Rechargeable power boost 500 and solar power
Moderators: adafruit_support_bill, adafruit
Please be positive and constructive with your questions and comments.
- noanalyst
- Posts: 139
- Joined: Thu Sep 04, 2014 11:17 pm
Rechargeable power boost 500 and solar power
I just purchased the POWERBOOST 500 CHARGER - RECHARGEABLE 5V LIPO USB BOOST and I want to recharge it with a 5volt solar panel rather than the micro usb. Can I just connect my solar panel to where the micro usb is? If not, is there any workaround whereby I can get it to work with a solar panel?
- adafruit_support_bill
- Posts: 88093
- Joined: Sat Feb 07, 2009 10:11 am
Re: Rechargeable power boost 500 and solar power
It will probably OK work under ideal sun conditions. But the marginal cases are a problem with solar. That is where you are better off with a charger designed for solar use.
https://learn.adafruit.com/usb-dc-and-s ... sign-notes
https://learn.adafruit.com/usb-dc-and-s ... sign-notes
- noanalyst
- Posts: 139
- Joined: Thu Sep 04, 2014 11:17 pm
Re: Rechargeable power boost 500 and solar power
But for the USB, DC & Solar Lipoly Charger, if I am out in the sun and suddenly a cloud comes through so there is no solar charging, what happens to my load. Will it automatically draw power from the battery....like a UPS. Then what happens when the sun reappears.
- adafruit_support_bill
- Posts: 88093
- Joined: Sat Feb 07, 2009 10:11 am
Re: Rechargeable power boost 500 and solar power
It will do that. Just not very efficiently. A standard charger will stop charging as soon as the panel output starts to drop. The solar charger will continue to charge at a slower rate.
- noanalyst
- Posts: 139
- Joined: Thu Sep 04, 2014 11:17 pm
Re: Rechargeable power boost 500 and solar power
But how about when the sun reappears. Will the charger resume charging at full capacity? Will my load (e.g my iPhone charging) be affected in anyway during the time the sun disappears and then reappears?
- adafruit_support_bill
- Posts: 88093
- Joined: Sat Feb 07, 2009 10:11 am
Re: Rechargeable power boost 500 and solar power
It will start up again when the sun re-appears. But since the charging cycle was interrupted, it will probably have to go through the pre-conditioning 'trickle-charge' stage.
- noanalyst
- Posts: 139
- Joined: Thu Sep 04, 2014 11:17 pm
Re: Rechargeable power boost 500 and solar power
Sorry what do you mean "pre-conditioning 'trickle-charge' stage". What is that? How long does it last?
- adafruit_support_bill
- Posts: 88093
- Joined: Sat Feb 07, 2009 10:11 am
Re: Rechargeable power boost 500 and solar power
You don't charge LiPo batteries by simply pumping current into them. That is dangerous. The charge controller will test the battery voltage and start 'trickle' charging it at a slow rate. Once it determines that the battery is fit to be charged, it will start increasing the charge rate. The time that takes depends on the condition of the battery.
- noanalyst
- Posts: 139
- Joined: Thu Sep 04, 2014 11:17 pm
Re: Rechargeable power boost 500 and solar power
Can you tell me what the voltage and max wattage of the load output of the charger?
- adafruit_support_bill
- Posts: 88093
- Joined: Sat Feb 07, 2009 10:11 am
Re: Rechargeable power boost 500 and solar power
For the solar charger, the output voltage of the load-sharing circuit will be the higher of: The supply voltage or the battery voltage. In other words, when there is plenty of sun, the excess solar power is passed straight through to the load (up to 6v). When solar output drops, the circuit switches to the battery (3.7v).
The charger can supply up to 6v @ 1.8A (10 Watts) to the load - assuming you have a panel that size..
http://www.adafruit.com/datasheets/MCP73871.pdf
The charger can supply up to 6v @ 1.8A (10 Watts) to the load - assuming you have a panel that size..
http://www.adafruit.com/datasheets/MCP73871.pdf
Please be positive and constructive with your questions and comments.