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tutorials:learn:lipoly:index.html [2011/05/18 00:48] daigo |
tutorials:learn:lipoly:index.html [2016/01/28 18:05] (current) |
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- | <class center> | + | <class center nobottom> |
- | [[http://www.adafruit.com/category/44|You can pick up lithium-ion/polymer batteries and chargers in the Adafruit shop!]] | + | **[[http://www.adafruit.com/category/44|You can pick up lithium-ion/polymer batteries and chargers in the Adafruit shop!]]** |
</class> | </class> | ||
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*LiCo (lithium cobalt, the anode chemistry) | *LiCo (lithium cobalt, the anode chemistry) | ||
- | Lithium Ion cells tend to be thin rectangles in a silvery bag. They are soft-shelled and have an easy to damage casing. They often weigh a little less and come in smaller capacity. You can fit them into smaller devices such as tiny iPods. These are often called: | + | Lithium Ion Polymer cells tend to be thin rectangles in a silvery bag. They are soft-shelled and have an easy to damage casing. They often weigh a little less and come in smaller capacity. You can fit them into smaller devices such as tiny iPods. These are often called: |
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- | Depending on the design and chemistry of your lithium cell, you may see them sold under different nominal "voltages". For example, almost all lithium polymer batteries are **3.7V** or **4.2V **batteries. What this means is that the **maximum** voltage of the cell is **4.2v** and that the "nominal" (average" voltage is **3.7V**. As the battery is used, the voltage will drop lower and lower until the minimum which is around 3.0V. You should see the number **3.7V** written on the battery itself somewhere. | + | Depending on the design and chemistry of your lithium cell, you may see them sold under different nominal "voltages". For example, almost all lithium polymer batteries are **3.7V** or **4.2V **batteries. What this means is that the **maximum** voltage of the cell is **4.2v** and that the "nominal" (average) voltage is **3.7V**. As the battery is used, the voltage will drop lower and lower until the minimum which is around 3.0V. You should see the number **3.7V** written on the battery itself somewhere. |
{{ http://www.ladyada.net/images/lipoly/37v.jpg?nolink&455x439 |}} | {{ http://www.ladyada.net/images/lipoly/37v.jpg?nolink&455x439 |}} | ||
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- | <class note> | + | <class warning center nobottom> |
**Important Note!** | **Important Note!** | ||
+ | </class> | ||
+ | <class warning left notop> | ||
When charging batteries you must make sure that the **charger voltage** is less than or equal to the **battery voltage**. For the best battery performance/life you should have them matched. | When charging batteries you must make sure that the **charger voltage** is less than or equal to the **battery voltage**. For the best battery performance/life you should have them matched. | ||
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***3.7/4.2V** battery and** 3.7/4.2V** charger: OK | ***3.7/4.2V** battery and** 3.7/4.2V** charger: OK | ||
***3.7/4.2V** battery and **3.6/4.1V** charger: OK (but not ideal) | ***3.7/4.2V** battery and **3.6/4.1V** charger: OK (but not ideal) | ||
- | ***3.6/4.1V** battery and **3.6/4.1V** battery: OK | + | ***3.6/4.1V** battery and **3.6/4.1V** charger: OK |
***3.6/4.1V ** battery and **3.7/4.2V** charger **NOT OK!** | ***3.6/4.1V ** battery and **3.7/4.2V** charger **NOT OK!** | ||
</class> | </class> | ||
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For the first 3 items, a circuit board attached to the battery can monitor the battery voltage and the current going out. These are often referred to simply as **protection circuits**. They are very common on standard batteries but **you must check the datasheet** **or product image** to verify that a protection circuit is attached | For the first 3 items, a circuit board attached to the battery can monitor the battery voltage and the current going out. These are often referred to simply as **protection circuits**. They are very common on standard batteries but **you must check the datasheet** **or product image** to verify that a protection circuit is attached | ||
- | On the batteries we cell, the protection circuit is soldered onto the battery and then taped into the little cavity at the top of the battery. This is very common for lipoly cells. | + | On the batteries we sell, the protection circuit is soldered onto the battery and then taped into the little cavity at the top of the battery. This is very common for lipoly cells. |
