Verification on correctly using the Solar Lipo charger

[clockwork]

Hello!

I'm currently working on a outdoor solar Raspberry pi project and fell in love with your Solar Lipo charger device and I have a few questions.

1. Using the mintyboost to control the voltage for the pi and given the very similar output specs of the panel suggested (I'm using http://www.voltaicsystems.com/6-watt-panel), would the Pi be ok voltage/current wise? Also there won't be any other current drawing connect devices except the Pi camera module.

2. Given the led status' and onboard thermistor, could I Hijack any of these signals and input them into some GPIO pins on the pi? I would love to have the system status info digitally on the pi.


THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP! your the best!

-Kevin

[adafruit_support_bill]

Using the mintyboost to control the voltage for the pi

The Mintyboost will have trouble with the peak current demands of the Pi. The Powerboost would be a better match: http://www.adafruit.com/blog/2014/05/28 ... from-1-8v/

given the very similar output specs of the panel suggested (I'm using http://www.voltaicsystems.com/6-watt-panel), would the Pi be ok voltage/current wise? Also there won't be any other current drawing connect devices except the Pi camera module.

You will probably be OK for daytime use and into th evening. I don't think you will be able to charge up enough during the day to run 24x7. Keep in mind that there are some losses both in charging and boosting. 80% is a typical figure for charge efficiency. Using the PowerBoost, you should get better than 90% boost efficiency.

Given the led status' and onboard thermistor, could I Hijack any of these signals and input them into some GPIO pins on the pi? I would love to have the system status info digitally on the pi.

The LED status signals are active-low. You can use pullup resistors to 3.3v and connect them to the Pi.

[clockwork]

Great!

One more question on the suggested power boost product, I've read the datasteet and it's rated at a max input of 5.5V, but the panel I posted has an open circuit max voltage of 7V. Does the lipo solar charger drop the voltage before outputting to the low pin?

[adafruit_support_bill]

The solar LiPo charger also has a max voltage rating. This customer used a zener diode on the panel output to clamp the voltage to a safe level:
http://forums.adafruit.com/viewtopic.ph ... 7&p=282885