Powering USB devices with mikrotik router.

Hardware MikroTik hardware general
1

Hello Folks!

I would like to use the USB to power some devices and the ability to turn off and on the power from the Mikrotik router.
The mikrotik device in turn is powered by using its PoE.

One of the devices I would need to power is Raspberry PI 2.

The mikrotik device also should also act as Wireless client to and Wireless access point by using two miniPCI radio boards. I prefer not to split up on two boards to limit number of cables and devices.

I was looking on RB912UAG-5HPnD or some RB400 series, but problem with 400 series is that I can only get the versions without USB power reset.

Can Mikrotik devices manage to power Raspberry PI 2 via USB port ?

2

Main problem is not USB power management, but weak power supply to USB - IMHO, You must use USB powered hub. This is basic for cheap Mikrotik chinese hardware. There is lot of problems with almost any USB device without additional power supply, for example LTE cards, external HDD etc.
Info from Raspberry PI2 “Power supply: 5V @ 2 A via microUSB socket” - this is impossible for Mikrotik.

3

I agree with Senux, mostly..

The mipsbe devices seem to be under the USB standard lower voltage of 4.75 volts.

The CCR devices however output a healthy 4.98 volts.



So 4G/LTE cards will be unstable on a lot of the mipsbe devices, but stable on CCR.

4

Hello Folks!

Ok, I got it. :slight_smile:

Beside raspberry pi 2, do someone of you know any else similar hardware that does not take that much power but still can run a full fledged linux operating system ?

I am not sure how stable the virtualization in mikrotik devices is nowadays, last time I tried it it was not stable enough for production, within some hours the whole device needed a power cycle.

What I do is to use the raspberry pi 2 to passively listen to all wifi traffic only to see all unique devices in it’s environment via a bounch of antennas and put it down in a small database togeather with GPS information and timestamp, I do not capture any data or anything except that.

5

Use a Passive PoE feature and a 24V — 5V converter, for example. Passive PoE can be turned on and off too, and “stupid” enough just to give voltage without any devices.

6

Okey, I will try something like that.

I want to limit the number of cables up in the mast as much as possible, optimally only one TP cable, if possible.

7

After some investigations I will test the following:

AC/DC adapter
(https://www.routerboard.se/prest/tillbehor/102-hog-effekts-natdel-24v-16a.html?search_query=natdel&results=10)

PoE injector
(https://www.routerboard.se/prest/poe/93-pasiv-poe-injektor-gigabit-skarmad.html)

PoE splitter
(https://www.routerboard.se/prest/poe/100-pasiv-poe-splitter-skarmad.html)

5V/5A DC/DC converter
(https://www.elfa.se/sv/dc-dc-omvandlare-vdc-25-mean-well-sd-25b/p/16906036?q=*&filter_Category3=DC%2FDC-strömförsörjningar&filter_Utström+1=3+A&filter_Utström+1=2.1+A&filter_Utström+1=5+A&filter_Utspänning+1=5+VDC&filter_Utspänning+1=4.75…5.5+VDC&page=2&origPos=56&origPageSize=50&simi=99.5)

Plus some cables and connectors tying it togeather.

8
9

because that is called passive POE

10

Hello Folks!

We just got a message from our partner in the lab area, we can not get any constant grid power. There are only street lights which are on when it is dark only, from them we can get power some hours to charge batteries instead.

But it will not be enough summertime, part of year the lights are on only 2 hours per day or less.

So we have to add solar panels and a small windmill to each installation.

Solar panel will be 250W and windmill the same power and battery with 24V 150AH.

I will be back with reports on the progress and components used if someone need to copy it in future,

11

Very nice idea but how is it related to the topic?