How do I run power to a USB-C powered sensor? (lemmy.nz)

submitted 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) by Dave@lemmy.nz to c/homeassistant@lemmy.world

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I'm just bought an Airgradient air quality sensor (actually two, an indoor and an outdoor).

I want to mount the outdoor one but it needs a USB-C power supply. I can run a cable but power isn't exactly close. Do I somehow find a 10m USB-C cable and run it through the roof to the sensor that I mount on the side of the house? What's a normal way of getting USB-C power to an area far away from the closest power point?

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[-] Concave1142@lemmy.world 2 points 4 months ago

POE network switch + RJ45 to USB adapter. I run a presence sensor as a test sensor in my hole office via a Door switch. Works great.

[-] slazer2au@lemmy.world 1 points 4 months ago

Honestly, I would run a normal power cord out there and mount the power point and power converter into an outdoor enclosure.

That way in the future if you change the unit you have a 240/110 outlet there for whatever you need.

[-] viking@infosec.pub 0 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

I have a 15m long USB-C cable that's just about sufficient to power a surveillance camera, but due to the length it only delivers 0.1-0.15A. Depending on the needs that might just be enough though.

Edit: Measured with Ampere (Android app), I simply plugged my phone in to test.

[-] Dave@lemmy.nz 1 points 4 months ago

I wasn't able to find peak power draw info but it says it should be plugged into a 2A 5V USB plug. I'm surprised how much your power drops over the length. Maybe the POE solution would be better.

[-] viking@infosec.pub 2 points 4 months ago

I really doubt the device really needs 2A, that sounds more like the definition of a generic phone charger than functional requirement. But yeah POE or simply a regular extension cord where you plug in a short cable at the end would be a safe bet.

[-] Dave@lemmy.nz 1 points 4 months ago

I've bit the bullet and ordered a POE to USB adapter, which seems like the best plan. I'd rather that then running another 240v cable through the roof anyway.

[-] shortwavesurfer@lemmy.zip 0 points 4 months ago

Small solar panel

[-] Dave@lemmy.nz 0 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

Is that feasible? It doesn't have an in-built battery, so it's not going to be able to deal with the fluctuations in power? Not to mention it won't operate at night. I'm also not sure what the power requirements are, but the solar panels I can find seem to be between 2 and 6 watts, which doesn't seem like much, especially when I want it to operate at night time too so even if I added a battery it probably couldn't provide enough power to cover the night and dark days.

Electronics running off solar panels seem to need to be designed for it. I'd much prefer a wired in option.

Also it will be on the roof next to giant ass 400W panels that power the house, so it might feel inadequate 😆

[-] Sxan@piefed.zip -1 points 4 months ago

I don't know anyþing about þese products, nor do I have a solution; I just want to interject þat an external, USB-powered device wiþ no battery seems... really odd. Þe combination of technologies is extremely unusual.

How much power does it draw? Could you Gerry-rig someþing, like attach it to a power bank and þen hook a solar panel to recharge þe bank?

I mean, who runs USB-C cables þrough walls to power devices? Why would someone design an external USB-C device wiþ no battery? So bizarre.

this post was submitted on 17 Oct 2025

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