Javascript Disabled Detected

You currently have javascript disabled. Several functions may not work. Please re-enable javascript to access full functionality.

The Netduino forums have been replaced by new forums at community.wildernesslabs.co. This site has been preserved for archival purposes only and the ability to make new accounts or posts has been turned off.

Powering the Netduino Go! with a Lipo

Started by Stefan, Apr 22 2012 10:30 AM

Next

Please log in to reply

23 replies to this topic

#1 Stefan

Moderator

Members
1965 posts

LocationBreda, the Netherlands

Posted 22 April 2012 - 10:30 AM

See the attached picture. I connected a 3.7V lipo battery to the Netduino Go! for my ubrella project.

For this I used these breakout boards from Sparkfun:
- Power Cell - LiPo Charger/Booster
- USB MicroB Plug Breakout Board

And of course a Polymer Lithium Ion Battery.

DSCN2634.JPG 290.08KB 160 downloads

Mattster likes this

_{"Fact that I'm a moderator doesn't make me an expert in things." Stefan, the eternal newb!}
My .NETMF projects: .NETMF Toolbox / Gadgeteer Light / Some PCB designs

Back to top

#2 hanzibal

Advanced Member

Members
1287 posts

LocationSweden

Posted 22 April 2012 - 12:39 PM

That is one thin battery!
LiPo Booster...sounds like the opposite of LiPo Suction Posted Image

Seriously though, what is the purpose/function of the charger/booster?

Also, tthat lexan-like platter beneath it all with bunch of holes seems very handy, wonder where you got that - made it yourself?

Back to top

#3 Stefan

Moderator

Members
1965 posts

LocationBreda, the Netherlands

Posted 22 April 2012 - 12:53 PM

Seriously though, what is the purpose/function of the charger/booster?

The lipo outputs 3.7V
The Netduino Go requests 5V
The Booster-part takes care of this; it converts 3.7V to 5V (Ohms law, just changes the amps I suppose)
The charger-part is the micro USB socket on the bottom of the breakout, it charges the lipo when connected to USB

Also, tthat lexan-like platter beneath it all with bunch of holes seems very handy, wonder where you got that - made it yourself?

I know, they're awesome, aren't they?

Got it at http://www.nwazet.co...unting-solution

_{"Fact that I'm a moderator doesn't make me an expert in things." Stefan, the eternal newb!}
My .NETMF projects: .NETMF Toolbox / Gadgeteer Light / Some PCB designs

Back to top

#4 hanzibal

Advanced Member

Members
1287 posts

LocationSweden

Posted 23 April 2012 - 12:25 AM

I see, at least I ought to get me one of those hole platters but I'll probably go for something more old fashioned like masonite wood - lexan means ESD to me...

Back to top

#5 mtylerjr

Advanced Member

Members
106 posts

LocationChristchurch, New Zealand

Posted 23 April 2012 - 07:08 PM

I see, at least I ought to get me one of those hole platters but I'll probably go for something more old fashioned like masonite wood - lexan means ESD to me...

I quite like the Nwazet mounting plates, although Ive found that it helps to buy a few of the smaller plates to cluster the small modules in more custom configurations, when used in conjunction with the large plate. The large plate is a bit limited in the places you can succesfully mount the small modules.

The photo on the Nwazet website is a tiiiiny bit deceptive imho - if you look carefully at the two items on the top - the shieldbase isnt mounted to the large plate, it needed a small plate as an intermediary. The relay module is also a different size than the other small modules, which themselves wouldnt be mountable up there (no compatible hole combinations)

Having said that though, buying the smaller plates, and mounting the modules on those, and then mounting those onto the large plate with standoffs gives you a great deal more options - you have considerably more ways to line up the mounting holes - a lot more freedom.

So, if you get the large plate, be sure to grab 2-3 of the small plates too - and some standoffs if you dont have any available - you wont regret it

Overall I am am very happy with the mounting plates - and basically everything I've ordered from nwazet so far. I seem to be accumulating their stickers. (I wish there were equivalent Netduino Go!/Secret Labs stickers!)

