Has anybody tried running a Pi Zero from a single LiPO cell such as you'd use in a RC model aircraft or a drone? The voltage varies with charge from 4.2 v down to about 3.7 v
I think it should work since the Pi has a regulator that drops the 5v supply voltage to 3.3 for internal use, but I don't know what minimum voltage the internal regulator needs to work correctly.
FWIW, I'd prefer to avoid using a standard off-the-shelf 5v output power pack because:
- They're are rather bulkier than a bare LiPO and, if possible, I'd like to get a Pi zero plus the battery into the space behind a Pimoroni HyperPixel - 4.0, which is 86mm x 56.5mm
- Almost all power packs only have a single mini USB connection for both charging and power output, so it would need a additional wiring and at least an external socket plus plug to avoid the need to unplug it from the Pi to charge it - adding more bulk and fiddling.