So I have a question, I have this battery lying around doing nothing.
http://www.horizonhobby.com/products/300mah-2s-7-4v-35c-lipo-battery-EFLB3002S35#t2
I was wondering if I can use it to power an arduino?
Can the arduino charge this?
Does anyone have any experience in hooking these things up? it has a red wire(positive)? black wire(negative)? and a white wire(charge wire maybe)?
Thanks in advance for all the answers.
You can use it to power your Arduino but you should get a balanced charger to charge the battery, that's what the white connector is used for.
AiRgeek:
You can use it to power your Arduino but you should get a balanced charger to charge the battery, that's what the white connector is used for.
Thanks I will check out the price of one of these balanced chargers and pit it up against the arduino back pack... weigh it out from there. I actually haven't opened the battery, and I bought it at a store, of which a good friend owns, so returning it will be without effort, if I have to.
Remember to observe appropriate safety precautions when charging LiPo batteries.
I would add an inline fuse too, even that little battery could put out a mighty current
if shorted (its rated at 10A continuous...)
MarkT:
Remember to observe appropriate safety precautions when charging LiPo batteries.
I would add an inline fuse too, even that little battery could put out a mighty current
if shorted (its rated at 10A continuous...)
Ahh yes, thanks Mark, good advice about safety, I actually have a much larger one of these lipo batteries, in my ever so deadly airsoft weapon (not allowed in tournaments too much kick). I have not used it much because of this, and completely forgot about the recharge "rules" on these lipo batteries, thanks.
You figure a nice little 5 amp inline fuse, for arduino protection?
If the arduino starts consuming 5A, it is probably blown up before the fuse does.
THe battery you mention is a 2-cell and must use a balancing charger. Check out HobbyKing for inexpensive small chargers.
I should point out that you battery is the unprotected high current type used with hobby airplanes and copters. You may wish to consider 'protected' cells such as the 18650. They look like 'normal' batteries and have current limiting short protection as well as over & under voltage protection. They are well suited to Arduino projects. You can even get protected AAA size LiPo which are very nice for small projects.
Remember LiPo has 3x the energy of Alkaline and holds a charge for months unlike NiMH.
Joe
Lots of good information here, thank you very much, I think I will return the eflite, and go to our local battery shop looking for some AAA protected cells, and take it from there.
Lots of good information here, thank you very much, I think I will return the eflite, and go to our local battery shop looking for some AAA protected cells, and take it from there.
I recommend buying on-line. These are not the most common cells and shops tend to overcharge (pun XD) and may not carry them.
Joe
LOL @ the pun.
Well I broke down and ordered a bcd pack
http://www.liquidware.com/shop/show/MBP/Lithium+Backpack
figured why not make my life easy, it is pretty cheap anyways.