Author Topic: Usage question for Lipo and USB  (Read 1257 times)

Tomega3

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Usage question for Lipo and USB
« on: October 20, 2018, 01:09:12 PM »
Long time fan of Moteinos, I use moteinos w/ rfm69 and eeprom as sensor nodes and a mega as a gateway. Love the ota programming capability. Just read about the new MO (smd21) and see it has a lipo battery connector as well as a USB connector on board.

I read as much as I could find on the LPL website and forum to find out about using a lipo and USB at the same time. I plan to use the USB to program the MO and lipo to run the MO. My questions are:

1. With the USB connected will it charge a connected lipo?
2. With a lipo connected can/should the USB cable be connected? removed?
3. If I unplug the USB cable will the MO stay running via the lipo or does it reboot?

My end goal after programming the MO is to connect a 5v solar panel to the USB port to charge the lipo.

Thanks
Tom

Felix

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Re: Usage question for Lipo and USB
« Reply #1 on: October 22, 2018, 10:58:24 AM »
1. Yes
2. Avoid connecting/disconnecting the Lipo while USB is already connected, connect it before or after the USB is removed.
3. Either LiPo or USB will power the M0, as long as 1 source is there it will keep going, no resets

The onboard charger is intended for USB charging, not solar. If your solar panel can provide at least the required constant current and [5, 6V] then it should be OK.