Can I use the DC's 12V rail for the line voltage inducer?

[odsquad64]

Hi,
I'm working on doing an internal DreamPi install using a Pi Zero W on my (US) Dreamcast. I've got a USB-GDROM in my Dreamcast, so my 12V rail is going unused. Does anybody know if I can just directly use that 12V for the LVI? I've seen other builds using a boost converter on one of the other rails instead, but if I can do it without that it would save me a few dollars and some space inside the console.

Also, on other internal builds I've also seen people using the 5V rail to power the Pi and the USB modem; has anybody experienced any issues with this? I can't find any info about how much current the Dreamcast PSU can supply, but I'm hoping a few hundred more milliamps on the 5V rail doesn't make a difference.

Thanks for any help.

[megavolt85]

yes, you can use 12V for US modem

[odsquad64]

Good to know, thank you!

[odsquad64]

For anyone else who might be interested in doing a totally internal Dream Pi install and ends up stumbling upon this thread, this did work out perfectly. I used the 12V rail to power the LVI and I also used a cheap UBEC to step the 12V down to 5V to power the Pi and the the USB modem. I'm not sure if I could have just used the 5V rail to power the Pi but since I wasn't using the 12V rail at all otherwise (don't need it with a USB-GDROM), I decided I'd rather be safe than sorry. Below is a diagram to show exactly what I did.

From the outside the DC looks totally stock. The phone line is running through a hole hidden by the modem and the Pi connects to the network with Wi-Fi. I didn't take any pics because I didn't do a very tidy job on the inside.

[MrBlueSky]

Very nice. Congrats !