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BBC micro:bit battery power

spmbrown

Not asking about power via USB micro connector. What kind of JST connector is required? There are lots of different connectors known generically as JST.

 

Does anyone know the tolerance +/-V for battery supply. Is there a voltage regulator on the board?

 

The reason I require this information and the reason it should have prominence in product specifications and FAQs is to know whether rechargeable batteries may be used.

 

Can I use two NiMH? How many? 2 x 1.2V = 2.4V or 3 x 1.2V = 3.6V

 

What about LiPo batteries e.g. from mobile phones or those used for RC models (for example) at 3.3V & 3.7V

 

If anyone can tell me specifically which JST connector to use and what battery voltages are OK, I can make and/or re-purpose my own battery packs.

 

Stephen

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    Detailed specs will help, but I suspect they're concentrating on their core use-cases currently. I'm sure more information will come in time for exactly these types of reasons, i.e. the need to know limits for connecting batteries.

    The 3V on the edge connector is actually closer to 3.3V, and from looking at the board there are a couple of diodes, so (speculating) there is probably a 3.3V regulator off the USB input, and this and the battery connector are combined using the two diodes. So, the battery input can possibly be acceptable up to 3.3V, which still prevents LiPo cells without additional circuitry. So for this reason I'd still recommend only dual 1.5V primary cells (e.g. AA or AAA sized) are used, or 2x AA or AAA NiMH rechargeable cells.

    If an external regulator is planned to be connected to the battery connector (say to allow the use of LiPo) then I'd pick a 3V one, but for the reasons above I wouldn't be surprised if anything up to around 3.3V is ok.

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  • 0

    Detailed specs will help, but I suspect they're concentrating on their core use-cases currently. I'm sure more information will come in time for exactly these types of reasons, i.e. the need to know limits for connecting batteries.

    The 3V on the edge connector is actually closer to 3.3V, and from looking at the board there are a couple of diodes, so (speculating) there is probably a 3.3V regulator off the USB input, and this and the battery connector are combined using the two diodes. So, the battery input can possibly be acceptable up to 3.3V, which still prevents LiPo cells without additional circuitry. So for this reason I'd still recommend only dual 1.5V primary cells (e.g. AA or AAA sized) are used, or 2x AA or AAA NiMH rechargeable cells.

    If an external regulator is planned to be connected to the battery connector (say to allow the use of LiPo) then I'd pick a 3V one, but for the reasons above I wouldn't be surprised if anything up to around 3.3V is ok.

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