I also wish they sold the mounting plates on amazon, where I get the free shipping

http://www.linkedin....tyler/b/3a2/438

Back to top

#6 EricMeyer

Advanced Member

Members
41 posts

LocationAllen, Texas

Posted 23 April 2012 - 07:15 PM

The photo on the Nwazet website is a tiiiiny bit deceptive imho - if you look carefully at the two items on the top - the shieldbase isnt mounted to the large plate, it needed a small plate as an intermediary.

I ran into that problem this weekend. Made a very ugly adapter out of some foam core board. I have to order a few of the small plats I guess.

I also wanted to mount some GHI LEDs and other misc parts, but ran out of places to mount them.

-Eric

Back to top

#7 Bertrand Le Roy

New Member

Members
7 posts

Posted 23 April 2012 - 07:33 PM

Hi there. Bertrand here. I'm the guy who designed the plates, and they are imperfect, as there was stuff we didn't know when we cut them. There will be improvements on future batches, but I'd like our early customers to not be limited nonetheless. Here's what I did on my own prototypes, which were actually from smaller and earlier batches that had less holes than the ones you have: drill more holes. About the shield base, yes I've been using a small plate as an adapter of sorts, but it's not the only way. It's quite easy to add new holes with a Dremel tool if you mark the spot carefully first. I'm attaching a template that you can print to the right dimensions that has additional holes for the relay and shield base (shield base goes to the right of the go; is that an acceptable position?). Let me know what you think.

Attached Files

GoPlateMinimalest.png 5.07KB 39 downloads

Back to top

#8 mtylerjr

Advanced Member

Members
106 posts

LocationChristchurch, New Zealand

Posted 23 April 2012 - 07:47 PM

Hi there. Bertrand here. I'm the guy who designed the plates, and they are imperfect, as there was stuff we didn't know when we cut them. There will be improvements on future batches, but I'd like our early customers to not be limited nonetheless.
Here's what I did on my own prototypes, which were actually from smaller and earlier batches that had less holes than the ones you have: drill more holes.
About the shield base, yes I've been using a small plate as an adapter of sorts, but it's not the only way. It's quite easy to add new holes with a Dremel tool if you mark the spot carefully first. I'm attaching a template that you can print to the right dimensions that has additional holes for the relay and shield base (shield base goes to the right of the go; is that an acceptable position?). Let me know what you think.

I didnt mean to sound critical.. I love the plates. In fact, I just ordered 3 more not 5 minutes ago (along with another touch screen and 30cm cable!)

So drilling the plates works well? I was going to try that, but I was afraid of big chips along the edges, and I didnt want to ruin the beatiful plate!

http://www.linkedin....tyler/b/3a2/438

Back to top

#9 Bertrand Le Roy

New Member

Members
7 posts

Posted 23 April 2012 - 07:58 PM

So drilling the plates works well? I was going to try that, but I was afraid of big chips along the edges, and I didnt want to ruin the beatiful plate!

No, it works beautifully. Wear safety goggles for chips but otherwise it should be pretty clean. That acrylic is fairly soft.

Back to top

#10 Mattster

Advanced Member

Members
46 posts

Locationusually South Florida

Posted 25 April 2012 - 03:39 PM

drilling was the easiest solution

Back to top

#11 JerseyTechGuy

Advanced Member

Members
870 posts

Posted 27 April 2012 - 08:32 AM

See the attached picture. I connected a 3.7V lipo battery to the Netduino Go! for my ubrella project.

For this I used these breakout boards from Sparkfun:
- Power Cell - LiPo Charger/Booster
- USB MicroB Plug Breakout Board

And of course a Polymer Lithium Ion Battery.

DSCN2634.JPG 290.08KB 160 downloads

Nicely done. I am using a similar setup for Pandora's Box, except I am wired into the protoshield for providing power. In order to charge my unit, I spliced into the FTDI card because this is the only USB port exposed to the end user for both charging and communication with the windows application. I have a 3700 mah LiPo. Takes a couple hours to charge fully, but can run Pandora's box for about 12 hours.

