Raspberry Pi 5v Pin Current
Sourcing the power from the pi.
Raspberry pi 5v pin current. For this purpose relays can be used on the raspberry pi. At 5 5v input voltage i measured about 2 4ua input current. To power via gpio you only need to connect 2 pins. A 5v micro usb typically powers the raspberry pi.
The recommended amount is between 700ma for a raspberry pi model a and up to 2 5a for a raspberry pi 3 model b see power supply requirements in the magpi issue 56 page 39. I think this would indicate the maximum current that one should draw is 240 ma. I measured about 6 4v voltage at 100ua input current and 7 5v at 0 5ma on several differtent inputs regardless of whether the pi was switched on or off. The 5v pins give direct access to the 5v supply coming from your mains adaptor less power than used by the raspberry pi itself.
But how much current in milliamps or amps the pi requires to function depends on your usage. If an incorrect voltage is applied or a current spike occurs on the line you can permanently damage your raspberry pi. Thanks drew the reason for this question is that i like to power 3 3v i2c devices from the pi s 3 3v pin. Prior to the pi 1 model b 2014 boards comprised a shorter 26 pin header.
A powerful feature of the raspberry pi is the row of gpio general purpose input output pins along the top edge of the board. The relay switch is utilized by means of a low voltage pulse. Also the output voltage is only 3v3 so many devices need more voltage as well as more current. Anyone know how the 50 ma value is derived.
Since the pi only tolerates a maximum of 5v the gpios even only 3 3v without relays there is the risk that the pi could burn out. A pi can be powered directly from these pins and it can also power. The 5v power pins are connected directly to the pi s power input and will capably provide the full current of your mains adaptor less that used by the pi itself. This is where the signal to control something is derived from the gpio pins but the actual power to drive it is from the 3v3 or 5v internal power lines of the raspberry pi.
Often you want to control modules with a higher voltage with the raspberry pi. At best you ll burn out some or all of the gpio pins at worst you can fry your pi. On the raspberry pi schematic i can see that rg2 is a ncp1117 along with a note that the max dissipation is 800mw. Don t be disuaded by what sounds like a measly low voltage.
With a decent power supply such as the official pi adaptor you can expect to pull about 1 5a.