Power bank as a power supply backup

FlightAware General
1

Hi everyone (first post, feeder on line since yesterday).

I have a feeder version 11 and I saw 2 standard usb, 1 usb type C (the one I use for the power supply) and one more mini USB C.

Due to some power outage I was wondering if I can connect a power bank to the mini usb C and used as a backup in case of a temporary power blackout of my house. Any experiences on that?

I am just worried about the return current to the power supply when I have black out.

Many thanks

2

I use a backup power supply unit to hold my USB power source up during power fluctuations and it has been a great success.

1 Like
3

Thanks for your reply, appreciated. Just one more… where do you exactly connect the external supply? Which usb?

Thanks

4

I use the 2.0 version USB port because I have experienced compatibility issues with the 3.0 version ports with some devices that don’t speak the language.

5

For 2.0 you mean that you Connect an external power supply of 5 V to the “big” USB socket?

6

Big USB sockets can be black or blue colored. The black is the older 2.0 version and the blues are 3 versions. I have found mixing the two can cause communication issues. If you don’t know the language you can miss a few words and in the digital world that doesn’t fly well.

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7

Gotcha. I think I will Connect my power bank into the other mini usb available. Thanks for the patience

8

You bet. Problem solving is a way of life for all of us.

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9

I use these for short term UPS for Pi running Flightaware

Type-C 15W 3A 18650 Lithium Battery Charger Module DC-DC Step Up Booster Fast Charge UPS Power Supply

Not all 18650 Batteries fit. It needs the ones with the flat +ve terminal not the one with the raised terminal.

1 Like
10

Thanks SweetPea11! I just put it into my basket and will order after this post. Regarding the connection I guess you supply your feeder directly by this small UPS and you keep on charging the UPS by the original feeder power supply (in this case your PiAware power supply). Am I right? Go to buy it :slight_smile:

11

Yes, but

It has a usb- c input connector so that only works if you are using a Pi 4 or Pi 5.

You will also need to supply your own cable and connector to go from the ups to the Pi. Preferably use a charging cable not just a data cable as the data cable has very fine writes that are too lossy at the required current.

You will also need to source the two batteries.

S.

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12

batteries already have (the right ones you mentioned). My feeder is version 11 with USB C (the same socket I use to supply it) and also another one like mini USB C. So, yes I will sacrifiy another USB C and weld on the USB pcb card. It should work. Thanks again