From 0054ab9e4112a9d651430f176b73c5ee34d62d5a Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Bdale Garbee Date: Mon, 15 Aug 2011 12:51:45 -0600 Subject: [PATCH] make lipocharger visible --- LipoCharger/index.mdwn | 27 +++++++++++++++++---------- index.mdwn | 4 ++++ 2 files changed, 21 insertions(+), 10 deletions(-) diff --git a/LipoCharger/index.mdwn b/LipoCharger/index.mdwn index 5910d18..064fc1c 100644 --- a/LipoCharger/index.mdwn +++ b/LipoCharger/index.mdwn @@ -1,23 +1,29 @@ # LipoCharger -This is a simple but effective charger for LiPo batteries. It has a higher -charge rate than the on-board charger on [TeleMetrum](../TeleMetrum), and -will be necessary for charging the batteries used with projects like -[TeleNano](../TeleNano) and [TeleMini](../TeleMini), which do not have -on-board charging capability. +This is a simple but effective, dual-rate, standalone charger for Lithium +Polymer batteries. It supports who different charge rates, approximately +100mA and 500mA. The higher rate is good for batteries of 400 mAh and higher +including the 900mAh cells sold with [TeleMetrum](../TeleMetrum) starter kits, +while the lower rate is more appropriate for the 110mAh cells often used with +[TeleMini](../TeleMini). A standalone charger is essential for use with +TeleMini since it does not have on-board charging capability. ## Features ## ### User View ### -* Wall-wart power supply to our standard 2mm LiPo battery connector +* Micro USB connector for power input +* 2mm JST-style connector for battery +* dual-color LED + * red when charging + * green when charge complete + * both on, or "yellow", when battery is disconnected or bad * 1.0 x 0.4 inch board ### Developer View ### * Hardware Features - * [Microchip MCP73837](http://www.microchip.com/wwwproducts/Devices.aspx?dDocName=en531507) Li-ion battery charger chip - * Strain-relief holes for soldering to wall-wart leads + * [Microchip MCP73831](http://www.microchip.com/wwwproducts/Devices.aspx?dDocName=en024903) Li-ion battery charger chip * Tools Used * [gEDA](http://www.gpleda.org/) for schematic capture and PCB layout * Licenses @@ -30,5 +36,6 @@ project [hw/lipocharger](http://git.gag.com/?p=hw/lipocharger;a=summary). ## Future Plans ## -We need to build and evaluate some prototypes, and review costing, before -deciding whether this design will go into production. +After some iteration, we have settled on a design that meets our needs. +Boards will be available for sale soon. + diff --git a/index.mdwn b/index.mdwn index cbb24ab..39f35ca 100644 --- a/index.mdwn +++ b/index.mdwn @@ -69,6 +69,10 @@ pressure sensor is the name of the firmware and related utilities that Keith maintains for the set of hardware projects here. +* [LipoCharger](LipoCharger/) +is a standalone battery charger for the Lithium Polymer batteries used in +Altus Metrum products. + * [TelePyro](TelePyro/) is a planned 8-channel pyro expansion board for [TeleMetrum](TeleMetrum/). -- 2.47.2