USB / DC / Solar Lithium Ion/Polymer charger - v2 Not Chargi

[tarstarkes]

Hello, I am new to the forum and I am looking for some help with the following product:
https://www.adafruit.com/product/390

I have set the charger up as best as I can and it seems to work fine when there is a load on, but no matter what I seem to try, I cannot get the PCB to charge the battery regardless of what method is used (solar panel, usb power, or direct DC charger); nothing triggers the CHRG LED and the DONE LED remains unlit as well. The capacitor is soldered in with the correct polarity (though I am not proud of the solder job, it's amateurish because I lack the proper tools and steady hands). I am not using a thermistor for this project. I am at a loss to what the issue may be, my best guess is that the capacitor or perhaps even the PCB may be defective. Any ideas/suggestions/thoughts that might help me resolve this issue are thoroughly welcome!

[adafruit_support_bill]

If you post some photos showing your soldering and connections to the board we can take a look.

[tarstarkes]

Here you go.

20181227_171017.jpg (621.13 KiB) Viewed 367 times

20181227_170956.jpg (941.37 KiB) Viewed 367 times

20181227_170949.jpg (856.18 KiB) Viewed 367 times

[adafruit_support_bill]

The soldering on the cap looks serviceable. But I don't see a power source, LiPo cell or load. We need to know the complete circuit to diagnose the problem.

[tarstarkes]

Sorry about that, I misinterpreted what you meant by connections to the board. Here is the device all hooked up, I have the mini-usb plugged into a desktop computer USB port. both the port and the cable have been tested and are in working order. I took a few photos here, some under load and some without load, but the result remains the same, the CHRG LED never lights up. I could take a photo with the solar panel attached as well, but it seems unnecessary at this point simply because the board does not seem to be allowing power to flow to the battery even when a reliable source of power is provided over Mini-USB.

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20181228_110203.jpg (869.11 KiB) Viewed 338 times

20181228_110148.jpg (974.12 KiB) Viewed 338 times

one more photo to come....

[tarstarkes]

20181228_110103.jpg (549.35 KiB) Viewed 338 times

[adafruit_support_bill]

I have set the charger up as best as I can and it seems to work fine when there is a load on, but no matter what I seem to try, I cannot get the PCB to charge the battery

Just to clarify: The load is getting power when connected through the board, but the battery is not charging?

[tarstarkes]

Correct; that remains true regardless of load, so even if the load is removed (see 20181228_110203.jpg) the battery does not appear to charge.

[adafruit_support_bill]

Please contact [email protected] with a link to this thread and we can send a replacement board.

[tarstarkes]

Can do. Thank you.

[tarstarkes]

Got the new PCB in the mail today, wired in the capacitor and everything appears to be working the way it was intended.

[adafruit_support_bill]

Excellent! Thanks for the follow-up.

[tarstarkes]

Thank YOU for all your help. Much appreciated.

[rspinder]

Hi, I'm having a similar problem. The charger is able to supply power to a nodeMCU, but is not charging a 3.7v 5000 mAH. I've swapped out batteries and still have the same problem. Any ideas?

[adafruit_support_bill]

@rspinder - please post photos showing your soldering and connections to the charger board.