Hi,
I'm new to Adafruit and Arduino. I just bought the Arduino 101 and need to power it with a rechargeable battery. I'm therefore interested in the Adafruit PowerBoost 500 Shield.
1. Is it compatible with the Arduino 101? This is a board running on 3.3V, and I'm not sure how pins 5V and 3.3V interact. I understand the Adafruit PowerBoost 500 Shield provides 5.2V to the 5V pin. Will this be then transformed to 3.3V by the Arduino 101? It's not clear in the Arduino 101 technical specs.
2. Can I plug a solar panel? (see competing product http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/LiPo-R ... p-992.html)
3. I understand LiPo batteries represent a safety hazard when not handled properly or charged at the correct temperature. I imagine Li-ion is better in terms of safety. Is the Adafruit PowerBoost 500 Shield compatible with Li-Ion batteries? If not, do you provide any charging solution designed for Arduino that is compatible with Li-Ion batteries? Is there any reason if you don't?
Thanks a lot.
Julien
Adafruit PowerBoost 500 Shield for Arduino 101?
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- julienvm
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- adafruit_support_mike
- Posts: 67485
- Joined: Thu Feb 11, 2010 2:51 pm
Re: Adafruit PowerBoost 500 Shield for Arduino 101?
1) The PowerBoost Shield will work with the Arduino 101. The Shield boosts 3.7v LiPo voltage to 5v, and that goes to the Arduino through the 5v pin. The Arduino 101 has a 3.3v regulator powered from the 5v rail, and that powers the microprocessor.
2) No. Getting useful power from a solar panel requires a special circuit (a maximum power point tracker), and the PowerBoost doesn't have that.
3) It depends on the battery voltage. The MCP73831 which charges the battery is designed for 3.7v LiPos, and it's important to match the charger to the battery's operating voltage.
The idea that Li-Ion batteries are safer than LiPos is somewhat out of date. Manufacturers have put a lot of effort into LiPo technology because the moldable polymer is really convenient for portable devices. As long as you operate the battery in its safe discharge range (usually specified in the battery description) you don't have to worry about overheating. Safe disposal is mostly a matter of making sure the battery is discharged before putting it in the trash. Both the Li-Ion and LiPo chemistries are landfill safe.
2) No. Getting useful power from a solar panel requires a special circuit (a maximum power point tracker), and the PowerBoost doesn't have that.
3) It depends on the battery voltage. The MCP73831 which charges the battery is designed for 3.7v LiPos, and it's important to match the charger to the battery's operating voltage.
The idea that Li-Ion batteries are safer than LiPos is somewhat out of date. Manufacturers have put a lot of effort into LiPo technology because the moldable polymer is really convenient for portable devices. As long as you operate the battery in its safe discharge range (usually specified in the battery description) you don't have to worry about overheating. Safe disposal is mostly a matter of making sure the battery is discharged before putting it in the trash. Both the Li-Ion and LiPo chemistries are landfill safe.
- julienvm
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Sun Dec 27, 2015 8:56 pm
Re: Adafruit PowerBoost 500 Shield for Arduino 101?
Thanks Mike for the useful answers.
One follow-up question: Can I use the micro USB port (that is normally used for charging the battery) to also program/communicate with the Arduino chip?
To conserve space, I would like to remove the Arduino USB port which is too bulky, and use only the micro USB from the PowerBoost to charge, power, and program the Arduino chip.
Thanks.
Julien
One follow-up question: Can I use the micro USB port (that is normally used for charging the battery) to also program/communicate with the Arduino chip?
To conserve space, I would like to remove the Arduino USB port which is too bulky, and use only the micro USB from the PowerBoost to charge, power, and program the Arduino chip.
Thanks.
Julien
- adafruit_support_mike
- Posts: 67485
- Joined: Thu Feb 11, 2010 2:51 pm
Re: Adafruit PowerBoost 500 Shield for Arduino 101?
Nope, sorry.
The Arduino's headers don't provide the connections necessary to send the USB data signals to or from a shield.
The Arduino's headers don't provide the connections necessary to send the USB data signals to or from a shield.
- cvonk
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Sat Jun 06, 2015 12:44 pm
Re: Adafruit PowerBoost 500 Shield for Arduino 101?
How do you suggest connecting the PowerBoost 500 to the Arduino 101?
The obvious solution would be to use Vin on J10, but the power selector U202 needs 5.75V while my PowerBoost supplies 5.13V. I tried removing R82, but U202 still didn't drive the EN input on U10 *).
Another options would be to connect directly to the 5V rail on J10, but this conflicts with U10 on the board.
Yet another solution is to connect to USB VBUS on J17 but this will conflict with the 5V USB power from the computer connected.
Would it be an option to increase the output voltage from the PowerBoost?
References are to the public Intel NDG Arduino 101 schematics dated 2016-01-25.
*) testing with bench power supply, it seems like even with R82 removed U10 still needs Vin=5.25V.
The obvious solution would be to use Vin on J10, but the power selector U202 needs 5.75V while my PowerBoost supplies 5.13V. I tried removing R82, but U202 still didn't drive the EN input on U10 *).
Another options would be to connect directly to the 5V rail on J10, but this conflicts with U10 on the board.
Yet another solution is to connect to USB VBUS on J17 but this will conflict with the 5V USB power from the computer connected.
Would it be an option to increase the output voltage from the PowerBoost?
References are to the public Intel NDG Arduino 101 schematics dated 2016-01-25.
*) testing with bench power supply, it seems like even with R82 removed U10 still needs Vin=5.25V.
- adafruit_support_mike
- Posts: 67485
- Joined: Thu Feb 11, 2010 2:51 pm
Re: Adafruit PowerBoost 500 Shield for Arduino 101?
It would probably be easiest to splice the PowerBoost into a regular USB cable.
Open the cable and find the 5v and GND wires. Cut the 5v wire and connect the GND wire to GND on the PowerBoost. Then connect the PowerBoost's 5v and GND lines to the corresponding wires going to the male USB connector.
There's no easy way to change the PowerBoost's output. By the time you got done changing everything involved, it would be a whole new board.
Open the cable and find the 5v and GND wires. Cut the 5v wire and connect the GND wire to GND on the PowerBoost. Then connect the PowerBoost's 5v and GND lines to the corresponding wires going to the male USB connector.
There's no easy way to change the PowerBoost's output. By the time you got done changing everything involved, it would be a whole new board.
Please be positive and constructive with your questions and comments.