LiFePO₄wered/USB™

Single sided design

Flush with your board

LiFePO₄wered/USB™ is designed as a single sided PCB, and mounts flush to your circuit board just like a battery holder would. There's even some space for small SMT components under the battery holder.

Connections on 0.1" grid

For easy prototype integration

When you're designing your next great widget, you'll probably build your first prototype on a 0.1" perfboard. The LiFePO₄wered/USB™ module is designed so that all the connections line up with the 0.1" grid perfectly.

No voltage regulator needed

Perfect for low power

Since the voltage range during the whole charge/discharge cycle of the battery beautifully matches the voltage range of most 3.3 V electronic components, you can power your circuits directly from the battery terminals. No need for a regulator!

For low power designs, this is a big deal. It is not unusual for a voltage regulator to consume orders of magnitude more power than a microcontroller when it is in sleep mode. Enough of such waste!

Ultra low leakage

Only 0.5 µA

The charging circuit has a typical reverse leakage current of only 0.5 µA when USB power is disconnected. This, together with the fact that no regulator is needed and the low self-discharge rate of the LiFePO₄ battery chemistry, makes for a perfect ultra low power supply system.

Smart charger

Keep USB connected whenever you want

The LiFePO₄wered/USB™ module uses a smart charging IC that provides such features as preconditioning of deeply discharged cells and a smart algorithm that monitors the battery and keeps it topped up as long as USB power is present. Keeping USB power connected is safe and will not overcharge the battery.

Extra connector

For battery and USB signals

Extra connector JP2 brings out the USB data signals in addition to the battery voltage, enabling USB functionality in your circuit without having to deal with soldering down a micro USB connector.

This connector also provides a convenient way to connect the module to a solderless breadboard. Clip off the battery terminals and solder in a 4-pin header pointing down, and you're good to go.

Status LED

Indicates charging status

You don't need to wonder when the battery is charging, because the status LED will tell you. Conveniently located right next to the USB connector, it is easy to make this status indicator available outside your case using a light pipe or simply a hole.

Fast charge option

Selects charge current

By default, LiFePO₄wered/USB™ charges the battery with the standard charge current recommended in the battery specification, to assure the longest battery life. Charging a fully depleted battery will take about 2.5 hours. If your design requires it, you can select a higher charge current (still below the maximum specified charge current) by bridging solder jumper SJ1. This will cut the required charge time in half!