JohnBuschert I'm still eager to know how much current is really available on the 5V regulated line from BBB.
It's complicated. I used to think it was limited to 500mA, but actually the datasheet for the PMIC would seem to indicate that there's up to 2A on Vsys (which is what is broken out to P9.07). I therefore think that the original note " 250mA Max Current" on the original document was actually referring to the approx amount left after the on-board current usage was subtracted from the 500 mA that a USB 2.0 port is supposed to provide. OTOH, in the ~10 years since, most USB host ports have evolved to provide 2A or more without asking questions, so probably you can draw much more current there than 250mA. However, the note in the document that from P9_05 ( which is connected directly to the barrel jack) you can get "1A Max Current (only if DC jack powered)" makes me think that the limiting factor may not the PMIC, but rather the trace size of each 5V line. I expect you'll probably be fine with 1A on either (assuming your USB power provides enough current if you are USB-powered), but don't blame me if it smokes!