# Powering zynthians

**URL:** <https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/powering-zynthians/8060>\
**Category:** Hardware\
**Tags:** psu\
**Created:** [May 16, 2023, 8:34pm UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/powering-zynthians/8060 "2023-05-16T20:34:51Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![wyleu](https://discourse.zynthian.org/user_avatar/discourse.zynthian.org/wyleu/32/514_2.png) [@wyleu](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/wyleu)\
**Post date:** [May 16, 2023, 8:34pm UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/powering-zynthians/8060/1 "2023-05-16T20:34:51Z")

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I hate barrel connectors. . .

 ![barrel-connectors](https://discourse.zynthian.org/uploads/default/original/2X/d/daf6973a675f99f9b3a74d1d45707a225706806c.jpeg)

[DC connectors](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DC_connector) There’s no standards and manufacturers have made the whole area a standardised mess. 2.1mm 2.5 Positive inner, positive outer, voltage…

And that’s before considering the physical implementation, horrible !!

I’ve discovered a solution I think actually works for zynthian powering… Distribute 20-48v across rj-45 connectors using the POE pinnout…

Blue, Orange Pair + V

Brown.Green Pair 0v

Firstly you can get some really decent connectors …

![image](https://discourse.zynthian.org/uploads/default/original/2X/c/caa879e907bfb54dfbea9e2bf2fead8a183cd060.png)

[https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07F9W4B6W?psc=1&ref=ppx\_yo2ov\_dt\_b\_product\_details](https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07F9W4B6W?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details)

and it’s a standard …

And you can even run Ethernet over it with a bit of electronics.

A buck converter in the pedalboard to get down to a good solid 5.3Volts and everyone is happy.  
My pedalboard is using about 0.4~0.5 amps at 20Volts, and I finally have a connector I’d take on stage.

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**Author:** ![le51](https://discourse.zynthian.org/user_avatar/discourse.zynthian.org/le51/32/1706_2.png) [@le51](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/le51)\
**Post date:** [May 16, 2023, 9:32pm UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/powering-zynthians/8060/2 "2023-05-16T21:32:45Z")

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> [@wyleu](#):
>
> There’s no standards and manufacturers have made the whole area a standardised mess. 2.1mm 2.5 Positive inner, positive outer, voltage…

yeah that’s true but

I love barrel jacks.

Cheap, easy to solder, efficient for powering gears … You just need a voltmeter, a soldering iron, and ultra cheap components (the male or female plug) from AliEx.

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**Author:** ![riban](https://discourse.zynthian.org/user_avatar/discourse.zynthian.org/riban/32/2331_2.png) [@riban](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/riban)\
**Post date:** [May 16, 2023, 9:42pm UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/powering-zynthians/8060/3 "2023-05-16T21:42:43Z")

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RJ45 have a tendency to lose their catches. If unshielded the snap off easily. Shields become stiff and the catch wears.

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**Author:** ![wyleu](https://discourse.zynthian.org/user_avatar/discourse.zynthian.org/wyleu/32/514_2.png) [@wyleu](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/wyleu)\
**Post date:** [May 16, 2023, 9:47pm UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/powering-zynthians/8060/4 "2023-05-16T21:47:38Z")

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The ruggedized versions are pretty solid.

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**Author:** ![tunagenes](https://discourse.zynthian.org/user_avatar/discourse.zynthian.org/tunagenes/32/7279_2.png) [@tunagenes](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/tunagenes)\
**Post date:** [May 17, 2023, 5:05am UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/powering-zynthians/8060/5 "2023-05-17T05:05:10Z")

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It would be fun to argue the pros and cons of barrel connectors versus RJ-45s. If I had a ‘vote’ or my ‘druthers’ I’d go for a USB C connector, due to the power negotiation flexibility and possible use as a data connection to PCs-phones-tablets-etc. And of course, one of the many nice things about Zynthian is if you want change something, you generally can (with varying degrees of effort-trouble).

But, since we live in a (largely-arguably?) benevolent dictatorship, and we’ve been shown our future with a barrel connector and a switch (YAY!-amen-hallelujah-etc), I have a question:  
What are the dimensions-specs for the power input? Is it intended to be the more or less standard barrel used on ‘most’ guitar pedals?

Here’s what we have so far from @jofemodo:  
A very decent power supply circuit, that can be fed with DC voltage from 9V to 48V using a good & reliable “barrel” connector. And we found a very nice power connector with switch!

in

> [@Bye Bye V4... V5 is coming!](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/bye-bye-v4-v5-is-coming/7849/16):
>
> Well!, It’s time to release some stuff wink This is the Z2 Main Board and it’s the core of next official zynthian kits. It features: A very decent power supply circuit, that can be fed with DC voltage from 9V to 48V using a good & reliable “barrel” connector. And we found a very nice power connector with switch! Balanced Audio Input + Output (2 channels) =\> Almos…

I did look for the design files in:

> **[GitHub - zynthian/zynthian-hw: Zynthian hardware stuff: PCBs, schemes, parts...](https://github.com/zynthian/zynthian-hw)**
>
> Zynthian hardware stuff: PCBs, schemes, parts specifications, pin assignment, ... - GitHub - zynthian/zynthian-hw: Zynthian hardware stuff: PCBs, schemes, parts specifications, pin assignment, ...

and did not see any V5 stuff yet. Has it gone out for {PCB Fab]-assembly-manufacturing already?

By the way and a bit off-topic, I am kind of amazed that by default the spell checker for this forum thinks “Zynthian” is misspelled!

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**Author:** ![jofemodo](https://discourse.zynthian.org/user_avatar/discourse.zynthian.org/jofemodo/32/2_2.png) [@jofemodo](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/jofemodo)\
**Post date:** [May 17, 2023, 12:38pm UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/powering-zynthians/8060/6 "2023-05-17T12:38:33Z")

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> [@tunagenes](#):
>
> By the way and a bit off-topic, I am kind of amazed that by default the spell checker for this forum thinks “Zynthian” is misspelled!

It’s the browser spellchecker, so little we can do.

Regards,

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**Author:** ![tunagenes](https://discourse.zynthian.org/user_avatar/discourse.zynthian.org/tunagenes/32/7279_2.png) [@tunagenes](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/tunagenes)\
**Post date:** [May 17, 2023, 4:47pm UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/powering-zynthians/8060/7 "2023-05-17T16:47:23Z")

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Ah, thank you, I dimly understand.