Need a power module with rechargeable batteries

Other Hardware General Electronics
1

I need a power module with rechargeable batteries to power an Arduino. The batteries should be charged as long as i connect the module to a power cable and the arduino should run with power drawn from the power cable. If i remove the cable, the module should switch the power source immediately from cable to batteries without a loss of power on the arduino side, so the arduino should keep running if i plug in a power cable or remove it.
I searched for such a module for several hours but couldn't find one online. I don't care if i have to solder a kit or if its allready build, but i can't design such a charging circuit of my own due to a lack of electrical understanding :slight_smile: Can someone give me advice where i could find such a module?

Thanks in advance, dusti

2

You want the LiPower shield from Sparkfun.

Just add a Lithium-Ion or Lithium-Polymer battery and you're good to go: SparkFun LiPower Shield - DEV-10711 - SparkFun Electronics

3

Thats a good suggestion, thank you. The only problem is the space this shild takes. It has so many unused space i can't afford to waste. Does someone know of a smaller module that wastes less space?

Edit: The Power Cell - LiPo Charger/Booster (Power Cell - LiPo Charger/Booster (Old-School) - PRT-10300 - SparkFun Electronics) seems to do the same thing, is that correct? If so, i would use this module because its smaller.

4

Yep, I think that is basically the same circuit as on the top half of the shield.

5

Thank you for your help. If someone else has some advice too i'd be glad to take it :slight_smile:

6

Thank you for your help. If someone else has some advice too i'd be glad to take it

Absolutely - a second opinion is always good.

Actually I am in the process of building a remote solar powered temperature monitoring system using an embedded LiPo charger at the moment. It's surprisingly simple to do, should you feel like rolling your own. I'm using the incredibly simple MCP73831. It's for a 3.3v system though, so won't power an Arduino directly, which is why that circuit you are looking at has a buck/boost on it to get the 3.6v LiPo to 5v.