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Battery level indicator

Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2016 10:10 am
by Nosfay
Hi everyone,

I'd like to add a battery level indicator, I found [url = http://www.aliexpress.com/item/2pcs-lot ... .98.Q70aOI]this [/url]on aliexpress and i have 2 questions:
1) I think it's expensive, and I cannot found an other seller, anyone have found it cheaper?
2) any review on it? Lithium battery are usually 3.7v and it wrote it works at 4v-20v, but max voltage is 4.2v so I think it could worked fine ...



Thanks !

Re: Battery level indicator

Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2016 11:34 am
by Fleder
This one includes the power management and charging module.
http://www.banggood.com/Dual-USB-5V-1A- ... 31593.html

If this only works above 4v it won't work if you directly connect it to your battery.
You would need a step-up.

Try the link above, this module includes a step-up, charging module and the battery level indicator.
But you will not be able to play while you are charging your device.

Re: Battery level indicator

Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2016 3:55 pm
by Nosfay
I already have a charging board / step-up 5v (all in one).

I just found this one that might worked. I think I will replace the four led by a tricolor one.

Anyway, thanks for your answer!

Re: Battery level indicator

Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2016 4:07 pm
by gargoyle67
I ordered this one, I wonder if anyone can tell me if I can wire a led directly to the extra led points or do I need to use a resistor between to stop the led from burning out ?
Image
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/201096862660? ... EBIDX%3AIT

Re: Battery level indicator

Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2016 4:24 pm
by Nosfay
I think you'll need resistor because all led are not at same voltage.

It's the card I have, and sadly, leds battery level work only on charge.

Re: Battery level indicator

Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2016 4:35 pm
by DirtyBullets
For when i do quadcopters we use This and this can go from the battery and you can set the limit to indercate when the battery is getting too low.

you will only need 2 pins (Gnd and 1 so you wont need to use 2,3,4...ect)

But whatever indicator you use you must remember that having more LED's will drain the battery faster, so have a think if its worth having one cos say a 5 LED will draw 100mA, and thats quite a lot in the gameboy modding world. :mrgreen:

Re: Battery level indicator

Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2016 6:20 pm
by Nosfay
I'll go for a tricolor led, so it will use max 60mA. I have actually no way to see when my battery is low, I prefer 60ma more and having time to shutdown properly my rpi0 than a hard shutdown because of low voltage :)

Re: Battery level indicator

Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2016 6:41 pm
by Popcorn
I was looking into this. I'm pretty sure you could do this without buying anything additional except for a voltage divider and then wire the BATT pin of the Powerboost to the divider. And then have it feed one of the A to D input on the Teensy. Then you'd need to have a driver and a monitor so you could read it. It's not a project for the light-hearted but neither is the GBZ

https://forum.pjrc.com/threads/26117-Te ... tery-alert

Re: Battery level indicator

Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2016 7:18 pm
by Nosfay
I have no teensy, I'm wired on GPIO.

Re: Battery level indicator

Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2016 10:43 pm
by DirtyBullets
Nosfay wrote:I'll go for a tricolor led, so it will use max 60mA. I have actually no way to see when my battery is low, I prefer 60ma more and having time to shutdown properly my rpi0 than a hard shutdown because of low voltage :)
have a look at my pi3 project and i have added an indicator in the battery area and used a clear cover to see though :mrgreen: