Battery Indication Alternative

[Pentium]

According to the thread, Helder has officially axed the battery boards, and if you didn't get your order in, then you're kind of out of luck.

...or are you?
I found this for really cheap on ebay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Li-po-Battery-I ... HW-ml6iv7g

It's not built into the software, but maybe if you made some mods to the 3d printed parts, it could do a decent job of telling you what the battery level is.
I'll probably try it, and post here when I do.

...or maybe someone smarter than me will tell me it won't work. Either way, I think it's worth bringing up.

[MadModder]

interesting, ive been looking for a solution to this as well

[dryja123]

This would work: https://www.sparkfun.com/products/12918

It's a little I2C DAC breakout board for $5. You would just wire it up to your build and install HoolyHoo's script. Done deal. Works exactly the same as Helder's solution except you'd have to find a way to stash it or mount in on the board.

[Helder]

That looks pretty big so not sure where you would fit it. The battery monitor is built into the next batch so how will this affect future builds if they aren't available?

This is for Pentium's response.

[Pentium]

The battery monitor is built into the next batch so how will this affect future builds...?

I was kind of thinking it would be useful for older builds like mine. I was away when the monitor pcb went for sale, so I didn't get my order in....

[erik_gee]

how would a dac help? the input would have to be digital but the input source of the battery would require analog reading

[dryja123]

how would a dac help? the input would have to be digital but the input source of the battery would require analog reading

Be gentle because I'm really just learning about these things since I discovered these projects. I was under the assumption that this would work because it's an I2C interface that uses the SCL SDA channels. I could of swore that I read that Helder has also left open additional SCL and SDA channels on his battery monitor that could be used for a joystick (or other things) down the road. The joystick would require a DAC to convert the movements of the potentiometer signals from analog to digital. That's why I made the assumption that this board would work as well.

If it doesn't work, could you kindly provide me a sample and documentation on what would work so I can learn what I need to look for? I was planning on buying one of these cheap $5 boards to act as a battery monitor / safe shutdown on a future GBZ build.

[erik_gee]

how would a dac help? the input would have to be digital but the input source of the battery would require analog reading

Be gentle because I'm really just learning about these things since I discovered these projects. I was under the assumption that this would work because it's an I2C interface that uses the SCL SDA channels. I could of swore that I read that Helder has also left open additional SCL and SDA channels on his battery monitor that could be used for a joystick (or other things) down the road. The joystick would require a DAC to convert the movements of the potentiometer signals from analog to digital. That's why I made the assumption that this board would work as well.

If it doesn't work, could you kindly provide me a sample and documentation on what would work so I can learn what I need to look for? I was planning on buying one of these cheap $5 boards to act as a battery monitor / safe shutdown on a future GBZ build.

Oh sorry I didn't mean any offense or anything haha I was just asking cuz I figured I might have misunderstood. What you linked was a digital to analog converter. But as far as I know, you would need a analog digital converter (adc). As you want to read your battery voltage (what would be interpreted as an analog signal) and send the info to the pi (which lacks analog input ), so you would need to convert digital

[dryja123]

Oh sorry I didn't mean any offense or anything haha I was just asking cuz I figured I might have misunderstood. What you linked was a digital to analog converter. But as far as I know, you would need a analog digital converter (adc). As you want to read your battery voltage (what would be interpreted as an analog signal) and send the info to the pi (which lacks analog input ), so you would need to convert digital

No offense taken, just letting you know how much experience I have. I now understand the difference between DAC and ADC, thanks for that!

[erik_gee]

All good haha I just hope the info I gave you is correct and would love if anyone more experienced would chime in to confirm