Methods and apparatus for supplying power to a printer

A method for providing power to a printing device, the method comprising:

• providing power transmissions from a power storage unit to a power converter of the printing device, the power converter to supply an available amount of power to a print mechanism, the print mechanism having separately controllable print elements;
• determining, using a logic circuit, a required amount of power for an upcoming print operation that involves energizing the print elements, the print elements including a first group of the print elements and a second group of the print elements;
• when the required amount of power is less than or equal to the available amount of power, performing the print operation by simultaneously energizing the print elements;
• and
• when the required amount of power is greater than the available amount of power, performing the print operation by alternately energizing the first group of the print elements at first times and the second group of the print elements at second times different than the first times.

A controller in communication with a print mechanism having print elements, the controller comprising:

• memory including machine-readable instructions;
• and
• a processor to execute the instructions to cause a printing device to:
• determine a required amount of power for an upcoming print operation that involves energizing the print elements, the print elements including a first group of the print elements and a second group of the print elements;
• determine an available amount of power from a power storage unit;
• when the required amount of power is less than or equal to the available amount of power, cause the print mechanism to perform the print operation by simultaneously energizing the print elements;
• and
• when the required amount of power is greater than the available amount of power, cause the print mechanism to perform the print operation by alternately energizing the first group of the print elements at first times and the second group of the print elements at second times different than the first times.