How do I power my Raspberry Pi?

We offer a range of different development boards, which all require slightly different power sources using different connectors. Some are very stringent in their required input; for example, the latest Raspberry Pi 4 is rated for 5V 3A, however some are more flexible - some Arduino boards can accept a range of voltage inputs (6-20V) and then regulates this to desired level internally on board.

Voltage and current aside, our selection of dev boards have a range of different input ports, everything from USB-A to Micro-USB to USB-C (which is quickly becoming the new standard).

This article will focus on the Raspberry Pi, however we’ve got a simple breakdown of what each board requires - check the links below on how to best power each device:

• How do I power my Arduino?
• How do I power my Beaglebone Black?

How do I power my Raspberry Pi?

The least complicated, but most stringent in terms of power requirements is the Raspberry Pi.

Every Raspberry Pi board (at the time of writing) uses either a USB-C port (Raspberry Pi 4) or Micro-USB (all other boards, including the Pico).

These USB connections are all 5V too which keeps things simple, but the current each board requires is where you need to pay attention (and vitally, make sure your power supply is up to the job).

Powering a Raspberry Pi 4

The latest Raspberry Pi 4 can be powered in a couple of ways - USB-C or via the GPIO pins. Let's take a look at each option:

Powering the Raspberry Pi 4 via the USB-C Port (5V, 3A)

The first, recommended and easiest way to power the Raspberry Pi 4 is via the USB-C port on the side of the unit. The recommended input voltage is 5V, and the recommended input current is 3A.

Depending on the project and other attached 5V USB/GPIO devices, you can sometimes get away with a lower current rating, but then you risk instability. This is why we always recommend the official Raspberry Pi USB-C power supply, which had been designed specifically for the Raspberry Pi 4.

You'll notice this power supply is 5.1V - this is to negate any voltage drop caused by excessive current draw.

We suggest you avoid USB-C mobile phone/tablet chargers as we receive endless support tickets with customers using these, where they're experiencing performance drops and a crashing OS. These 'chargers' don't always provide power as well as a dedicated 'power supply' will.

Powering the Raspberry Pi 4 via the the GPIO Pins

A more technical (and of course risky/dangerous) way to power the Raspberry Pi 4 is directly via the GPIO using a quality, regulated 5V supply (or a dedicated power HAT).

It should be noted that, unlike the USB-C port method, there is no regulation or fuse protection on the GPIO to protect from over-voltage or current spikes

If an incorrect voltage is applied, or a current spike occurs on the line you can permanently damage your Raspberry Pi. At best, you’ll “burn out” some or all of the GPIO pins, at worst you can fry your Pi!

To power via GPIO, you only need to connect two pins:

1) Connect a 5V source to Pin #2 (5V)

2) Connect the ground of that source to Pin #6 (GND)

This method is useful for a range of applications, and a number of power HATs we offer use the GPIO pins to power the board (or provide a UPS function) with proper regulation onboard. We recommend that powering via the GPIO only be achieved via a protected source such as these.

Powering a Raspberry Pi Zero 2 / Raspberry Pi 3

The latest Raspberry Pi Zero 2 and Raspberry Pi 3 are very similar when it comes to power. They also have the same two powering options as the Pi 4 above, however the USB connector is Micro-USB and these boards generally require less current. Let's take a look at each option:

Powering the Raspberry Pi Zero 2 / Pi 3 via the Micro-USB Port (5V, 2.5A)

The recommended way to power the Raspberry Pi Zero 2/Pi 3 is via the Micro-USB port. The recommended input voltage is 5V, and the recommended input current is 2.5A.

Again, you can get away with a lower input current, and we see a lot more of this with the Zero as they're more frequently used for compact, mobile projects. The same warning applies though - go too low and you risk instability. This is why we recommend the official Raspberry Pi Micro-USB power supply, which had been designed specifically for these boards.

As before with the Pi 4, this power supply is 5.1V for the same reason as the Pi 4 PSU, to negate any voltage drop caused by excessive current draw.

We also suggest avoiding Micro-USB mobile phone/tablet chargers for the same reasons as above - these 'chargers' don't always provide power as well as a dedicated 'power supply' will.

Last point on the Raspberry Pi Zero - there are two Micro-USB ports! One is for connecting USB peripherals and devices (via a shim) and the other is for power:

Powering the Raspberry Pi Zero 2 / Pi 3 via the the GPIO Pins

Just like the Raspberry Pi 4, you can power your Zero or Pi 3 via the GPIO pins - the exact same ones!

This is a popular option for the Zero, as there are lots of dedicated power HATs that use these pins (and sometimes even the pads under the Zero) that make it easy to create mobile projects with compact, rechargeable LiPo batteries - such as this UPS/PS HAT.

Careful though - just like the Pi 4, there is no regulation or fuse protection on the GPIO to protect from over-voltage or current spikes

To power via GPIO, it's the same two pins as the Pi 4:

1) Connect a 5V source to Pin #2 (5V)

2) Connect the ground of that source to Pin #6 (GND)