Okay to use VUSB to power 5 V sensors? [answered - yes]

[jdheinzmann]

Hi, Felix,

As you know, I am replacing the shaft encoder of my Arduino UNO based engine instrumentation with a Moteino M0 based wireless encoder.  But there are two pressure sensors on the local side of the RF link which are powered by 5V and I've already built several shields using them.  In order to replace the 5 V UNO with the 3.3 V M0, I will of course need to level shift the signals coming from the sensors.  But I will need to power the sensors with 5 V.  As with the UNO, I will always be powering the M0 via USB. 

With the UNO, I use the 5 V pin (which comes form USB) to power the sensors.  May I use the M0's VUSB as a power output (instead of an input) to power these sensors?  What is the rating of the M0 fuse on the VBUS line?

Thanks.  -JD

[Felix]

I don't see why not. The M0 uses very little power so I'm sure there is no concern with USB providing the extra few mA for your sensors.
The uUSB 5V input goes through the polyfuse and breaks out on the VUSB (will be renamed VIN in R2 which is due to land soon).
The polyfuse is this: https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/bel-fuse-inc/0ZCK0020FF2G/507-1811-1-ND/4156251

[jdheinzmann]

Okay, good to know.  Thanks for the fuse info.  -JD