Troubleshooting • Re: Low voltage with step-down voltage regulator - is 4.8x EXT5V_V enough?

I have dual 3 cm long DuPont cables for the 12V in and ground in, and then I have soldered on two much thicker cables on those.

The widely available "DuPont" connectors are clones of the original Amphenol Mini-PV connector. The clones have weak spring tension and high contact resistance so aren't suitable for high current usage like powering a Pi. The high contact resistance is why you're getting a significant voltage drop. For low current I/O they're usually okay.

As a boat is a high vibration environment, I'd recommend using some hot glue or tape to secure the connectors.

Statistics: Posted by trejan — Mon Aug 03, 2026 11:55 am

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