cable in it.
As for older models, you will need a micro USB type cable with your charger. If you don’t have one, you can use an adapter to satisfy the requirements of both your charger and your RPi.
Do you need a branded mobile charger for RPi?
Yes, you must use a branded mobile charger with quality-checked power ratings to use it with your RPi.
Because, if you use cheap chargers, they might not have quality-checked the power ratings and it will not deliver the right amperage to your device.
Also, if you use poor-quality chargers, they will have poor cable and plug quality which will damage your RPi and its ports.
Poor-quality chargers will also damage other circuit components in your RPi. Therefore, use reliable phone chargers and prevent electrical damage in your RPi.
What are the benefits of using a Mobile Charger for Raspberry Pi?
The use of mobile chargers has relatively large benefits especially if you are using the RPi portably. So, here are the top benefits you can get with your RPi.
Convenience
The use of mobile chargers is highly convenient because we tend to carry them around with us always. So, you don’t need to carry a separate power supply cable for the RPi.
Compact
Mobile chargers are handy and don’t occupy much space. So, you can comfortably carry a charger around along with the RPi.
Universal
Since most of us use some kind of smartphone, you can readily power up your RPi anywhere even by getting a phone charger from a colleague. You just have to check out the power ratings and port type.
Familiarity
With the use of mobile chargers, you can power up most of the RPi models. Even if there is a mismatched USB type, you can use a simple adapter to make use of it. If you are using multiple RPis, you don’t need separate charging bricks for it.
Safety
Phone chargers are quality checked before supplying to the consumers. Therefore, safety is not compromised and even if you use a different brand charger, it will not hurt the device in any way.
Efficiency
Mobile chargers don’t take up much power source and they are highly efficient in delivering the rated power. They don’t consume a lot of electricity and it is very economical too.
Reliability
Since smartphone chargers are released after a series of research and quality checks, they are highly reliable. They are usually tested for several plugging ins and outs which makes them sturdy and reliable for using it in RPi.
Also Read:
- Can you Power a Raspberry Pi 4 from USB?
- Can i use Tablet as a Monitor for Raspberry Pi?
- Can Raspberry Pi 4 connect to 5ghz WiFi?
- How to install UniFi Controller?
Do I need to take any other precautions?
Usually, if you just check the power ratings and port type, it will be safe to use your RPi with it. But if you are concerned about some data, then it is better to check the following things before you use the mobile charger with your RPi.
- If you have a multimeter, you can check the output voltage and amps of your mobile charger. This will help you to find out the amps it can provide and use it appropriately for your RPi.
- Never plug the charger through an extension box or other types of sources. Try to plug it in directly to a wall outlet.
- It is better to use surge protectors for the wall sockets which can protect your devices.
- Never overload the mobile charger by connecting too many peripherals to the RPi. Because it might not be able to supply power to all of them.
- It is safe to monitor the temperature of your Pi with software utilities. Because it will help you to find out any fluctuations in power and avoid damage to your Pi.
- It is better to use high-quality charging bricks and power cables from reputable brands. Because they are more reliable and have a longer life.
- It is also better to use thicker charging cables because they can be safer and withstands sudden hikes in power.
- Make sure to use short-wired charging cables or keep the distance between RPi and the cable short.
Conclusion
The use of mobile chargers can be very useful, reliable, and compact. It can be highly portable and makes it easier to power up your RPi wherever you go. You just have to use the right rated charger and check for the available port in your RPi.
