SparkFun Electronics Commentsurn:uuid:214d0e4e-f1b1-d287-ce26-ac5b4c9f82492024-03-28T12:52:50-06:00SparkFun ElectronicsM-Short on PRT-10401 - SparkFun LiPo Charger Basic - Mini-USBM-Shorturn:uuid:6f1544dc-1e54-b663-c978-32d1cdd733b82018-04-26T10:57:08-06:00<p>Anything is sewable if you try hard enough. The battery connector and the USB connector are specific and so not really sewable. The power terminals are not designed for conductive thread, but with a thin enough needle you might be able to sew to it. On the other hand with the pins being so close together I'd worry about shorting. You may be better off soldering a piece of wire to each pad, pulling it off to the side and coiling the end (unstripped) and sewing conductive thread to that.</p>
Customer #983493 on PRT-10401 - SparkFun LiPo Charger Basic - Mini-USBCustomer #983493urn:uuid:da06ee97-6e3c-79bb-3adf-1ab10b2e71012018-04-25T14:10:09-06:00<p>Is this sewable?</p>
Customer #153701 on PRT-10401 - SparkFun LiPo Charger Basic - Mini-USBCustomer #153701urn:uuid:839acd77-84c6-3636-8e80-97b6f42d7de82017-01-09T21:55:49-07:00<p>What is the Vf required on the STAT Led? Thanks.</p>
Customer #682684 on PRT-10401 - SparkFun LiPo Charger Basic - Mini-USBCustomer #682684urn:uuid:96bd6a6d-7b04-f94c-1068-3a2ffed448542015-05-15T04:15:01-06:00<p>There are four different version of MCP73831T: Voltage Regulation Options: 4,20V, 4,35V, 4,40V, 4,50V. So, what is the regulation voltage of the chip used here?</p>
Innervations on PRT-10401 - SparkFun LiPo Charger Basic - Mini-USBInnervationsurn:uuid:fb6f1dae-4dfc-0106-ca5d-4ce24486dada2015-03-02T17:19:28-07:00<p>Can this be used to charge 2 3.7V lipo batteries e.g. PRT-00341</p>
Customer #612229 on PRT-10401 - SparkFun LiPo Charger Basic - Mini-USBCustomer #612229urn:uuid:0e3683d1-a0e6-0912-8e92-cb4d105d40452014-11-24T20:20:24-07:00<p>Hi, how can I check if my battery is fully charged? Is there an indicator or something on the lipo charger? And does overcharging the polymer lithium ion battery damage it in a long run?</p>
Customer #349239 on PRT-10401 - SparkFun LiPo Charger Basic - Mini-USBCustomer #349239urn:uuid:9857365b-8e52-a586-049b-63d72f13d51a2014-10-10T18:14:40-06:00<p>I could really use one with data connections too, would you consider adding the data lines on a future manufacturing run? I've created a revision to the Eagle files available here that could use the 4 pin Polarized Connectors PRT-08231 (https://www.sparkfun.com/products/8231). Modified Eagle files located at http://www.thundapurr.com/files/LiPo-Charger-Basic-v11.zip for anyone interested in making it themselves.</p>
M-Short on PRT-10401 - SparkFun LiPo Charger Basic - Mini-USBM-Shorturn:uuid:f45bfd1f-a26e-10d7-0a4b-8c471a68310d2014-09-16T12:02:30-06:00<p>I'm not sure you are understanding what volts or mAh are. The question is like saying my wall outlet is 110V, how much power do I consume a year. The two are not really related. Think of AA and AAA batteries. They are both 1.5V, but the AA are bigger and have a higher capacity. mAh is a rating of capacity. So if your system needs 3.7V you can use any 3.7V battery, the mAh rating will just tell you how long it will last.</p>
