Can We Power Arduino Nano Using a Smartphone Charger
Yes, you can power an Arduino Nano using a smartphone charger. A smartphone charger is a device that converts AC power from a wall outlet into DC power, which is suitable for charging a smartphone or other electronic device.
To power an Arduino Nano using a smartphone charger, you will need a charger with a USB output and a USB mini cable. The USB output of the charger can be plugged into the USB mini port of Arduino Nano.
As most of the smartphone chargers output regulated 5V which equals the working voltage of Arduino Nano which means it’s safe to power Nano using a smartphone charger.
Arduino Nano Power Options
Arduino Nano has different power options. Having multiple power sources increases Arduino working and compatibility. Following three ways can power Arduino Nano:
1: USB Mini Cable
USB mini port is the most reliable and efficient way of powering Arduino Nano as it provides us with constant 5V which can be directly given to Arduino Nano microcontroller and other peripherals.
To power the Arduino Nano using a smartphone charger we will use the USB mini port. Using a smartphone USB port, we can get constant 5V with current up to 1A. But according to Arduino documentation most of Arduino USB ports are limited to 0.5A of current.
2: VIN Pin
VIN pin can also be used as a power source for Arduino Nano. VIN pin works dual way. This pin is connected to an onboard voltage regulator which means it can not only give us 5V but also can power Arduino Nano through external power supply. Maximum of 16V can be given to the VIN pin.
It’s recommended to not apply voltage greater than 12V at this pin because excess voltages will be lost as heat during conversion.
3: External regulated 5V
Last power source on the list is a 5V pin. This is by far the most complicated way to power a Nano board. This is because the 5V pin bypasses the LDO regulator and any slight increase in voltage will damage Arduino permanently. This happens usually because of reverse current flow from output to input of the LDO LM1117 regulator.
Now we have completed all Arduino Nano power sources. To power Arduino Nano using a smartphone charger we will use the USB mini port of Nano.
How to Power Arduino Nano Using a Smartphone Charger
To power the Arduino Nano using a smartphone we will use a USB mini port. Connect charger output to USB mini port of Nano. Many people have concerns related to smartphone charger current rating as most chargers come with current ratings of 1A to 1.5A.
However, smartphone charger current rating has no effect over the Arduino working. Arduino will only take the required current for its working despite the high current limits of the charger. Do Not connect high current demanding leads such as motors with Arduino Nano pins. Always use external supply sources for such loads.
Demonstration
To connect the Arduino Nano with the charger, connect the 5V USB output to the Nano USB mini port using a mini cable. Plug charger into AC 220V-240V socket. We can see the power LED of Arduino Nano is ON.
Note: It is important to note that not all smartphone chargers are suitable for powering an Arduino Nano. Some chargers may not be able to provide enough current to power the Nano or may have a voltage that is outside of the recommended range for the Nano. It is a good idea to check the specifications of the charger and the Nano to ensure that they are compatible.
Conclusion
Arduino Nano is a small powerful microcontroller board. Using the smartphone charger, we can easily connect Nano with an AC supply without any need of external hardware. This article describes the power sources for Arduino Nano and discusses how we can connect Arduino Nano with smartphone charger.
