Specifications

Shield pin configuration
4 Powering the Intel® Edison kit for Arduino*
You can power the Intel® Edison kit for Arduino* using any of the following:
• an external power supply on J1;
• DCIN via shield header pin VIN;
• a USB cable via micro USB connector J16; or
• a lithium-ion battery connected to J2.
When power is applied to J1 or VIN, the external power must be in the range of 7 to 17 V. The power is converted
to 5 V via a switching power supply, which powers the rest of the system. This supply was designed for a 1 A
continuous supply. Higher currents will generate more power losses and may thermally damage the switcher. The
switcher does have internal short circuit protection, and thermal shutdown protection. The end-user should not
rely on thermal not short circuit protection.
Figure 6 shows the power distribution network of the Intel® Edison kit for Arduino*.
Figure 6 Intel® Edison kit for Arduino* power distribution network
Power from the 5 V switcher is diode-ORed with power from the USB connector. This arrangement allows the Intel®
Edison kit for Arduino* to run off external power or USB power. This rail is used to power the shields, the SD card
slot, and a 4.35 V switcher. The total current on this rail should be limited to 1 A maximum continuous.
The 4.35 V rail powers a battery charger and the Intel® Edison compute module. The 4.3 V supply is also designed
to generate 1 A, and has the same protections (thermal and short circuit) as the 5 V supply.
The charger is designed to only accept 1 A maximum from the 4.35 V rail, and will charge a battery at 100 mA. The
charger will supply power from the 4.35 V input or from the battery (if attached). The charger will charge the
battery (from the 4.35 V supply) autonomously using whatever power is left over from powering the Intel® Edison
kit for Arduino.
For low voltage systems, the Intel® Edison compute module can provide 3.3 V at 250 mA to the shields. The user
should limit the current from the Intel® Edison kit for Arduino* 3.3 V rail. Higher currents will cause the 3.3 V output
to droop (due to IR losses), and may cause excessive heating of the Intel® Edison compute module.
The Intel® Edison compute module is a low power device. It normally operates at 200 mA. During Wi-Fi transmit
bursts, the current could reach 600 mA for milliseconds. The sum of the Intel® Edison kit for Arduino* current,
recharging, SD card, and shield power could exceed the 500 mA specification. This could cause triggering of the
USB power switch within a PC, causing loss of USB functionality until the PC is restarted.
Intel® Edison Kit for Arduino*
Hardware Guide December 2014
18 Document Number: 331191-004