Recharge LiPo battery without unplugging JST

[Dance_Marks]

I have a battery connected to Flora through the JST connector. However I want to be able to charge the battery without unplugging it from the board. Is there any way I can connect safely something like this LiPo Mini USB Charger to my battery to charge it in parallel? Is that safe?

[Dance_Marks]

I found this charger would probably suit my needs. It's bigger but most likely safer.

[adafruit_support_mike]

We also have these, which use the same control chip as the mini charger:

https://www.adafruit.com/products/1905 - Mini-USB jack
https://www.adafruit.com/products/1904 - Micro-USB jack

The chip in the full-size charger (the MCP73833) is the smarter big sister of the one in the small chargers (the MCP73831).

The '31 knows how to charge a LiPo cell, but doesn't do any charge balancing between the load and the LiPo while charging. It basically sits in parallel with the LiPo and the load. It's best for circuits that will be pretty much shut off while plugged in and charging. It can also be used for low-power loads though, because the amount of current the load steals from the charger will only slow down the LiPo charging process a little.

The '33 sits in series between the LiPo and the load, and decides whether the load should get power from the LiPo or the external power source. It gives the load priority, only using current not needed by the load to charge the LiPo. It's best for circuits that use a fairly large amount of current and need to remain on while you plug and unplug the external power source.

[Dance_Marks]

That's great news! My project is basically impossible to use while plugged anyway. I can save on size and cost by using the micro-usb one.

So I'm kind of a newbie here, but how do I go about plugging it in parallel? Do I split the JST from the battery in two and have one in the charger, one in the FLORA?

LIke so :

LiPo Charger.png (7.24 KiB) Viewed 853 times

[adafruit_support_mike]

You pretty much have it, but the charger's PCB has a couple of connection points to make hooking things together a bit easier.

Grab a JST-PH2 cable along with the charger:
https://www.adafruit.com/product/261

and solder it into the BAT and GND holes on the side of the charger. Then you can plug the LiPo into the charger's JST port and the charger into the Flora's JST port.

[Dance_Marks]

Awesome thank you so much

[marine_hm]

We also have these, which use the same control chip as the mini charger:
https://www.adafruit.com/products/1905 - Mini-USB jack
https://www.adafruit.com/products/1904 - Micro-USB jack

I missed it entirely... What is the difference between the 1904 - 1905?

Never mind.... The only difference is the USB connection. 1904 MICRO and the 1905 MINI

[adafruit_support_bill]

One uses a mini-B connector. The other uses a micro-B.

[marine_hm]

Thank you so much! Too funny, I just noticed that at the top of the screen; Says I last puchased the 1904 on September 01, 2017.
Next question. I don't see them in the store.
I got a quad copter for christmas. with a tiny lipo battery. I plan on upgrading the battery for more flight time. Which means I need to replace the connector at the copter end. (Female jst-ph?) It's going to be hard because if the short lead but I'll manage. Just won't be pretty. Can you give me a good search description so I can get the right female jst connector that the battery will plug in to?

[adafruit_support_bill]

We have the bare connectors:
https://www.adafruit.com/product/1769

And a couple versions of the connector on a breakout board:
https://www.adafruit.com/product/1862
https://www.adafruit.com/product/1863

[marine_hm]

Thanks. Added it to my cart.