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SparkFun LiPower Shield (13158) with Arduino Due

Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2017 10:29 pm
by clausia
Hi,

Can I use the SparkFun LiPower Shield (13158) with Arduino Due?
I'm not sure about it. So far I understand that I can power the the Arduino Due through 5V pin in the same way as an Arduino Uno, but it is not recomended (Documentation tab):
5V. This pin outputs a regulated 5V from the regulator on the board. The board can be supplied with power either from the DC power jack (7 - 12V), the USB connector (5V), or the VIN pin of the board (7-12V). Supplying voltage via the 5V or 3.3V pins bypasses the regulator, and can damage your board. We don't advise it.
But, the LiPower Shield will be that missing regulator, right?

Thanks :)

Re: SparkFun LiPower Shield (13158) with Arduino Due

Posted: Tue Dec 19, 2017 10:32 am
by paulvha
when you look at the product pages from an Uno you will find the same warning. On each Arduino there is logic to protect the processor and other chips on the board from incorrect power voltage as much as possible. These on-board regulators will try to generate a stable as possible 5V and 3.3V. The warning is that IF you by-pass these on-board regulators and provide 5V and 3.3V directly on these lines you do not have the protection and might not have that stability. However looking at the schematics of the LiPower, the logic and regulators on the board are nearly the same as with Uno. The Due has more logic to select the source (from USB or from the external plug), but after that it using a lot of the same. It is just a warning and LiPower is well designed.

The core question of course is: WHY use this shield on a Due? The Due is not known for low power consumption, actually nearly twice as much as an Uno. Look at https://electronza.com/power-guzzlers-t ... no-boards/ where they have done a great job to compare the power consumption under different conditions for different Arduino version. Do you really need this battery operation? Maybe consider an external 5V USB Power-bank?

Re: SparkFun LiPower Shield (13158) with Arduino Due

Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 11:57 pm
by clausia
USB Power-bank sounds a great idea!, but, some that I already have, specify that the output is indeed 5V and 1A, is that right for de Arduino Due? 1A is no too much?
On the other hand, is it too crazy to connect the Arduino Due to a LiPo Battery with 11.1V? It is in range for the Barrel Jack in the Due (7 - 12 V)

Re: SparkFun LiPower Shield (13158) with Arduino Due

Posted: Thu Dec 21, 2017 1:38 am
by paulvha
The voltage of the power bank is 5V. You should read the 1A output is the MAXIMUM current the power-bank CAN provide the 5V for a period of time, How much current is requested / needed is depending on the Due. Looking at the power consumption test the Due takes 80 - 90mA. So the power bank should be able to do the job, but after sometime it will run out of power.
Do not know which LiPo battery of 11.1V you refer to. The LiPo power shield can handle a battery of 3.7V. The maximum current that battery can supply is 1100mA.
Different power banks use different batteries with different load/unload curves to HOW much time the Due can work before the battery runs low, is a matter of testing.

Re: SparkFun LiPower Shield (13158) with Arduino Due

Posted: Thu Dec 21, 2017 10:14 pm
by clausia
Thank you so much for your answers, I have a better understand now.

Just to to clarify my previous idea, when I refer to a LiPo 11.1V , I was thinking in a battery with 3 cells, that's why is giving 11.1V, and also I was thinking in connecting this 3s 11.1V (1800mAh) battery to the Arduino Due directly (no using the shield)