Skerpy_D on PRT-10401 - SparkFun LiPo Charger Basic - Mini-USBSkerpy_Durn:uuid:2cde715b-b622-0bb8-a57d-5b3861ff8e162014-09-16T11:22:01-06:00<p>How many mAh is 3.7 volts? I know this is a dumb question but any feedback would be greatly appreciated.</p>
Cuprum on PRT-10401 - SparkFun LiPo Charger Basic - Mini-USBCuprumurn:uuid:6c4bba68-5867-991d-d586-43313b3f144d2014-09-11T11:27:05-06:00<p>No it only uses the power</p>
Customer #594175 on PRT-10401 - SparkFun LiPo Charger Basic - Mini-USBCustomer #594175urn:uuid:03e6509e-9c84-20f5-4fb0-85b728a1bb3d2014-09-10T17:07:03-06:00<p>Does this item have access to the data lines of the usb?</p>
Customer #588053 on PRT-10401 - SparkFun LiPo Charger Basic - Mini-USBCustomer #588053urn:uuid:b7b9c56d-30e7-02bc-120e-23d1d7f00e512014-08-22T21:34:33-06:00<p>Noob question: is there a way I can power two devices with this? Say a micro board (arduino, teensy) AND a bluetooth module.</p>
Kamiquasi on PRT-10401 - SparkFun LiPo Charger Basic - Mini-USBKamiquasiurn:uuid:74ed6b1e-cc89-4e8e-19d9-31b73f4313e32014-05-15T07:42:32-06:00<p>You'd have to check the specs of your battery. This board is set up to charge at 500mA, so your battery would have to accept that. In a datasheet, there should be recommended charge currents or charge rate. A charge rate of 1C would essentially translate to 300mA - the 500mA would give ~1.67C. My guess is that the battery won't like that, and you would have to change the charge current - or check out one of the other battery charging solutions :)</p>
Customer #553074 on PRT-10401 - SparkFun LiPo Charger Basic - Mini-USBCustomer #553074urn:uuid:938f600e-e566-9c28-6a84-818b0ec895d62014-05-15T07:07:29-06:00<p>I have a question, I can charge the lipo battery 300mAh or need some modification in the resistor</p>
Customer #432464 on PRT-10401 - SparkFun LiPo Charger Basic - Mini-USBCustomer #432464urn:uuid:2593ea4c-7b85-3a31-47b3-ea1f52668ae62013-09-20T22:27:14-06:00<p>will these charge a 2 cell battery if it has a built-in balance circuit?</p>
SynapseRapture on PRT-10401 - SparkFun LiPo Charger Basic - Mini-USBSynapseRaptureurn:uuid:b73f5159-c1c7-9971-182f-a6d2585f24fa2013-03-17T22:44:30-06:00<p>I would like to build this into a device that may be exposed to rain/snow, and this being the only exterior connector makes me wonder: Is there any danger in the micro connector being shorted when not charging, so long as everything else is protected?</p>
Akatm7 on PRT-10401 - SparkFun LiPo Charger Basic - Mini-USBAkatm7urn:uuid:584b0676-b02b-f2ca-a353-024de9ac6e0a2012-09-24T16:37:48-06:00<p>no need to! it has solder through joints directly behind the jst adapter on the board
does that help any</p>
charlesfries on PRT-10401 - SparkFun LiPo Charger Basic - Mini-USBcharlesfriesurn:uuid:c4d23648-b2cb-f8c1-8576-5016fce571d32012-09-04T21:34:48-06:00<p>Dumb question here: are Lithium-Ion batteries the same as lithium polymers? Will this circuit charge L-ions?</p>
