The Fuel Tank BoosterPack from element14 and Texas Instruments allows Texas Instruments LaunchPads to be powered from a rechargeable lithium polymer battery BoosterPack, further enabling mobile application development and evaluation.
The Fuel Tank BoosterPack works with TI LaunchPads and includes an onboard lithium polymer battery charger and gas gauge that can output the critical parameters of the battery, including temperature, charging state, capacity, and more. The BoosterPack comes with a lithium polymer battery cell, which is charged through an onboard USB connector.
Two 20-pin of headers for connection to the Texas Instruments LaunchPads
MSP430F5529 LaunchPad™
The MSP430 LaunchPad now has USB! The MSP-EXP430F5529LP LaunchPad (or the “F5529 LaunchPad”) is an inexpensive, simple evaluation module for the MSP430F5529 USB microcontroller. It's an easy way to start developing on the MSP430, with an on-board emulation for programming and debugging, as well as buttons and LEDs for simple user interface.
Rapid prototyping is a snap, thanks to 40-pin BoosterPack expansion headers, as well as a wide range of available BoosterPack plug-in modules. You can quickly add features like wireless, displays, sensors, and much more. You can either design your own BoosterPack, or choose among many already available from TI and elsewhere. The 40-pin interface is compatible with any 20-pin BoosterPack that is compliant with the standard.
The MSP-EXP430F5529LP LaunchPad includes the MSP430F5529 16-bit MCU with 128KB Flash, 8KB RAM, up to 25MHz CPU speed, integrated USB 2.0 PHY, 12-bit analog-to-digital converter (ADC), timers, serial communication (UART, I2C, SPI) and more! Free and Open Source USB API stacks and the MSP430 USB Descriptor Tool, available through the MSP430 USB Developers Package allowing for quick configuration of USB applications.Free software development tools are also available, such as TI’s Eclipse-based Code Composer Studio and IAR Embedded Workbench.
This is probably close enough for your needs (Not exact part number but same basic specifications), for max battery life stick to .2C or ~250mA but you can go up to 1C or 1.2A but you would shorten its life and it may get warm
The wall adapter will not matter as long as it can provide the min current the LIPO charger wants which is designed on the booster to be about 250mA, this is programmed via R1 on the board. so unless your changing it, there is not much you have to worry about
Looking at the data sheet for the lipo charger and the circuit of the board it looks like you can go above 5V in on the chargers USB port, the charger chip is able to go up to 20V according to the data sheet http://www.farnell.com/datasheets/1771692.pdf so connecting a solar panel should be possible, there does not appear to be any other connected circuitry. (I take no responsibility if you try this, verify for yourself first)
Specifications: 1,Nominal voltage:3.7V; 2,Standard charge and discharge at 1C 3,Widely used for GPS/PSP/MID/PDA/Smart phone/tablet computer 4,OEM/ODM service offered 5,Custom dimension accept.
Feature: 3.7v lithium battery pack for psp battery
Charge current: standard 0.2 C5A and maximum 1C5A Charge cut-off voltage: 4.20 ± 0.03V Standard discharge current: 0.2C5A Maximum discharge current: 2.0C5A Discharge cut-off voltage: 2.75V Excellent safety performance Lightweight High capability Low internal resistance Excellent discharge performance long cycle time Application: MP4, Mobile Phone, MID,baby monitor, small flying helicopters, socks , medical device , backup power, Portable DVD, POS machine, Desk vidio, E-BIKE, motor care , drill , Digital camera and PDA
I am also having some problems with the "demo" code compiling with CCS, which isn't really surprising. Definitely don't feel bad about that, I had retreated back to the TivaWare demo because that was the only one that built with CCSv5.5 which includes MSP430Ware. This is a common problem people run into when using CCS. IAR is another option since the demos should exist as IAR projects as well. There may even be a Keil MDK project file somewhere in the root directory. This isn't stopping me either from reviewing, but definitely agree that it is frustrating.
QUESTION: Does anyone know where to find the manufacturer datasheet of the battery? I want to know if it is safe use a 850mA max output wall charger to supply the charger's maximum rating of 800mA input and what to expect for charging and temperature curves. The 500mA from PC bus powered port is not really a good test point for evaluating a cell phone sized and capacity battery.
Excellent, look forward to it, I will be posting all my code I wrote to use Energia to compile and upload to talk to the Fuel Gauge this weekend, please feel free to take and use as you feel fit.
It all works and was born out of frustration in trying to get the CCS code to work (Which I gave up on)
I am now in a position to complete my review of the fuel tank board
Oh, now I don't feel so bad, I managed to blow the 5V boost regulator, nothing I did i believe but it now consumes 300mA with no load, I suspect the output cap (C10) as it too is getting warm but the reg still maintains a nice 5V, I have asked TI for some sample ICs and as soon as they arrive I will replace the boost regulator with a new one and hopefully it will fix the problem, oh and change the cap. This does not stop me from completing the review, just a frustration.
I too was having that issue and have put it aside for now as I have a deadline that is a week or 2 away for another project. But When I get back to it I will post everything I have tried and done. Just a note: I did manage to corrupt the programer on my Launchpad but thankfully for the older launchpads that can program the new ones (apparently the new ones can not do that).
gsgill112 I was using the Tiva Ware from TI's website but was still having issues. I will let you know how future testing goes as soon as I get back to it.
Hi Peter, I have tried the demo code on CCS (Stelleris Launchpad with Battery Boost Pack) and everything works, Instead of downloading the source from element14 (they do not include libraries for I2C and etc, so compiler throws an error) I Had downloaded Tiva C Ware package from Ti and that had an Example, which worked Absolutely Fine.
Also I had no issues programming the MSP430F5529 LP. both from CCS and Energia. (In Energia the FADE Ex wont work as LED's isnt connected to the PWM O/P pin)
anyone having issues with the demo programs not working , do you have links to Energia demo for the fuel Gauge ??, I am having this issue and would appreciate any input that could help, thanks
Just posted the first part of my review, sorry some of the video content is a little difficult to read, it seemed to degrade through the various conversions during uploading it, this is my first ever video like this so probably fault is on my end, I will endeavor to improve with part two and on. In the mean time I added all the significant documents, diagrams and images used in the review as links or directly embedded int the post so you can download and view at full resolution
I hope it is still enjoyable and you find it educational and useful.
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Just got mine last night and I can't wait to get down to testing it. Hoping to put it through its paces and see how well it performs, all going well I will have to incorporate it in my next PCB design…
Im surprised no one has commented yet, just got my application in for this one, keeping my fingers crossed, either way it goes, I look forward to the reviews