Charging via USB-C Port

[iscmob]

Hi,
I'm super new here and pretty excited with the new PBP.
I wonder whether I could use my Raspberry Pi USB C charger with output 5.1V 3A to charge PBP?

[MtnSk8]

The way I understand (or misunderstand) it is that USB-C charging will be always capped at 2.4 amps (5v) because there is no "PD" capability on the PBP and for USB to output more it will need the Qualcom PD chip signal. For me 2.4 amps works fine, all my existing battery pack phone chargers work well on the PBP and charge it as fast (or slow) as my fancy a/c USB-C high power wall charger. If you want to charge at the blistering rate of 3 amps then just use the supplied charger. No need to spend lots of money on the high power USB-C chargers just for the PBP. BTW: to me the 15watt spec of the PBP was/is the most attractive feature, love this thing!

[JaceAlvejetti]

What MtbSk8 said, I regularly charge mine off a USB battery, the USB battery is charged from a portable solar panel. Couple scripts will lower the power usage of the PBP (disable big cores, lower Max clocks, lower back light) as you can actually run the system hard enough to drain the battery WHILE charging.

[iscmob]

Thanks for sharing.
But is it safe to use my Raspberry Pi 5.1V 3A power adapter to charge PBP?
The supplied adapter for PBP at 5V 3A takes a long time to charge PBP. And it's true that charging is even slower when I charge and use PBP at the same time.

So, if I were to use Baseus GaN 65W Fast USB Charger (Quick Charge 4.0 3.0 Type C PD Fast Charging 3 Port Portable Charger), will it help?

[JasonG-FR]

So, if I were to use Baseus GaN 65W Fast USB Charger (Quick Charge 4.0 3.0 Type C PD Fast Charging 3 Port Portable Charger), will it help?

Not at all.

The Pinebook Pro doesn't support the Quick Charge protocol on either the barrel plug or the USB-C (I've tried it), so the fast charger will default to the 5V low power mode. At 5V, the Pinebook Pro will charge using a maximum of 3A. You could be powering it with a power supply that can provide 10A at 5V and it wouldn't matter because it would only consumes 3A. However, powering it up with more than 5V will damage it (5,1 - 5,2V is still within the USB specifications so it's fine and safe to use the Raspberry Pi charger).

It would be safe to use the Baseus GaN 65W Fast USB Charger, but it wouldn't be faster to charge than the original Pinebook Pro power supply (probably even less if it can't output 3A).

The Pinebook Pro is internally limited to 15W, you won't be able to charge it with more power.

[iscmob]

So, if I were to use Baseus GaN 65W Fast USB Charger (Quick Charge 4.0 3.0 Type C PD Fast Charging 3 Port Portable Charger), will it help?

Not at all.

The Pinebook Pro doesn't support the Quick Charge protocol on either the barrel plug or the USB-C (I've tried it), so the fast charger will default to the 5V low power mode. At 5V, the Pinebook Pro will charge using a maximum of 3A. You could be powering it with a power supply that can provide 10A at 5V and it wouldn't matter because it would only consumes 3A. However, powering it up with more than 5V will damage it (5,1 - 5,2V is still within the USB specifications so it's fine and safe to use the Raspberry Pi charger).

It would be safe to use the Baseus GaN 65W Fast USB Charger, but it wouldn't be faster to charge than the original Pinebook Pro power supply (probably even less if it can't output 3A).

The Pinebook Pro is internally limited to 15W, you won't be able to charge it with more power.

Thank you so much for your sharing and appreciate the technical explanation of the power delivery in PBP. I'll try the Raspberry Pi adapter that I have.
And for Baseus GaN 65W charger, I might get it for multiple device charging together with a USB C Hub.
BTW, I'm super please with PBP built quality and I never expect it to be so great.