YariLei
Posts: 17
Joined: Tue Jun 02, 2020 12:45 pm

RPi4 PSU with older models

Tue Jun 23, 2020 5:37 am

Hi,

Most sellers advice not to use the official RPi4 power supply with older Raspberry models. While I understand that they use a different plug, is there really any good reason why not to use it, if you have one of those tiny USB-C - microUSB adapters? For some reason the RPi4 PSU is much cheaper in my local stores than the RPi3 PSU, and I've got those adapters at hand.

Cheers!

Best regards,

Yari

ejolson
Posts: 5199
Joined: Tue Mar 18, 2014 11:47 am

Re: RPi4 PSU with older models

Tue Jun 23, 2020 6:14 am

YariLei wrote:
Tue Jun 23, 2020 5:37 am
Hi,

Most sellers advice not to use the official RPi4 power supply with older Raspberry models. While I understand that they use a different plug, is there really any good reason why not to use it, if you have one of those tiny USB-C - microUSB adapters? For some reason the RPi4 PSU is much cheaper in my local stores than the RPi3 PSU, and I've got those adapters at hand.

Cheers!

Best regards,

Yari
I think it will work. What does your adapter look like?

fruitoftheloom
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Location: Delightful Dorset

Re: RPi4 PSU with older models

Tue Jun 23, 2020 6:37 am

YariLei wrote:
Tue Jun 23, 2020 5:37 am
Hi,

Most sellers advice not to use the official RPi4 power supply with older Raspberry models. While I understand that they use a different plug, is there really any good reason why not to use it, if you have one of those tiny USB-C - microUSB adapters? For some reason the RPi4 PSU is much cheaper in my local stores than the RPi3 PSU, and I've got those adapters at hand.

Cheers!

Best regards,

Yari

The 4B PSU is 5.1v 3A whilst the older PSU is 5.1V 2.5A, the Raspberry Pi SBC will only draw what is required so there is no reason not to use either PSU on any Raspberry Pi SBC.
Rather than negativity think outside the box !
RPi 4B 4GB (SSD Boot)..
Asus ChromeBox 3 Celeron is my other computer...

YariLei
Posts: 17
Joined: Tue Jun 02, 2020 12:45 pm

Re: RPi4 PSU with older models

Tue Jun 23, 2020 7:17 am

ejolson wrote:
Tue Jun 23, 2020 6:14 am
YariLei wrote:
Tue Jun 23, 2020 5:37 am
I think it will work. What does your adapter look like?
It's a small USB-C to microUSB adapter, similar to what you get with USB-C phones, except the port adaptation is from USB-C female to microUSB male.

Yari

jamesh
Raspberry Pi Engineer & Forum Moderator
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Re: RPi4 PSU with older models

Tue Jun 23, 2020 8:44 am

YariLei wrote:
Tue Jun 23, 2020 7:17 am
ejolson wrote:
Tue Jun 23, 2020 6:14 am
YariLei wrote:
Tue Jun 23, 2020 5:37 am
I think it will work. What does your adapter look like?
It's a small USB-C to microUSB adapter, similar to what you get with USB-C phones, except the port adaptation is from USB-C female to microUSB male.

Yari
That should work fine.
Principal Software Engineer at Raspberry Pi (Trading) Ltd.
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FTrevorGowen
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Re: RPi4 PSU with older models

Tue Jun 23, 2020 10:05 am

jamesh wrote:
Tue Jun 23, 2020 8:44 am
YariLei wrote:
Tue Jun 23, 2020 7:17 am
ejolson wrote:
Tue Jun 23, 2020 6:14 am

I think it will work. What does your adapter look like?
It's a small USB-C to microUSB adapter, similar to what you get with USB-C phones, except the port adaptation is from USB-C female to microUSB male.

Yari
That should work fine.
+1 and, FWIW, I used one ("AG" here: https://www.cpmspectrepi.uk/raspberry_p ... pterCables ) when measuring the "current loading characteristics" of USB 'C'/Pi PSU's: https://www.cpmspectrepi.uk/raspberry_p ... ne_2019.29

Trev.
Still running Raspbian Jessie or Stretch on some older Pi's (an A, B1, 2xB2, B+, P2B, 3xP0, P0W, 2xP3A+, P3B+, P3B, B+, and a A+) but Buster on the P4B's. See: https://www.cpmspectrepi.uk/raspberry_pi/raspiidx.htm

pidd
Posts: 302
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Location: Wirral, UK
Contact: Website

Re: RPi4 PSU with older models

Tue Jun 23, 2020 10:59 am

Being picky ....

Usually better to use a cable adaptor than a "hard" adapter. The hard ones have far more leverage and make it easier to accidentally damage the socket on the motherboard.

More connections can make more instability (physically and electrically),

But generally it will be fine.

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