Minimum USB power to charge a Mini?

I'm hoping to keep a Mini charged using a bicycle dynamo and USB regulator on a long backroads trek. This combination delivers around 500ma or so, or about 2.5 watts.

Will the Mini operate while it's being charged? Will it charge when supplied with this limited amount of power -- about what you get out of a basic USB 2.0 port on a laptop or desktop PC?

(My iPhone Xs is happy with it, but I don't want to make any assumptions about the Mini.)

I know I could trickle-charge an external battery pack and charge the Mini from that, but that's inefficient and heavier than I'd prefer.

Thanks!

0 twolpert over 5 years ago

Yes, the Mini will operate while charging. In fact, it turns on when plugged in to charge.

I couldn't find any specs on required charging current. I do know that it charges fine via a regular USB 2.0 port. So I would expect it to work. However, you should try it to see how well it tops up the charge in this scenario. The effective charge rate is going to be slower because the device is operating.

0 razmichael over 5 years ago

That would be a neat solution! Given that USB 1 and 2 standard is providing up to 500ma, I cannot see how this would not work! I don't have any actual power consumption data but given the length of time the mini runs yet how quickly it can be charged, you should easily be in a net positive charge condition.

0 cyclist over 5 years ago

Thank you both!

(Now all I need to do is make my bet on whether a new-and-improved model will emerge before my summer trip!)