Customer #252418 on PRT-10401 - SparkFun LiPo Charger Basic - Mini-USBCustomer #252418urn:uuid:765d77c9-25e7-5b01-f3b4-595c1824e7d32012-07-22T15:05:17-06:00<p>Its been asked several times before, noone commented yet. Can I combine 10401 (LiPo Charger Basic) and 10255 (LiPower - Boost Converter) directly? Like one box with two USB connectors and a Lipo inside, where I can connect either a computer to charge the Lipo, or a mobile to charge this. Or even connect the box to an unreliable 5v source (bicycle generator comes to mind) and have the Lipo as kind of a USV?<p>I basically would connect the Lipo to both the charger and the step-up-converter, all three of them in parallel.</p><p>Any thoughts greatly welcome!</p></p>
georgekhut on PRT-10401 - SparkFun LiPo Charger Basic - Mini-USBgeorgekhuturn:uuid:ec4e3113-a22b-0dca-3b3e-46a552e72afe2012-07-14T07:02:02-06:00<p>Are these fine to use without batteries as well? I'm building an exhibition with a whole lot of Arduino Pro Mini's and was thinking to use them connected to the USB ports of the computers that are connected to each one? Seems to work when I tested it - but not sure how it would be after a few days of continuous running?<p>In a show I ran last year - I had these connected to a 1000 mAh Li Polly - usually I'd leave them to charge overnight then let the Arduino Pro Minis run on the battery - occasionally I'd have to leave them pluged into the computer - in effect - charging for upto 48 hours.</p><p>One of my li polly batteries looked very swollen and puffed up at the end of this show - not sure if it was because it got left on 'charge' too long - or what…</p><p>Any recommendations would be most welcome</p><p>Cheers</p></p>
PalmTreesandPICs on PRT-10401 - SparkFun LiPo Charger Basic - Mini-USBPalmTreesandPICsurn:uuid:e530bc6f-78f0-558b-0a63-5bcf93c613372012-06-04T07:04:07-06:00<p>Connect a battery with reversed polarity and instantly acquire magic blue smoke!<p>Where is the Blue Smoke repair kit you guys used to sell?</p></p>
Customer #325540 on PRT-10401 - SparkFun LiPo Charger Basic - Mini-USBCustomer #325540urn:uuid:d38fba06-7ed0-a625-063f-2ee97136e4bd2012-05-24T02:33:34-06:00<p>Is this board set at a 500ma charge rate already or does it have to be set, I have a 3.7v 2200 mah battery with a 20c discharge rate so I definetly want the 500ma and not the 100ma?</p>
MikeGrusin on PRT-10401 - SparkFun LiPo Charger Basic - Mini-USBMikeGrusinurn:uuid:03ddb17c-e528-4b1b-db4f-d25e09775ca92012-05-21T10:27:19-06:00<p>It's on/off; on when it's charging, off when charge is complete.</p>
Customer #325540 on PRT-10401 - SparkFun LiPo Charger Basic - Mini-USBCustomer #325540urn:uuid:fc49cc88-3e6b-00e6-2870-511483f5bc992012-05-20T21:21:52-06:00<p>Is the status led an on/off or a tri color operation?</p>
RobertC. on PRT-10401 - SparkFun LiPo Charger Basic - Mini-USBRobertC.urn:uuid:d9810a1a-975f-057d-a0be-9ac12b9085bc2012-02-24T12:10:13-07:00<p>no, you will need <a href="http://www.sparkfun.com/products/10473" rel="nofollow">this</a> or similar.</p>
Dkasai on PRT-10401 - SparkFun LiPo Charger Basic - Mini-USBDkasaiurn:uuid:922a6b5a-6d13-6cf4-67ea-4a7fc8d330952012-02-24T12:04:55-07:00<p>Will this or any other of the USB chargers charge a 7.4v lipo battery?</p>
RobertC. on PRT-10401 - SparkFun LiPo Charger Basic - Mini-USBRobertC.urn:uuid:837076d0-0b8d-c287-1cc3-6435a0cff80f2012-02-14T09:27:25-07:00<p>I think so. I'd have to re-read it though.</p>
