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Power

The RUBIK-Pi requires a minimum of 20W to operate reliably and can accept up to 36W. When powering from a robot's variable 12V system, a buck-boost converter is always required to provide stable 12V power. Using less than 20W may cause brownouts during high-processing workloads.

warning

Power Requirement Warning
Always provide at least 20W to prevent system instability. Lower power supplies may cause unexpected reboots or hardware issues. The board will draw 36w at full potential however we've not seen this usecase in FRC (yet)

Buck-Boost Converter​

Since robotics power systems provide variable 12V, a buck-boost converter is mandatory to regulate voltage to the required stable 12V for the RUBIK-Pi:

  1. Buck-Boost Converter
    Pololu S13V25F12 Buck-Boost Converter
    Converts variable 12V input to stable 12V output

  2. Connection Options
    Connect the converter output to the RUBIK-Pi using:

    • [USB-C live wire] (direct connection to USB-C port using a live wire capable of 12v)
    • USB Power Delivery board (for adjustable voltage)

Buck-Boost Connection Diagram

caution

Ensure your buck-boost converter is properly configured for 12V output. Incorrect voltage settings may damage the RUBIK-Pi.

USB-C Power (For Non-Robotics Use Only)​

Only applicable when using a dedicated 12V power supply (e.g., phone charger or power bank)

The USB-C port labeled PWR IN (next to the buttons) can accept 12V power directly:

USB-C Power Port

  • Requires a stable 12V/2A+ power supply (20W+)
  • Not suitable for direct connection to 12V robotics systems

Soldered Power (Advanced)​

For advanced users, solder directly to the power headers (with stable 12V)

Soldered Power Connectors

danger

Not Recommended for FRC Systems
This method has not been tested with typical FRC power supplies. Always use a buck-boost converter for 12V systems.