30 Jun
2012
30 Jun
'12
9:24 p.m.
Wrong, the Micro-USB connector is actually a standard
(and not just
'standard'
as the barrel connector). So, a device gets powered via Micro-USB
connector?
Fine, I can grab a random wallwart with Micro-USB connector and it will
work.
I can even order a random dirt cheap wallwart from
$RANDOM_CHINESE_SUPPLIER
and it will work. I can even just connect it to the nearest computer and
it
will work.
Micro-USB is a fully defined standard:
- the connector is standard, no surprises
- pin configuration, voltages and power limits are standard
Compared to a device powered via a barrel connector:
- which diameter?
- which polarity?
- or maybe it wants AC?
- which voltage?
- how much power?
Chances are, I don't have a suitable wallwart in my pile of wallwarts for
that.
Kind regards,
Alex.
Yes, these are all valid arguments for using micro-USB.
I think the traditionalists here are chafing a bit as
most of the SBC's produced up to this point have
been powered via a 'coaxial' power plug (with all of
the issues you mentioned).
On most of these boards, the connectors could be easily
be removed and replaced with something else. Micro-USB
(and similar) plugs OTOH, are typically surface-mount,
hence difficult (without hot air and a steady hand)
to replace, and (in my experience) quite fragile.
But this obscures the fact that the Raspberry Pi is
not really an SBC in the idiom of the traditional eval
board (that's not it's original purpose). "Cheap 'n
dirty" was the first item on its requirements list,
and Micro-USB fits that requirement quite nicely.
. . . . just don't apply too much flexure to the
connector made by that $RANDOM_CHINESE_SUPPLIER.
Just my $0.02
Jeff
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