Power nuisance

Dear All,
I was an early bird and got the BrickPi before Dexter designed the “advanced power” model or offered the very convenient “power pack”.

As I received the BrickPi this week and started reading the forum, I realised how inconvenient it is powering the non-advanced power model with conventional 9v batteries, but cannot find alternatives. Can’t find anything equivalent to the power pack on Amazon / eBay, nor a AC/DC regulated 9v adapter that can connect to the BrickPi neatly, without soldering or building my own cabling: a solution that I wouldn’t like.

Being in Europe, even if I pre-ordered a new one today, I am two to three months away to get the better model delivered. What do you suggest? Have you faced my same riddle already? I saw dl6kgb’s solution http://dico.im/1gty9mu . I can’t find in the UK anything like http://dico.im/1gtyhSY with a 9v battery clip.

How hard can it be?!? It would be nice if Dexter started collecting detailed information on this subject to support us, country by country, and publish the ‘verified power solutions’ on the BrickPi website, in a way similar to the Raspberry Pi verified devices list at http://dico.im/1gtyLsk .

Giacecco

Hey giacecco,

First, thanks for backing our project early and we’re really satisfied you received the BrickPi.

I understand this is a pain. Can I ask where in Europe you are?

I can recommend two parts that are available via US distributors; I don’t know if these are available in Europe or anything like them. I assume there are no RadioShacks there.

On Mouser, there is this part, an 8XAA Battery pack, that we recommend: http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Eagle-Plastic-Devices/12BH381-GR/?qs=sGAEpiMZZMupuRtfu7GC%252bZUkqbSqG%252bPipZnfOjktQIU%3d

I just did a quick search on Amazon.uk, and found this package: http://www.amazon.co.uk/BATTERY-HOLDER-8XAA-SNAP-SXS/dp/B00CSL6HVU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1382328517&sr=8-1&keywords=8XAA

The second option seems reasonably inexpensive and in Europe. If you’re not in the UK, can you search on your local Amazon (or electronics supplier) for “8XAA Battery Holder”? Does anything show up? (If it does, can you let everyone know?)

Thanks Admin,
I’m in the UK so I could order the battery holder you found, I had no luck when I searched for it myself. I will report back after testing it.

G.

There’s also this in the UK, even cheaper but same thing:

http://cpc.farnell.com/1/1/9993-battery-holder-8xaa-snap-sxs-opp-23vb83b-pro-power.html

Now if only I could find something in Canada that would deliver quickly and hopefully free/cheap shipping.

All, the battery pack at http://www.amazon.co.uk/BATTERY-HOLDER-8XAA-SNAP-SXS/dp/B00CSL6HVU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1382328517&sr=8-1&keywords=8XAA was delivered to my home address in just two days and I am now the proud owner of a wifi-enabled, battery-powered BrickPi!

Now I am stuck getting python to work, even the basics fail, see http://www.dexterindustries.com/forum/?topic=yeah-this-isnt-working/#post-581 . It’s like the instructions missed one or two steps.

G.