Power Supply
The following table shows the USB-PD power mode required to power various Raspberry Pi models. You can use any high-quality power supply that provides the correct power mode.
Raspberry Pi 5
5V/5A, 5V/3A limits peripherals to 600mA
Raspberry Pi 4 Model B
5V/3A
Raspberry Pi 3 (all models)
5V/2.5A
Raspberry Pi 2 (all models)
5V/2.5A
Raspberry Pi 1 (all models)
5V/2.5A
Raspberry Pi Zero (all models)
5V/2.5A
Raspberry Pi 27W USB-C Power Supply
The Raspberry Pi 27W USB-C Power Supply is an ideal power supply for Raspberry Pi 5, especially for users who wish to drive high-power peripherals such as hard drives and SSDs from Raspberry Pi 5's four Type A USB ports.
Additional built-in power profiles mean the Raspberry Pi 27W USB-C Power Supply is also an excellent option for powering third-party PD-compatible products.
The available profiles are 9V, 3A; 12V, 2.25A; and 15V, 1.8A, all limited to a maximum of 27W.
Plug your power supply into the port marked "POWER IN", "PWR IN", or "PWR".
Some Raspberry Pi models, such as the Zero series, have output USB ports with the same form factor as the power port. Be sure to use the correct port on your Raspberry Pi!
Understanding the Power Supply for Devices
Watts and Voltage Explained
The power supply is a critical component for any electronic device, providing the necessary energy to operate.
When it comes to the Raspberry Pi 27W USB-C Power Supply, it's specifically designed to match the power requirements of the Raspberry Pi 5 and other PD-compatible devices.
Let's break down what watts and voltage mean and how they apply to this power supply.
Wattage (Watts)
Wattage represents the total power capacity of the power supply. It's a measure of how much energy can be delivered to your device. The Raspberry Pi 27W USB-C Power Supply can deliver up to 27 watts of power.
The formula for wattage is: Watts = Volts x Amps. This equation helps determine how much power a device can provide or consume.
Voltage (Volts)
Voltage is the pressure from an electrical circuit's power source that pushes charged electrons (current) through a conducting loop, enabling them to do work such as powering your device.
Different devices require different voltages to operate safely and effectively. The Raspberry Pi 27W USB-C Power Supply offers multiple voltage profiles to accommodate various devices and their power needs.
Amps
Amps, short for amperes, represent the unit of electric current in the International System of Units (SI). The term "ampere" is named after the French physicist André-Marie Ampère, one of the main discoverers of electromagnetism.
In simple terms, you can think of amperes as a measure of the flow of electric charge.
If you compare electricity to water flowing through a pipe, amperes would represent the volume of water flowing through the pipe in a given time. In the context of electricity, it measures the number of electrons (or electric charge) passing a point in a circuit per second.
Understanding amperes is crucial when working with electrical devices, as different devices require different amounts of current to operate properly. Overloading a circuit with too much current can cause overheating and potentially damage the circuit or the connected devices.
Basic explanation
Imagine you have a water pump (the power supply) that sends water (electricity) to your garden sprinkler (the Raspberry Pi or another device).
The power the pump provides is measured in watts, similar to how powerful the water flow can be.
For the Raspberry Pi 27W USB-C Power Supply, think of it as a pump that can provide up to 27 watts of power, meaning it can send a good amount of water through the hose to the sprinkler.
Now, voltage is like the water pressure in the hose. It's what pushes the water (or electrical current) through the hose (or wire) to your sprinkler.
The Raspberry Pi power supply can adjust this pressure to meet different needs, just like adjusting a nozzle for different spraying modes on the sprinkler.
Amps measure how much water is flowing through the hose. In electrical terms, it's about how many electrons are moving through the wire. More amps mean more electrons flowing, just like more water moving through the hose.
So, when you plug in your Raspberry Pi with this power supply, you're ensuring it gets the right amount of pressure (voltage) and flow (amps) to operate correctly without overloading or underpowering it, just like setting the correct water flow and pressure for your garden sprinkler to work efficiently.
Power Profiles
The power supply provides flexibility with several built-in power profiles, allowing it to power not just the Raspberry Pi 5 but also other devices that are compatible with these voltage and current specifications.
The profiles include:
9V, 3A: This profile can deliver 9 volts at a current of 3 amps, ideal for devices requiring up to 27 watts.
12V, 2.25A: This setting provides 12 volts at 2.25 amps, suitable for devices needing up to 27 watts.
15V, 1.8A: This profile offers 15 volts at 1.8 amps, again perfect for devices that operate within the 27-watt limit.
These power profiles ensure that the power supply can adapt to the needs of the Raspberry Pi 5, especially when it's using high-power peripherals that draw more energy.
By automatically adjusting the voltage and current, the power supply ensures that the Raspberry Pi 5 and any connected devices receive the right amount of power for optimal performance.
In summary, the Raspberry Pi 27W USB-C Power Supply is designed to be versatile and robust, ensuring that your Raspberry Pi 5 or any compatible device has the necessary power to function efficiently and reliably.
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