USB Power Supply?

[bookkid900]

Since the OSSC uses 5v at 1A, couldn’t it be possible to use a USB port as a power supply? This could be in the form of a USB cable that terminates in the 2.1 x 5.5mm and centre positive tip, or in the form of a hardware revision that has a mini-usb port for sourcing power.

Then again, there is a potential for issues if someone plugs it into a USB port that is not supplying the correct amperage, whether that be 0.5A, 1.2A, 2A or even 3A now with usb-c plugs.

It is just something to think about as a possibility.

[nmalinoski]

It would’ve been nice had the OSSC had, say, a mini-B USB port for power; but, in lieu of that, you can always get these USB-A to 5.5×2.1mm barrel adapters from Amazon and pair them with a USB hub or wall wart that provides the correct amperage.

[Morpheus_79]

The cheapest (and shortest) adapter cables are working fine too. I bought one of these:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/272521456844

Sadly those Chinese sellers often forget to write the polarity into the product description. But since center=positive is the more common case, most of those cables are wired like this.

Then again, there is a potential for issues if someone plugs it into a USB port that is not supplying the correct amperage, whether that be 0.5A, 1.2A, 2A or even 3A now with usb-c plugs.

It doesn’t matter, if the USB port provides a current higher than 1.2A, since the OSSC only draws as much power as it needs (which should be a little less than 1A… if i remember correctly). But it’s not recommended to use a USB port, which provides a current less than 1A. I don’t know for sure what would happen on a 0.5A USB port – but i would assume: in the best case the OSSC won’t turn on (or automatically turns off when drawing too much power)… in the worst case you could damage the voltage regulator of the USB port (very likely), your OSSC (more unlikely… i guess), or both.

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