Tagged Questions

2
votes
1answer
47 views

Charge LiPo battery with solar panel

I've a solar panel of 5.5 V and 100 mA. Could I use it to charge LiPo batteries using the MAX1555? Of couse that the voltage will drop due to the the Schottky diode.
6
votes
3answers
261 views

NiMh or LiPo batteries for unattended charging/usage

I'm in the planning stage of a summer project: A WiFi controlled robot for remotely monitoring a shore home. The robot will consist of a 4-wheel platform (4 motors, 1 A stall current each, 7 V), ...
2
votes
3answers
141 views

Low current battery monitoring

I want to run a micro-controller from a 1S lipo through a 3V linear regulator. I need to measure the battery voltage however. The problem with using a voltage divider is that it would drain the ...
4
votes
1answer
69 views

Would it harm a LiPo to charge it in several periods?

I have a 3.7V 5000mAh Lithium-Polymer battery cell, which I'm charging with the MCP73831, using the typical application circuit on page 1: I have \$R_{prog}=2\text{K}\$ and \$V_{in}=6.0\text{V}\$. ...
4
votes
3answers
128 views

Can I draw power for a component while this charger is charging the battery?

So I am working on a design for battery-heated wrist warmers. My mother has Reynauld's and arthritis, and as winter approaches it gets much worse. My basic design is that I will take a form-fitting ...
6
votes
1answer
434 views

LiPo vs. NiMH for kid's toy

I've been researching here and on google regarding potential battery technologies for a toy that I want to make for my kids. I was hoping to get others' perspectives on this, keeping in mind that ...
7
votes
1answer
160 views

Before storage why should a Lithium Polymer battery be charged up to only 40-60%

While storing a Lithium Polymer battery cell or a device with a Lithium Polymer battery why should we make sure to discharge the battery to 40-60% (and only then put it to storage)? What happens if ...
2
votes
3answers
774 views

Lithium Ion charging schematic

I am using the MCP73831 along with a Lithium Ion battery to supply an Arduino Mini project. Is it safe to supply my project directly on the battery? Or should I use a transistor to protect the project ...
4
votes
2answers
1k views

How to charge Polymer Lithium Ion Battery that comes with the Lilypad Development Board

There is a Lithium Polymer Ion Battery that comes with the Lilypad Development Board from Sparfun. Does anyone know if the battery charges if we plug in the battery to the Lilypad Arduino and connect ...
3
votes
1answer
653 views

Charging a 12.6V 3SLiPo from 5V USB (Or similar) voltage?

So, I understand that a 3Cell LiPo battery can output 12.6V when fully charged and that the cells must remain balanced to guard against Fire/Explosions/and general bad stuff happening. However, each ...
0
votes
1answer
151 views

MCP73834 disintegrates after a couple of hours

For my first attempt at Li-Po charging I chose the MCP73834-FCI/UN for availability, it has an output current of 1A. I set it up the example circuit in the datasheet and used an 6Ah battery to test ...
1
vote
1answer
418 views

LiPo series charging

I have a 3 cell lipo connected in series and I want to charge them without removing them from circuit. I only have single cell chargers so I can only charge one at a time or charge them in parallel ...
8
votes
2answers
1k views

“Breaking-in” lithium polymer batteries:Is there any research on that?

Well I just got new batteries for my RC glider and I'm thinking about what to do with its battery. For those who aren't in the RC hobby the story goes something like this: New kid buys a battery and ...
5
votes
4answers
3k views

Parallel charging of lipo batteries, maximum voltage difference?

There are numerous products that enable lipo batteries to be charged in parallel. Most sources are clear on voltage and capacity requirements, which follow pretty directly from basic circuit ...
1
vote
1answer
323 views

Algorithm for balancing LI-PO batteries?

The answers to this question provide a good overview of how a single lipo cell is charged: Algorithm for charging LI-PO batteries? Most chargers that handle lipo packs have a balance mode that ...
4
votes
4answers
960 views

Algorithm for charging LI-PO batteries?

What is the algorithm used in charging lipo batteries? From watching my charger, I see that the amperage is close to the maximum specified (i.e. what I keyed in) at the beginning and gets smaller as ...