Can the USB, DC & Solar Lipoly Charger be used with Protected cells?
Bill
USB, DC & Solar Lipoly Charger
Moderators: adafruit_support_bill, adafruit
Please be positive and constructive with your questions and comments.
- adafruit_support_bill
- Posts: 88155
- Joined: Sat Feb 07, 2009 10:11 am
Re: USB, DC & Solar Lipoly Charger
As long as they are 3.7v nominal (4.2v full charge) Lithium cells. All of the LiPo cells in our store have protection circuits.
- ko4nrbs
- Posts: 25
- Joined: Tue Apr 26, 2016 11:41 am
Re: USB, DC & Solar Lipoly Charger
I need a charger for 18650 Li-ion cells that I can use a Solar Panel with. For this application the cells would be left connected to the Solar panel/Charger and connected to a digital camera for external power. The charger would be used to maintain the charge on the cells. It would have to be able to operate with power interruptions depending on the amount of sunshine available. In other words begin a proper charge when adequate power is available with proper charge currents. Some chargers will lower charge current when restarting a charge after power has interrupted. In addition many chargers will not restart a charge unless power is removed and/or the cells are disconnected.
Sounds like your charger meets all my requirements.
Any chance it could be modified to charge LiFePO4 26650 cells in the future? Charge voltage would be 3.6 volts.
Bill
Sounds like your charger meets all my requirements.
Any chance it could be modified to charge LiFePO4 26650 cells in the future? Charge voltage would be 3.6 volts.
Bill
- adafruit_support_bill
- Posts: 88155
- Joined: Sat Feb 07, 2009 10:11 am
Re: USB, DC & Solar Lipoly Charger
Charging a 3.6v cell would require a different charge controller chip. The MCP73871 can only be configured for cells as low as 4.1v. But I will mention it to the design team. There may be a LiFePO4 charge controller chip with similar capabilities to the MCP73871.
- ko4nrbs
- Posts: 25
- Joined: Tue Apr 26, 2016 11:41 am
Re: USB, DC & Solar Lipoly Charger
Having the ability to charge both Li-ion and LiFePO4 cells would be ideal. LiFePO4 cells are becoming more available and are not as prone to damage during charging and discharging etc. as Li-ion cells.adafruit_support_bill wrote:Charging a 3.6v cell would require a different charge controller chip. The MCP73871 can only be configured for cells as low as 4.1v. But I will mention it to the design team. There may be a LiFePO4 charge controller chip with similar capabilities to the MCP73871.
Thank you,
Bill
- ctgreybeard
- Posts: 20
- Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2013 10:02 pm
Re: USB, DC & Solar Lipoly Charger
Any progress on a charging circuit for the 26650's? I just discovered these and they look very interesting. Because they (and the 18650's) are used for vapes they are getting easy to find.
- adafruit_support_bill
- Posts: 88155
- Joined: Sat Feb 07, 2009 10:11 am
Re: USB, DC & Solar Lipoly Charger
No current plans for chargers for alternate chemistries. Our current range of chargers do work with the 18650 LiPo cells and packs that we have in the store:
https://www.adafruit.com/products/1781
https://www.adafruit.com/products/354
https://www.adafruit.com/products/353
https://www.adafruit.com/products/1781
https://www.adafruit.com/products/354
https://www.adafruit.com/products/353
- ctgreybeard
- Posts: 20
- Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2013 10:02 pm
Re: USB, DC & Solar Lipoly Charger
Thanks. One of those might work for me or I am also looking at the MCP73223 which can do 7.2V LiFePO.
Please be positive and constructive with your questions and comments.