I am designing a wireless sensor node and want to implement a solar power charging circuit. From my research, I'm aware you shouldn't use a LiPo to power your system load while it's being charged. This is okay when charging via USB because there is enough power from the USB to power both the LiPo and system load.
However, when it comes to solar I don't believe (from research) there's enough power to charge the LiPo and power the circuit due to my solar panel being too small (space constraints) to output enough power for both load and charging.
How do wireless sensor nodes charge themselves? Do they shut down while being charged to prevdnt damaging the LiPo?
The only feasible idea I can think of is having two LiPos that switch between charging and the other providing power to the system.
I have read some other posts, however as stated in their answer:
You cannot simultaneously charge and discharge a battery. I_battery = +Icharge - Iload. If I battery above is +ve the battery is charging. If Ibattery above is negative the battery is discharging. This is not a problem, just needs to be understood.
Which clarifies that you can't simultaneously charge and discharge, however, doesn't provide a solution. There must be a way deployed nodes in industry are recharged via solar and continue to transmit.