JebBailey on PRT-10401 - SparkFun LiPo Charger Basic - Mini-USBJebBaileyurn:uuid:cf08cac6-7e3f-c42f-36bf-e6ce0a32ea162012-02-13T15:13:50-07:00<p>After reading it, does this mean that it cannot be set to charge at lower than 500mA? (As 2k is listed as the lowest)</p>
nosaj311 on PRT-10401 - SparkFun LiPo Charger Basic - Mini-USBnosaj311urn:uuid:59c968db-34ea-b9d8-0679-504bb23f70f72011-12-04T14:07:51-07:00<p>It would be great if this were combined with the LiPo fuel gauge board. Battery state + charging in one board would be amazing!</p>
PalmTreesandPICs on PRT-10401 - SparkFun LiPo Charger Basic - Mini-USBPalmTreesandPICsurn:uuid:b3bdf32c-e048-e768-89d1-04ec19b0e2842011-10-07T09:52:13-06:00<p>I tested one of these last night with an old Nokia Battery (the exploding kind) and it seem to work nicely using an old Motorola USB charger....<br>
I was surprised it got really hot (the board - not the battery) for a while, as charging continued, the temperature decreased. seems logical as the battery voltage increases, less current, blah blah blah....<br>
it was never THAT hot, but it did raise and alarm....<br>
anyone think or notice the same?</p>
baum on PRT-10401 - SparkFun LiPo Charger Basic - Mini-USBbaumurn:uuid:f0270cb7-b880-cc87-2989-d7244ea8322c2011-08-27T17:16:39-06:00<p>What's difference between this and http://www.sparkfun.com/products/10161 ?</p>
Kamiquasi on PRT-10401 - SparkFun LiPo Charger Basic - Mini-USBKamiquasiurn:uuid:2b645988-54b6-1e85-65df-663c4842ea202011-08-15T21:41:02-06:00<ol>
<li>This product will not boost 5V to 12V</li>
<li>You do not want to charge multiple LI pacls in series unless you are very certain that they have the same characteristics including their discharge. I.e. if one pack is discharged more than the other, you're going to run into problems. You might want to look at parallel charging instead. Hit Google :)</li>
</ol>
BikeLighting on PRT-10401 - SparkFun LiPo Charger Basic - Mini-USBBikeLightingurn:uuid:62816731-d637-8db1-b59d-4a271bfb3e102011-08-15T20:33:50-06:00<p>Can this be made or adapted to charge multiple LI cells in series, for example to boost the 5vdc input to 12V instead of regulating down to 4.2?<br>
OR do you have another product that will?<br>
Thank you.</p>
schpoe on PRT-10401 - SparkFun LiPo Charger Basic - Mini-USBschpoeurn:uuid:bf118dc3-1260-0507-5cea-5358f5f44a682011-06-22T18:31:08-06:00<p>Can you hook up a LED somewhere on this to show when it is charging then LED shuts off showing when battery is charged?</p>
MikeGrusin on PRT-10401 - SparkFun LiPo Charger Basic - Mini-USBMikeGrusinurn:uuid:68e91352-068c-23d6-0040-32e35c4057bc2011-06-17T12:34:45-06:00<p>It depends on your battery. Look for the charging "C" rate for your battery, this will tell you whether 500mA is appropriate or not.</p>
Customer #184519 on PRT-10401 - SparkFun LiPo Charger Basic - Mini-USBCustomer #184519urn:uuid:3815e3b9-c6d4-7e9b-a8a9-d07871efb7d82011-05-25T09:40:27-06:00<p>Ok, is it better to charge at a lower charge current?</p>
RobertC. on PRT-10401 - SparkFun LiPo Charger Basic - Mini-USBRobertC.urn:uuid:f02a6de4-ab48-2bfb-6fdd-c37b31e3a1432011-05-23T14:19:52-06:00<p>Check the datasheet and schematic. program resistor is set to 2k, wihch means 500ma.</p>