Back to top

#12 Stefan

Moderator

Members
1965 posts

LocationBreda, the Netherlands

Posted 27 April 2012 - 09:52 AM

You could also use the same breakout, and connect the FTDI power pins to the charger breakout. I read charging a 3.7V lipo with 5V directly could be tricky. Also, the breakout provides a regulated 5V output to the Netduino.

_{"Fact that I'm a moderator doesn't make me an expert in things." Stefan, the eternal newb!}
My .NETMF projects: .NETMF Toolbox / Gadgeteer Light / Some PCB designs

Back to top

#13 dblml320

New Member

Members
6 posts

Posted 16 May 2012 - 11:22 AM

No, it works beautifully. Wear safety goggles for chips but otherwise it should be pretty clean. That acrylic is fairly soft.

I am running into the same issues. Would it be possible to have a board that has a large matrix of concentric holes to make the mounting of the different size GO modules much easier?

Also for drilling holes I have found that using a sharpie pen (not a marker) you can lay the GO board on the plastic, and the sharpie pen has such a long and narrow tip, you can draw perfect guide markers for drilling.

DB Lection

Back to top

#14 Nevyn

Advanced Member

Members
1072 posts

LocationNorth Yorkshire, UK

Posted 16 May 2012 - 11:28 AM

I am running into the same issues. Would it be possible to have a board that has a large matrix of concentric holes to make the mounting of the different size GO modules much easier?

You mean like the Tamiya base plate?

Regards,
Mark

To be or not to be = 0xFF

Blogging about Netduino, .NET, STM8S and STM32 and generally waffling on about life

Follow @nevynuk on Twitter

Back to top

#15 Giuliano

Advanced Member

Members
361 posts

LocationSimi Valley, CA

Posted 08 June 2012 - 11:45 PM

Overall I am am very happy with the mounting plates - and basically everything I've ordered from nwazet so far. I seem to be accumulating their stickers. (I wish there were equivalent Netduino Go!/Secret Labs stickers!)

I love the Nwazet plates as well but I never got Nwazet stickers with my orders.

Solo s� que no s� nada

Back to top

#16 Fabien Royer

Advanced Member

Members
406 posts

LocationRedmond, WA

Posted 19 June 2012 - 09:32 PM

I love the Nwazet plates as well but I never got Nwazet stickers with my orders.

Really!? I'll have to remedy that with twice the amount of stickers on your next order! Posted Image

Cheers,
-Fabien.

Giuliano likes this

Store: nwazet.com
Blog: fabienroyer.wordpress.com

Back to top

#17 Giuliano

Advanced Member

Members
361 posts

LocationSimi Valley, CA

Posted 21 June 2012 - 05:13 PM

Really!? I'll have to remedy that with twice the amount of stickers on your next order!

Cheers,
-Fabien.

That sounds great

Solo s� que no s� nada

Back to top

#18 Giuliano

Advanced Member

Members
361 posts

LocationSimi Valley, CA

Posted 03 July 2012 - 06:04 PM

Hi Stefan, does that circuit that you have connected to the LiPo keep it from falling under 3v and damaging the battery?

Solo s� que no s� nada

Back to top

#19 Stefan

Moderator

Members
1965 posts

LocationBreda, the Netherlands

Posted 03 July 2012 - 07:18 PM

Hi Stefan, does that circuit that you have connected to the LiPo keep it from falling under 3v and damaging the battery?

I believe so, but you can better ask sparkfun, who made the board

_{"Fact that I'm a moderator doesn't make me an expert in things." Stefan, the eternal newb!}
My .NETMF projects: .NETMF Toolbox / Gadgeteer Light / Some PCB designs

Back to top

#20 Giuliano

Advanced Member

Members
361 posts

LocationSimi Valley, CA

Posted 03 July 2012 - 08:51 PM

I believe so, but you can better ask sparkfun, who made the board

Will do

The reason I asked is because I have radio control planes with brushless motors and the ESC in them cuts the power when it reaches certain threshold, aprox. 3.15 volts per cell (4.2v per cell fully charged) or 75% of remaining voltage to avoid damaging the LiPo battery pack.

Solo s� que no s� nada