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  1. Home
  2. General Discussion
  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
    #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
    2
    • 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

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      • 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?

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          0
          • 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
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                • 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

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                    • 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.

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                        0
                        • 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

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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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                              • tony1tfT Offline
                                tony1tfT Offline
                                tony1tf
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #22

                                Carrying on with the "Super Cheap" theme, I have successfully used two Poundshop Lithium ion batteries. They have a 5V USB input and output which can only be used one side at a time. However, connect the two batteries in parallel (+ve to +ve, and - ve to - ve), and you get 2 charger/discharge circuits, so you can power the micro USB side from a USB 5V supply, and the other USB 5V o/p to the Pi. The cheaper ones (1pound) will supply 800mA, but they also have higher power ones for a bit more, especially as they are sometimes on offer.
                                Tony

                                gohanG NeverDieN 2 Replies Last reply
                                0
                                • tony1tfT tony1tf

                                  Carrying on with the "Super Cheap" theme, I have successfully used two Poundshop Lithium ion batteries. They have a 5V USB input and output which can only be used one side at a time. However, connect the two batteries in parallel (+ve to +ve, and - ve to - ve), and you get 2 charger/discharge circuits, so you can power the micro USB side from a USB 5V supply, and the other USB 5V o/p to the Pi. The cheaper ones (1pound) will supply 800mA, but they also have higher power ones for a bit more, especially as they are sometimes on offer.
                                  Tony

                                  gohanG Offline
                                  gohanG Offline
                                  gohan
                                  Mod
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #23

                                  @tony1tf said in What's the "best" UPS for a Raspberry Pi 3B?:

                                  However, connect the two batteries in parallel (+ve to +ve, and - ve to - ve),

                                  I am not entirely sure I understand this setup...

                                  1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • tony1tfT tony1tf

                                    Carrying on with the "Super Cheap" theme, I have successfully used two Poundshop Lithium ion batteries. They have a 5V USB input and output which can only be used one side at a time. However, connect the two batteries in parallel (+ve to +ve, and - ve to - ve), and you get 2 charger/discharge circuits, so you can power the micro USB side from a USB 5V supply, and the other USB 5V o/p to the Pi. The cheaper ones (1pound) will supply 800mA, but they also have higher power ones for a bit more, especially as they are sometimes on offer.
                                    Tony

                                    NeverDieN Offline
                                    NeverDieN Offline
                                    NeverDie
                                    Hero Member
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #24

                                    @tony1tf Do you mean this kind of charger?
                                    https://www.aliexpress.com/item/ESP32-ESP32S-For-Wemos-For-Raspberry-Pi-18650-Battery-Charge-Shield-Board-V3-Micro-USB-Port/32843629344.html?spm=2114.search0104.3.8.197d1137ao0RVa&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_36,ppcSwitch_5&algo_expid=63f9de1f-1174-45ff-a9fd-4ebff214ea1b-1&algo_pvid=63f9de1f-1174-45ff-a9fd-4ebff214ea1b&transAbTest=ae803_1&priceBeautifyAB=0

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                                    • gohanG Offline
                                      gohanG Offline
                                      gohan
                                      Mod
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #25

                                      2A at 5V... if it works it looks a nice and compact solution

                                      NeverDieN 1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • gohanG gohan

                                        2A at 5V... if it works it looks a nice and compact solution

                                        NeverDieN Offline
                                        NeverDieN Offline
                                        NeverDie
                                        Hero Member
                                        wrote on last edited by NeverDie
                                        #26

                                        @gohan I notice that the silkscreen on the back of the PCB says "5v 4A output" and "3v 1A output", which would seem to contradict the seller's description of the lower amounts you quoted. On the other hand, maybe one is burst mode and the other is continuous?

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                                        • gohanG Offline
                                          gohanG Offline
                                          gohan
                                          Mod
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #27

                                          anyway 2A is more than enough for a Raspberry

                                          alexsh1A 1 Reply Last reply
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