Adafruit USB Li-Ion LiPo Battery Charger Documentation

Component Name

Adafruit USB Li-Ion/LiPo Battery Charger

Overview

The Adafruit USB Li-Ion/LiPo Battery Charger is a compact and efficient charging module designed to recharge Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) and Lithium-Polymer (LiPo) batteries via a USB connection. This charger is an ideal solution for powering IoT devices, robotics, and other projects that require a reliable and efficient battery charging system.

Functionality

The Adafruit USB Li-Ion/LiPo Battery Charger is designed to charge a single cell Li-Ion or LiPo battery from a USB power source. The charger features a simple and intuitive design, making it easy to integrate into a wide range of applications. The charger's primary function is to regulate the charging voltage and current to ensure safe and efficient charging of the battery.

Key Features

USB Powered: The charger is powered via a standard USB connection, making it easy to connect to a computer, wall adapter, or any other USB power source.
Li-Ion/LiPo Compatibility: The charger is designed to charge single cell Li-Ion and LiPo batteries, making it suitable for a wide range of applications.
Constant Current/Constant Voltage (CC/CV) Charging: The charger features a CC/CV charging algorithm that ensures safe and efficient charging of the battery. The charger provides a constant current during the bulk charging phase and switches to a constant voltage during the float charging phase.
Overcharge Protection: The charger features built-in overcharge protection, which prevents the battery from being overcharged and damaged.
Short Circuit Protection: The charger includes short circuit protection to prevent damage to the charger, battery, or connected devices in the event of a short circuit.
Low Dropout Voltage: The charger has a low dropout voltage, which ensures that the charger can continue to operate efficiently even when the input voltage drops.
Compact Design: The charger is designed to be compact and lightweight, making it ideal for use in space-constrained applications.
Indicator LED: The charger features an indicator LED that indicates the charging status of the battery.

Technical Specifications

Input Voltage

5V (USB standard)

Input Current

Up to 1A (dependent on USB power source)

Output Voltage

4.2V (constant voltage charging phase)

Output Current

Up to 500mA (dependent on battery type and capacity)

Charging Algorithm

CC/CV (constant current/constant voltage)

Efficiency

85%

Operating Temperature

-20C to +85C

Dimensions

20mm x 15mm x 4mm

Applications

The Adafruit USB Li-Ion/LiPo Battery Charger is suitable for a wide range of applications, including

IoT devices

Robotics

Portable electronics

Wearable devices

Battery-backed systems

Conclusion

The Adafruit USB Li-Ion/LiPo Battery Charger is a reliable and efficient charging solution for single cell Li-Ion and LiPo batteries. Its compact design, simple operation, and built-in protection features make it an ideal choice for a wide range of applications.

Pin Configuration

Adafruit USB Li-Ion LiPo Battery Charger Pinout Explanation
The Adafruit USB Li-Ion LiPo Battery Charger is a compact and efficient charging module designed for Li-Ion and LiPo batteries. The module features a USB input and a single-cell lithium-ion/lithium-polymer battery charging circuit. Here's a detailed explanation of each pin and their connections:
Pinout:
1. VBAT:
Function: Battery Connection (+) Terminal
Description: Connect the positive terminal of the Li-Ion/LiPo battery to this pin.
Type: Output
2. GND:
Function: Ground Terminal
Description: Connect the negative terminal of the Li-Ion/LiPo battery and the system ground to this pin.
Type: Output
3. VUSB:
Function: USB Power Input (+) Terminal
Description: Connect the positive terminal of the USB power source (e.g., a USB port) to this pin.
Type: Input
4. GND (second GND pin):
Function: USB Ground Terminal
Description: Connect the negative terminal of the USB power source (e.g., a USB port) to this pin.
Type: Input
5. EN:
Function: Enable Pin
Description: This pin is used to enable or disable the charging circuit. Tie this pin to VBAT or VUSB to enable charging. Tie to GND to disable charging.
Type: Input
6. ST:
Function: Status Pin
Description: This pin indicates the charging status. It will be high when charging and low when not charging.
Type: Output
7. D- and D+:
Function: USB Data Pins
Description: These pins are not used for charging and can be left unconnected.
Connection Structure:
To use the Adafruit USB Li-Ion LiPo Battery Charger, follow these connection steps:
1. Connect the Li-Ion/LiPo battery:
Connect the positive terminal of the battery to the VBAT pin.
Connect the negative terminal of the battery to the GND pin.
2. Connect the USB power source:
Connect the positive terminal of the USB power source (e.g., a USB port) to the VUSB pin.
Connect the negative terminal of the USB power source (e.g., a USB port) to the GND pin.
3. Enable the charging circuit (optional):
If you want to enable the charging circuit, tie the EN pin to VBAT or VUSB.
If you want to disable the charging circuit, tie the EN pin to GND.
4. Monitor the charging status (optional):
Connect the ST pin to a microcontroller or a LED indicator to monitor the charging status.
Important Notes:
Make sure to match the battery chemistry and capacity to the charger's specifications.
Use a suitable USB power source that can provide the required current for charging.
Follow proper safety precautions when working with batteries and charging circuits.

Code Examples

Adafruit USB Li-Ion LiPo Battery Charger Documentation

The Adafruit USB Li-Ion LiPo Battery Charger is a versatile and compact charging module designed to recharge single-cell lithium-ion/polymer (Li-Ion/LiPo) batteries from a USB port. This module is ideal for IoT projects that require a reliable and efficient battery charging solution.

Pinout and Connections

The charger module has the following pinout:

Vin (Input Voltage): Connect to a 5V USB power source
 Vout (Output Voltage): Connect to the positive terminal of the Li-Ion/LiPo battery
 GND (Ground): Connect to the negative terminal of the Li-Ion/LiPo battery
 EN (Enable): Optional, connects to a digital output (e.g., a microcontroller pin) to enable/disable charging
 STAT (Status): Optional, connects to a digital input (e.g., a microcontroller pin) to monitor charging status

Code Examples

### Example 1: Basic Charging with Arduino

This example demonstrates how to use the Adafruit USB Li-Ion LiPo Battery Charger with an Arduino board to recharge a Li-Ion/LiPo battery.

```cpp
const int chargeEnablePin = 2;  // Digital output pin to enable charging

void setup() {
  pinMode(chargeEnablePin, OUTPUT);
  digitalWrite(chargeEnablePin, HIGH);  // Enable charging
}

void loop() {
  // No loop needed, charging is handled by the module
}
```

### Example 2: Monitoring Charging Status with Raspberry Pi (Python)

This example shows how to use the Adafruit USB Li-Ion LiPo Battery Charger with a Raspberry Pi to recharge a Li-Ion/LiPo battery and monitor the charging status.

```python
import RPi.GPIO as GPIO

charge_stat_pin = 17  # GPIO pin connected to the STAT pin

GPIO.setmode(GPIO.BCM)
GPIO.setup(charge_stat_pin, GPIO.IN, pull_up_down=GPIO.PUD_UP)

while True:
    if GPIO.input(charge_stat_pin) == GPIO.HIGH:
        print("Battery is fully charged!")
    elif GPIO.input(charge_stat_pin) == GPIO.LOW:
        print("Battery is charging...")
    else:
        print("Error: Unknown charging status")
```

Note: Make sure to check the specifications of your Li-Ion/LiPo battery and adjust the charging module settings accordingly. Additionally, always follow proper safety precautions when working with lithium-ion batteries.

For more information and detailed specifications, please refer to the datasheet and documentation provided by Adafruit.

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