Hello All,
As the title suggests, when I plug my iPhone into the minty boost, my iPhone recognizes it and says it is charging. However, it never gains any percentage. Any ideas?
MintyBoost - Charging, but not gaining
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Please be positive and constructive with your questions and comments.
- adafruit_support_rick
- Posts: 35092
- Joined: Tue Mar 15, 2011 11:42 am
Re: MintyBoost - Charging, but not gaining
It won't gain much from a pair of AA batteries. Maybe 20%. But you're not getting anything at all? Does the phone discharge, or does it just stay in one place?
- blkrush
- Posts: 34
- Joined: Thu Apr 04, 2013 6:16 pm
Re: MintyBoost - Charging, but not gaining
I am actually using a solar panel to charge, but it actually discharges. Not quickly, and not faster than normal, but it definitely is not charging. It only recognizes that it is meant to be charging.
- adafruit_support_bill
- Posts: 88154
- Joined: Sat Feb 07, 2009 10:11 am
Re: MintyBoost - Charging, but not gaining
You will not get good results with a solar panel (I know, I've tried). The MintyBoost is not designed for charging from a solar source and the output will not be steady. Many phones do not handle the changes in supply voltage well and will actually start to discharge.
For solar charging, you need a charger that is designed for use with solar panels,
https://learn.adafruit.com/usb-dc-and-s ... sign-notes
... and a battery in the circuit to help smooth over the variations in solar
This tutorial shows how to use them with a MintyBoost to charge a phone:
https://learn.adafruit.com/solar-chargi ... d-supplies
For solar charging, you need a charger that is designed for use with solar panels,
https://learn.adafruit.com/usb-dc-and-s ... sign-notes
... and a battery in the circuit to help smooth over the variations in solar
This tutorial shows how to use them with a MintyBoost to charge a phone:
https://learn.adafruit.com/solar-chargi ... d-supplies
- blkrush
- Posts: 34
- Joined: Thu Apr 04, 2013 6:16 pm
Re: MintyBoost - Charging, but not gaining
Thank you,
This is my setup.
SOLAR PANEL > Solar Lipoly Charger + Lithium Ion Polymer Battery - 3.7v 2500mAh > 4 MintyBoost.
When my 4 USB ports are drawing power the system ends up failing. I am able to plug two phones in, but not more. I do not need this to charge quickly, but I would like it to at least stay constantly on and and not flicker on and off. I thought the battery would smooth out the charging. The load port on my Lipoly Charger should be drawing from BATT and my solar panel should be charger the battery by the DC jack.
How might I be able to provide more power while using the sun?
This is my setup.
SOLAR PANEL > Solar Lipoly Charger + Lithium Ion Polymer Battery - 3.7v 2500mAh > 4 MintyBoost.
When my 4 USB ports are drawing power the system ends up failing. I am able to plug two phones in, but not more. I do not need this to charge quickly, but I would like it to at least stay constantly on and and not flicker on and off. I thought the battery would smooth out the charging. The load port on my Lipoly Charger should be drawing from BATT and my solar panel should be charger the battery by the DC jack.
How might I be able to provide more power while using the sun?
- adafruit_support_bill
- Posts: 88154
- Joined: Sat Feb 07, 2009 10:11 am
Re: MintyBoost - Charging, but not gaining
Most phones need a minimum of 500mA to charge. They will not charge at a lower rate with less curret. To get 500mA @5v, the mintyboost will need about 850mA at 3.7v.
With 2 phones you will need about 1.7A from the charger & battery. That is about what you can expect from the charger load-sharing circuit. Make sure that your battery is rated for that discharge rate also.
With 2 phones you will need about 1.7A from the charger & battery. That is about what you can expect from the charger load-sharing circuit. Make sure that your battery is rated for that discharge rate also.
- blkrush
- Posts: 34
- Joined: Thu Apr 04, 2013 6:16 pm
Re: MintyBoost - Charging, but not gaining
Alright, so I am looking for a battery that can support 4 phones. This would equal around 850mA x 4 = 3.3mA? and this is at 3.7v.
Is there a battery that adafruit sells that will be able to support the discharge rate I need as well as the mA?
Is there a battery that adafruit sells that will be able to support the discharge rate I need as well as the mA?
- adafruit_support_bill
- Posts: 88154
- Joined: Sat Feb 07, 2009 10:11 am
Re: MintyBoost - Charging, but not gaining
That's 3.4A - not mA.850mA x 4 = 3.3mA?
This cell is capable of a 4A discharge rate.
https://www.adafruit.com/product/354
Please be positive and constructive with your questions and comments.