openrcforums

Throttled, Low power to Raspberry-Pi-3B+ using image EZPi (OctoPrint) from TH3D.

When I was first using EZPi (OctoPrint) with the Raspberry-Pi-3B there was no low power issues.
About a year ago when trying to install new OctoPrint updates a message came up saying,
“Can't Update While Throttled”.
The pi performed with no troubles, but was just not able to do any new updates.
I worked on it a lot by getting better 5v power-supplies, changing USB cables and nothing helped.

But there is hope, this video shows and explains why this is happening
and by increasing the voltage to 5.6v will fix the trouble:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JadID7eRTtQ

So I am looking for the best way to correct this trouble.

The video above, is showing what was needed to power the Raspberry Pi 3B (5.6 volts) so that the pi was able to operate at maximum speed,
as to not being "Throttled" when under a full load.
So I looked up what the recommended Raspberry Pi 3B maximum input voltage is by asking this question.
What is the recommended maximum input voltage for the Raspberry Pi 3B designed for at the USB input powering plug ?
I found results that the maximum USB input voltage is 5.25 volts.

Also found other info that not all USB cables are the same.
As in the cheaper ones may have smaller wires and/or with wires that are made with higher resistant materials.
This can cause lower voltage being delivered to the pi at its USB input plug.
So the voltage needs to be measured at the USB input plug to know what voltage is being supplied.

Update: Raspberry-Pi-3B being Throttled !

I recently purchased the battery backup Cyber Power CP1500PFCLCD and it has the USB-C power output plug,
which has higher power output.
Using a USB C to Micro USB cable to power the Raspberry-Pi-3B the results is the Throttling/Lighting-Bolt symbol on the Pi screen flickered on and off for about a minute, then stayed OFF.
I was then able to start the OctoPrint Updates.
While the Updating process was going on the Lighting-Bolt symbol began to flash on and off again, but the Updating continued.
When the Updating finish the Pi restarted with the warning sign “Undervoltage detected” which stayed on all the time again.
WOW! the Lighting-Bolt symbolit just went off again, almost, but not all the way fixed yet.
So the USB C power plug does help a little, but I still have the same undervoltage power troubles off and on.
Just to note, with my older pi power-setup it use to not have this undervoltage/Throttling/Lighting-Bolt symbol trouble.
I still need to search for the undervoltage cause.
OH, The CPU cooling fan spins faster with the USB C power too.

Another Update
Using an old Creality CR10 12V power supply
to a Turnigy SBEC 40V switching-bec (Max 5A)
and setting the output voltage to 6V which was 5.9V
to my Raspberry-Pi-3B+ and still getting
Undervoltage / Throttling / Lighting-Bolt
symbol on the display screen.

When the Pi is at idol the Undervoltage goes away,
But when it is called to work hard the Undervoltage
comes back until it has finished its task.

Even though this Pi is reporting Undervoltage Warnings
it seems to be able to run OctoPrint well with no troubles.
I am also thinking that there may be a trouble with the Pi itself.
Maybe the Pi’s input Micro-USB plug connection is faulty
and/or a bad solder connection somewhere.
When wiggling the Pi’s Micro-USB plug around it has not indicated an obvious problems.
It was not reporting Undervoltage Warnings until it did an update to OctoPrint last year some time.
I did read somewhere that the parameters for triggering Undervoltage Warnings
was change to make the Pi report Undervoltage Warnings sooner.

The search for a solution continues !

I tried a Raspberry Pi4 power supply, after receiving USB C to Micro USB adapter.
And it did not work.

Next I received a Pro-Elec highly regulated 5.25Vdc 2.4A switching power supply.
This seems to work well, which no undervoltage, Throttling and Lighting-Bolt symbol on the display screen is happening anymore.

So this trouble seems to be gone !


5.25Vdc 2.4A Regulated Ac Power Adapter: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01E6 ... UTF8&psc=1

Also with a Micro-USB On/Off Power-Switch inline cord: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B018B ... UTF8&psc=1

Update Note: I am still getting the Undervoltage message sometimes.
So still looking for a better power source.

=========================================================================================
Found a good option to power the EZPi when it has this problem of
Throttled, Low power, Undervoltage to the Raspberry-Pi.



Cost of only $20.25 for the: MEAN WELL LRS-100-5 Single Output High Efficiency Power Supply, 90W 5V 18A
I also believe the voltage can be adjusted up a little too.


Click on this link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DM ... UTF8&psc=1

Received the MEAN WELL LRS-100-5 volt power supply today.
Checking for what maximum voltage output is
and so it will adjust up to 5.75 volts.
I was hoping for more.
Click on picture link to open it.

Note: I do not know why this picture will not show,
Something is wrong with the web sight because there use to be no troubles to show pictures.
It says it is not downloaded, but it is and will not show.
See here for more info about this trouble: https://openrcforums.com/forum/viewtopi ... 473b006883
May have found what the trouble is.

I can see the picture after clicking on the link.

João

Hi João,
Yes, but it use to post the picture itself and not just the link to the picture.
How come ? and how do I fix it ?