Customer #184519 on PRT-10401 - SparkFun LiPo Charger Basic - Mini-USBCustomer #184519urn:uuid:6e0c68ce-78aa-6288-a1f6-1f57e17188bc2011-05-23T06:29:47-06:00<p>The datasheet says:<br>
<em>- Four Voltage Regulation Options: 4,20V, 4,35V, 4,40V, 4,50V</em><br>
<em>- Programmable Charge Current: 15 mA to 500 mA</em><br>
How can I regulate that and how can I select a charge current or charge voltage?</p>
cpurious on PRT-10401 - SparkFun LiPo Charger Basic - Mini-USBcpuriousurn:uuid:b72d0f33-ed49-39f7-5aa2-5652f91f15e02011-05-13T12:55:03-06:00<p>Thanks for the info.<br>
Looks like the only difference in the two boards schematics is the jumper for charging current and the two different connectors for system and batt. The system and batt outputs are both hooked up to the VBAT line though, so both boards are setup the same with the same charging IC. And actually I just noticed that this boards schematic lists the plus/minus connectors behind the battery connect as "Connected to 3.7V System". So both boards should be able to do in circuit charging.</p>
alinosa on PRT-10401 - SparkFun LiPo Charger Basic - Mini-USBalinosaurn:uuid:c0cfdd5a-4106-c0c5-5d44-769203e547a52011-05-13T09:06:54-06:00<p>You are looking for this:<br>
http://www.sparkfun.com/products/10161<br>
HTH</p>
pretenda on PRT-10401 - SparkFun LiPo Charger Basic - Mini-USBpretendaurn:uuid:ede23c4c-1218-484e-b1ce-f1ed037fe9082011-04-20T01:44:13-06:00<p>I am also curious about this ... anyone know?</p>
cpurious on PRT-10401 - SparkFun LiPo Charger Basic - Mini-USBcpuriousurn:uuid:14963e05-094c-7fdf-f69d-244314185fd12011-04-19T16:29:56-06:00<p>Can you use this board to charge a battery while it is connected to another circuit? Like if you split the wire from the battery and connected it to this charger board and the board the battery was meant to power at the same time?</p>
nyctea on PRT-10401 - SparkFun LiPo Charger Basic - Mini-USBnycteaurn:uuid:1a4f87fe-a6d1-608b-3497-6ba8290c39082011-04-09T07:59:34-06:00<p>Lipo 3.7V max. rate 100 mAh?</p>
Customer #211509 on PRT-10401 - SparkFun LiPo Charger Basic - Mini-USBCustomer #211509urn:uuid:05b6e038-bc13-f6bd-aa6d-a71ca84fd3772011-03-19T07:05:03-06:00<p>Can this be used to charge a Li-ion 3.7V 800mAh (Pentax D-Li88)battery?</p>
danpapuga on PRT-10401 - SparkFun LiPo Charger Basic - Mini-USBdanpapugaurn:uuid:6ca85642-c76e-9eda-d08c-38ded476db532011-03-16T07:22:22-06:00<p>It's a happy lil' LiPo charger!</p>
Nabelops on PRT-10401 - SparkFun LiPo Charger Basic - Mini-USBNabelopsurn:uuid:1d6adc6a-bfc6-fa68-ef24-8798bceab2182011-03-14T08:42:16-06:00<p>You know, just my luck they come out with a mini version right after I bought the micro. Down with Micro!</p>
Azayles on PRT-10401 - SparkFun LiPo Charger Basic - Mini-USBAzaylesurn:uuid:b8dcd367-400f-d770-ace1-54bcddf416482011-03-11T11:22:56-07:00<p>It'd be good if this and the Micro USB version had an "end view" picture to show the USB socket in more detail. Some people might not know if they have a cable for the Micro USB socket, or the Mini USB one.<br>
Edit: Also, anyone else seeing the face in picture 4? :)</p>
dRudRu on PRT-10401 - SparkFun LiPo Charger Basic - Mini-USBdRudRuurn:uuid:6c8ea7f0-5914-fbda-6750-d8dd9cd8623b2011-03-10T14:28:54-07:00<p>YES! I am one of the anti-micro USB nuts, so this is good news!</p>