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  1. Home
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  3. What's the "best" UPS for a Raspberry Pi 3B?

What's the "best" UPS for a Raspberry Pi 3B?

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  • gohanG Offline
    gohanG Offline
    gohan
    Mod
    wrote on last edited by
    #2

    I use a turned off UPS with a voltage regulator connected directly on the 12V battery. The battery maintainer will keep battery charged. Probably not the most energy efficient solution, but it works and it gives you hours of runtime.

    1 Reply Last reply
    0
    • NeverDieN Offline
      NeverDieN Offline
      NeverDie
      Hero Member
      wrote on last edited by
      #3

      There's a lot to choose from:
      https://www.aliexpress.com/item/18650-Pi-Partner-for-Raspberry-Pi/32824221009.html?spm=2114.10010108.1000015.2.7a6878b31vZgqA&s=p

      https://www.aliexpress.com/item/UPS-power-extension-board-with-RTC-measurement-5V-output-serial-port-function-5V-3A-USB-data/32849706946.html?spm=2114.10010108.1000014.8.58672b9c3X3XTo&traffic_analysisId=recommend_3035_null_null_null&scm=1007.13338.98644.000000000000000&pvid=81b8fe3b-0458-4b06-9f5c-9bd5d88c8ffb&tpp=1

      https://www.aliexpress.com/item/UGEEK-UPS-HAT-with-Battery-for-Raspberry-Pi-3-Model-B-2B-B-Raspberry-Pi-Battery/32786176030.html?spm=2114.search0104.3.37.28041b49kgJHo2&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_5_10152_10065_10151_5711320_10344_10068_10130_10324_10342_10547_10325_10343_10546_10340_10548_10341_10698_10545_10696_10084_5722520_10083_10618_10307_5711220_10059_5722620_5722920_308_5722720_5722820_100031_10103_10624_10623_10622_10621_10620,searchweb201603_32,ppcSwitch_5&algo_expid=f1da8c36-0437-4996-b1c8-266691914f00-5&algo_pvid=f1da8c36-0437-4996-b1c8-266691914f00&transAbTest=ae803_1&priceBeautifyAB=0

      and that barely scratches the surface. That's why I thought I'd ask what people are actually using, and whether they like it or not.

      Nca78N 1 Reply Last reply
      0
      • gohanG Offline
        gohanG Offline
        gohan
        Mod
        wrote on last edited by
        #4

        I used that because I have a bunch of used UPS

        1 Reply Last reply
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        • NeverDieN Offline
          NeverDieN Offline
          NeverDie
          Hero Member
          wrote on last edited by
          #5

          Your approach does have the virtue of no lithium fire hazard.

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          • NeverDieN Offline
            NeverDieN Offline
            NeverDie
            Hero Member
            wrote on last edited by
            #6

            At the moment I'm using one of these, which also contains some surge protection:
            https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KH07WRC/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

            I guess all the raspberry Pi UPS's just assume you're plugged into a surge protector of some kind. So, it's worth considering the entire package.

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            • NeverDieN Offline
              NeverDieN Offline
              NeverDie
              Hero Member
              wrote on last edited by NeverDie
              #7

              OK, I just settled on this: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NTQYUA8/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

              $25, surge protection, no lithium, and maybe (?) I'll be able to power the Pi directly from one of the UPS usb power ports.

              It seems ridiculous that the Pi still doesnt have a shutdown button. Presently I have to ssl to it and do a "sudo poweroff" before unplugging it. Not exactly convenient!

              NeverDieN 1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • gohanG Offline
                gohanG Offline
                gohan
                Mod
                wrote on last edited by
                #8

                Actually you can use a shut down script when you short a pin, you only need a voltage detector that triggers it when voltage goes below a certain value. Andreas Spiess made a video showing how to do it with a cheap battery indicator and 2 supercaps in series

                1 Reply Last reply
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                • NeverDieN Offline
                  NeverDieN Offline
                  NeverDie
                  Hero Member
                  wrote on last edited by NeverDie
                  #9

                  It turns out that these little Borkin buttons are the easiest way to power down your Pi:
                  https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3-5mm-Smart-Mikey-Mi-Key-Quick-Click-Button-Smart-Key-Dustproof-Plug-Earphone-Jack-For/32861089928.html?spm=a2g0s.8153825.cb0001.6.O3XqCd&scm=1007.13409.84631.0&pvid=11dce56f-ab9b-4d70-9349-4ff0bc6f4c93&tpp=1

                  1 Reply Last reply
                  0
                  • gohanG Offline
                    gohanG Offline
                    gohan
                    Mod
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #10

                    but those also require a little wire mod and they are not very "automatic" :D

                    NeverDieN 1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • gohanG gohan

                      but those also require a little wire mod and they are not very "automatic" :D

                      NeverDieN Offline
                      NeverDieN Offline
                      NeverDie
                      Hero Member
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #11

                      @gohan Yes on the wire mod, but what do you mean by automatic?

