PowerBoost 500 Charger

Keep your project running with PowerBoost 500 Charger

PowerBoost 500 Charger (Rechargeable 5V Lipo USB Boost @ 500mA+) is the ideal power supply for your own portable project.

Thanks to the battery charger circuit that is built-in, you can keep your project running even while you are recharging the battery.

Important: Always verify the polarity before connecting the battery.

This tiny DC/DC boost converter module is easily powered through any 3.7V LiIon/LiPoly battery, and it can convert the output of the battery to 5.2V DC to run your 5V projects.

Adafruit increased the output to 5.2V instead of 5.0V so that it is possible to take advantage of a little ‘headroom’ for long cables, a possible addition of a diode on the output, high draw, etc.

The 5.2V is safe for all 5V-powered electronics such as Raspberry Pi, Beagle Bone or Arduino. Thanks to the USB cable resistance, it prevents unwelcome brown-outs during high current draw.

A TPS61090 boost converter from TI is at the core of the PowerBoost 500C. This boost converter chip has some really interesting extras: excellent efficiency, 2A internal switch, low battery detection, synchronous conversion and 700KHz high-frequency operation.

• Synchronous operation allows you to completely disconnect the output by connecting to the ground the ENable pin. This will turn the output off completely.
• 2A internal switch with a peak limiting of ~2.5A will let you obtain 500mA from a LiPoly/LiIon battery of 3.7V. Be assured, though, that your battery can handle it.
• When the voltage drops below 3.2V, low battery indicator LED will light up red, optimized for the most common LiPo/LiIon battery usage.
• Onboard ‘iOS’ data resistors with a charge-rate of 500mA. When soldering in the USB connector you can plug in any iPod or iPhone, for 500mA charge rate.
• Full breakout for battery in, control pins and power out.
• In most cases 90%+ operating efficiency (for efficiency graphs consult datasheet). It presents a low quiescent current of 5mA (when it is enabled and power LED is on) and of 20uA (when disabled and power and low battery LED are off).

To make this product even more valuable, a MicroLipo charger has been stuck on the other side by Adafruit. The charger circuitry will be powered from a microUSB jack. It will recharge, at a max rate of 500mA, any 3.7V/4.2V LiIon or LiPoly battery. The charge rate is monitored by two LEDs, a yellow one signals that it is working, and a green one that will light up when it is done.

You can simultaneously charge and boost without annoying interruptions on the output, so, it can be used as an un-interruptable power supply, “UPS”. Be aware that the charge rate is 500mA max. So, the battery will slowly drain if you draw more than ~300mA continuously from the 5V output side, because the charge rate will be less than the dis-charge rate. Remember that you must always have a LiPo plugged in to manage the load spikes.

The PowerBoost 500 Charger (Rechargeable 5V Lipo USB Boost @ 500mA+) contains a completely assembled and tested PowerBoost 500C PCB + USB jack.

If your project is being powered from USB, solder in the USB A jack (it will take you only 3 minutes). In case you prefer to use a terminal block, you may solder a 3.5mm 2pin block (not included) onto the exact output spot where the USB jack should be. If you want a more compact power pack, do not sold anything.

If you want to create an output on/off switch, you can also solder a switch in!

Notes:

• Lipoly or LiIon battery are not included, just pick one with more than 500mAh of capacity.
• iPhone or charger cable are not included.
• Consult Adafruit tutorial about PowerBoost 500 + Charger for more details, schematics, ecc.

Adafruit name: PowerBoost 500 Charger – Rechargeable 5V Lipo USB Boost @ 500mA+