Powering QwiicBus from Midpoint Only: Is It Possible?

Hello everyone!

I’m working on a project using the QwiicBus system (two Endpoints and one Midpoint) to transmit data from Sparkfun’s FS300-1015 Air Velocity Sensor Breakout (located inside a wind tunnel) to an Arduino R4 that’s about 20 feet away.

As recommended, I’d like to power all three PCA9615 VDDB pins with 5V. However, due to physical constraints and project rules, a 5V source cannot be placed near either endpoint*. I’m only allowed to place a 5V source near/at the midpoint! :sob:

*Basically, it’s too difficult to bring a 5V source into the wind tunnel. The Arduino (which is itself a 5V source) can be near the terminating endpoint, but it must be optically isolated from that endpoint due to project requirements.

Given this limitation, what’s the best way to supply 5V at the midpoint and ensure it reaches the VDDB pins on all three boards?

Here are two approaches I’m considering:

Option 1:

  • Supply 5V to the midpoint’s VCC2 pin

  • Close both sides of the midpoint’s PSEL jumper, effectively shorting VCC2 and VCC1

  • Open the midpoint’s BP jumper to isolate VCC1 & VCC2 from the midpoint’s 3.3V pin

  • Open the primary endpoint’s 0-1 jumper to prevent the Air Sensor from receiving 5V

  • Open the VCC1 & GND jumpers on both endpoints so that the 5V doesn’t needlessly flow back towards the midpoint. I think I’m too old to still use the water analogy.

Option 2:

Does either of these approaches make sense, or is there a better way to distribute 5V from only the midpoint in this setup?

Thanks in advance for any guidance!

Best,

Woogly

A couple things stand out:

The air sensor should already get 3.3v from the qwiic cable, so I believe the voltage regulator isn’t needed

Your plan would work in theory but might cause weirdness if the grounds are at different levels, as the midpoint isn’t designed to be used this way.

Why not use 5v injection at the arduino side, but on the endpoint? (the right box in the diagram above)
That’s how it’s designed to be used

You could also swap to a 3.3v MCU if that’s an option to simplify it a bit