                      1 Reply Last reply
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                      • gohanG Offline
                        gohanG Offline
                        gohan
                        Mod
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #12

                        I mean that they are manual switch and will not shutdown raspberry when battery is low

                        NeverDieN 1 Reply Last reply
                        1
                        • gohanG gohan

                          I mean that they are manual switch and will not shutdown raspberry when battery is low

                          NeverDieN Offline
                          NeverDieN Offline
                          NeverDie
                          Hero Member
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #13

                          @gohan Good point. Also, ideally it would have some kind of indicator to show when it has successfully finished powering down.

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                          • NeverDieN NeverDie

                            There's a lot to choose from:
                            https://www.aliexpress.com/item/18650-Pi-Partner-for-Raspberry-Pi/32824221009.html?spm=2114.10010108.1000015.2.7a6878b31vZgqA&s=p

                            https://www.aliexpress.com/item/UPS-power-extension-board-with-RTC-measurement-5V-output-serial-port-function-5V-3A-USB-data/32849706946.html?spm=2114.10010108.1000014.8.58672b9c3X3XTo&traffic_analysisId=recommend_3035_null_null_null&scm=1007.13338.98644.000000000000000&pvid=81b8fe3b-0458-4b06-9f5c-9bd5d88c8ffb&tpp=1

                            https://www.aliexpress.com/item/UGEEK-UPS-HAT-with-Battery-for-Raspberry-Pi-3-Model-B-2B-B-Raspberry-Pi-Battery/32786176030.html?spm=2114.search0104.3.37.28041b49kgJHo2&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_5_10152_10065_10151_5711320_10344_10068_10130_10324_10342_10547_10325_10343_10546_10340_10548_10341_10698_10545_10696_10084_5722520_10083_10618_10307_5711220_10059_5722620_5722920_308_5722720_5722820_100031_10103_10624_10623_10622_10621_10620,searchweb201603_32,ppcSwitch_5&algo_expid=f1da8c36-0437-4996-b1c8-266691914f00-5&algo_pvid=f1da8c36-0437-4996-b1c8-266691914f00&transAbTest=ae803_1&priceBeautifyAB=0

                            and that barely scratches the surface. That's why I thought I'd ask what people are actually using, and whether they like it or not.

                            Nca78N Offline
                            Nca78N Offline
                            Nca78
                            Hardware Contributor
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #14

                            @neverdie I have bought the last one in your list (ugeek hat) but not set up on my pi 3 yet.

                            You can get battery information through i2c and prepare for shutdown when battery is low as explained here
                            http://www.raspberrypiwiki.com/index.php/Raspi_UPS_HAT_Board

                            rozpruwaczR 1 Reply Last reply
                            1
                            • gohanG Offline
                              gohanG Offline
                              gohan
                              Mod
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #15

                              The super cheap way is to get this https://www.aliexpress.com/item/10W-3-7V-4-2V-Charger-5V-6V-9V-12V-Discharger-Board-DC-DC-Converter-Boost/32816412117.html

                              Nca78N 1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • alexsh1A Offline
                                alexsh1A Offline
                                alexsh1
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #16

                                Guys, this is the best UPS for RPi3

                                http://www.pimodulescart.com/shop/item.aspx?itemid=50

                                It is compatible with many batteries including 18650 and different chemistries.

                                Unfortunately, firmware development is a bit slow, but hardware part is just brilliant

                                1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • gohanG Offline
                                  gohanG Offline
                                  gohan
                                  Mod
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #17

                                  that costs more than the RPI itself :D

                                  alexsh1A 1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • gohanG gohan

                                    The super cheap way is to get this https://www.aliexpress.com/item/10W-3-7V-4-2V-Charger-5V-6V-9V-12V-Discharger-Board-DC-DC-Converter-Boost/32816412117.html

                                    Nca78N Offline
                                    Nca78N Offline
                                    Nca78
                                    Hardware Contributor
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #18

                                    @gohan said in What's the "best" UPS for a Raspberry Pi 3B?:

                                    The super cheap way is to get this https://www.aliexpress.com/item/10W-3-7V-4-2V-Charger-5V-6V-9V-12V-Discharger-Board-DC-DC-Converter-Boost/32816412117.html

                                    Super cheap because it's just a cheap charging ic and a cheap step up, and there's no battery protection. If you rely on battery protection of an eBay/AliExpress lipo it will be a DW01 with undervoltage protection at 2.4V, fast way to kill your battery.

                                    1 Reply Last reply
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                                    • gohanG Offline
                                      gohanG Offline
                                      gohan
                                      Mod
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #19

                                      it is written that it requires battery protection if your battery doesn't have it and they sell that too

                                      1 Reply Last reply
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                                      • jamzmJ Offline
                                        jamzmJ Offline
                                        jamzm
                                        wrote on last edited by jamzm
                                        #20

                                        Has anyone gotten their PiModules UPS PIco to work right or for very long? And is it even compatible with a Pi 3B?

                                        alexsh1A 1 Reply Last reply
                                        0
                                        • bjacobseB Offline
                                          bjacobseB Offline
                                          bjacobse
                                          wrote on last edited by bjacobse
                                          #21

                                          I use this setup for my RPI running Domoticz, it though requires UTP cable connection to your router, to measure if the router provides IP address or you have powerloss.
                                          Your only cost is how big you need/want your powerbank size...

                                          http://raspi-ups.appspot.com/en/index.jsp

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