{{ http://www.ladyada.net/images/lipoly/protcells.jpg?nolink&455x439 |}} | {{ http://www.ladyada.net/images/lipoly/protcells.jpg?nolink&455x439 |}} | ||
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- | <class note> | ||
- | **Important Note!** | ||
+ | <class warning center nobottom> | ||
+ | **Important Note!** | ||
+ | </class> | ||
+ | <class warning left notop> | ||
We suggest that you should **never** use lithium ion/polymer batteries without protection cells. Without the protection, a slight mistake in their use could destroy the battery and they have a much higher risk of exploding or catching on fire. | We suggest that you should **never** use lithium ion/polymer batteries without protection cells. Without the protection, a slight mistake in their use could destroy the battery and they have a much higher risk of exploding or catching on fire. | ||
</class> | </class> | ||
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- | <class note> | + | <class warning center nobottom> |
**Important Note!** | **Important Note!** | ||
+ | </class> | ||
+ | <class warning left notop> | ||
Unless you are **specifically** building an RC device like a quadcopter, we suggest that you should **never** use RC lithium ion batteries for DIY projects. They do not have protection circuitry and are designed to not be safe. They have a much higher risk of exploding or catching on fire. | Unless you are **specifically** building an RC device like a quadcopter, we suggest that you should **never** use RC lithium ion batteries for DIY projects. They do not have protection circuitry and are designed to not be safe. They have a much higher risk of exploding or catching on fire. | ||
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[[http://www.ladyada.net/images/lipoly/batpar.gif|{{ http://www.ladyada.net/images/lipoly/batpar_t.gif?nolink&500x441 |}}]] | [[http://www.ladyada.net/images/lipoly/batpar.gif|{{ http://www.ladyada.net/images/lipoly/batpar_t.gif?nolink&500x441 |}}]] | ||
- | + | <class style4>However you should never ever do this</class> | |
- | However you should **never ever do this** | + | |
Not only should you not this with alkaline batteries, but its especially dangerous with lithium batteries. One battery can discharge into another, damaging it or causing a fire! | Not only should you not this with alkaline batteries, but its especially dangerous with lithium batteries. One battery can discharge into another, damaging it or causing a fire! | ||
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The **PWR** red LED on either board will light up to let you know its powered properly. While charging, an LED will also be lit. For the USB only charger, a green done LED will light when the battery is full. For the USB/DC charger, the charging LED will blink slowly (once every few seconds) | The **PWR** red LED on either board will light up to let you know its powered properly. While charging, an LED will also be lit. For the USB only charger, a green done LED will light when the battery is full. For the USB/DC charger, the charging LED will blink slowly (once every few seconds) | ||
- | You can change the charge rate of each charger by soldering an LED into slot **R4 **(for the USB charger) or **RPROG** (the USB/DC charger). | + | You can change the charge rate of each charger by soldering a resistor into slot **R4 **(for the USB charger) or **RPROG** (the USB/DC charger). |
**The max charge rate of the USB charger is about 1000 mA**. To acheive this charge rate, you can either solder a **1.3K** resistor on top of **R4** (default 4.7K) - this will make the total parallel restance 1.0K or you can remove** R4** by desoldering it or cutting the trace to it and solder a 1.0K resistor in its place | **The max charge rate of the USB charger is about 1000 mA**. To acheive this charge rate, you can either solder a **1.3K** resistor on top of **R4** (default 4.7K) - this will make the total parallel restance 1.0K or you can remove** R4** by desoldering it or cutting the trace to it and solder a 1.0K resistor in its place | ||
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- | <class note> | ||
- | **Important Note!** | ||
+ | <class warning center nobottom> | ||
+ | **Important Note!** | ||
+ | </class> | ||
+ | <class warning left notop> | ||
Never charge a battery faster than **1C** (so a 1300mAh battery should be charged at under 1300 mA) and we suggest staying at or below **0.5C ** | Never charge a battery faster than **1C** (so a 1300mAh battery should be charged at under 1300 mA) and we suggest staying at or below **0.5C ** | ||