I thought you guys might like to see this boost circuit. It takes a single AA and boosts it to 3.3 V or 5 V for prototyping. It allows you to bring the power to your project, and not the other way around. Bring your micro to the sensor without running wires! A single AA battery is used to provide breadboard power of 5V or 3.3V (or other voltages by tuning the feedback resistors). A boost regulator provides the voltage.
This board plugs right into an Arduino or a breadboard or perfboard. I have ended up using it all the time for all sorts of different things, from Wi-Fi, to sensors, to just charging supercaps for experiments. I really like not having to have a power supply for every little project, and my workbench is a lot cleaner without all the wires. You can buy one off Kickstarter or visit the Hackaday page to see how it's made. BooSTick on Kickstarter BooSTick on Hackaday
Hi,
The BooStick covers the pins on the arduino, you need to shape the board to provide a land to put the pins on, or make them curved pins that poke out from the board and down into the power pins of the arduino.
Also give an option where a cable can be plugged into connect to other boards.
It's just kind of a coincidence that it fits that way and I think it's good for quick use if it works. It was actually designed for solderless breadboards if you see the pages on the links.
I think the best way to use it with an Arduino is with jumpers, as you've suggested. Two F-M jumpers are extremely cheap and preserve all the pin contact:
There are lots of boost regulators out there, but I think the things that make this unique are the built in AA holder, the compact fit on a breadboard and perhaps most importantly, the output current. I looked a long time to find a regulator that would maximize the output current. I don't think you can get any more out of an AA than I am able to get with this specific boost reg.
3.3 V on the same board by pulling the jumper, provides low battery GPIO output, plugs directly into breadboard, full 220 mA at 5 V output, native AA battery holder included and and C cell battery holder capability, comes fully assembled...and all for a little over half the price of the linked MintyBoost.
Plus, if you hack in a dual AA holder, it basically IS a MintyBoost. Just one wire required.
I'm confused as to what your point is. That there's other boost regulators out there? Ok...I guess you won't be buying one of mine. Feel free to download the open source instructions on building your own though.
