In the USB-C Power Delivery (PD) standard, Programmable Power Supply (PPS) mode is an optional mode that allows you to request a non-standard voltage from a charger, with the ability to also set a current limit of your choice . Having learned of this, [Jason] from [Rip It Apart] decided to investigate: could this feature be used to charge Li-Ion batteries, which require the voltage and current to vary in a specific way throughout? long charging process? Turns out the answer is a resounding “yes”, and using a programmable USB-C tester using Lua scripting, [Jason] shows us how we can use a PPS-enabled USB-C charger to charge our Li-Ion batteries, in a project called DingoCharge.
The wonderful write-up answers all your questions, starting with a safety disclaimer and going through everything else you might want to know. The GitHub repository hosts not only code, but also complete installation and usage instructions.
DingoCharge handles more than Li-Ion batteries – it should also work with LiFePO4 and lithium titanate batteries. [Jason] worked on Ni-MH and lead-acid media. You can even connect an analog output thermal sensor and have the tester limit the charging process based on temperature, showing how comprehensive the DingoCharge project solution is.
The amount of effort put into polishing this project is impressive, and now we can enjoy it; all you need is a PPS-compatible power supply and a supported USB-C tester. If your charger’s PPS is limited to 11V, as many are, you will only be able to fully charge 2S packs. That said, it’s a definite improvement over many Li-Ion solutions we’ve seen. You don’t have a Li-Ion pack? Build one out of smartphone cells! Make sure your pack has a balancing circuit, of course, because this charger can’t provide one, and you’ll be fine. Still looking to get into Li-Ion batteries? We have a three part guide, from the basics to mechanics and electronics!
Contents
Is it better to leave a lithium took battery on the charger?
Today we want to answer a common question we get asked: “Is it okay to leave a lithium-ion battery on the charger”? With this knowledge, it becomes clear that if the correct voltage limit is set for the lithium-ion battery you are charging, there should be no problem leaving a lithium-ion battery on the charger.
How to extend the life of a lithium-ion battery? Partial charging and discharging will reduce stress and extend battery life. It is recommended to avoid full cycles and to stay between 100% and 50% DoD (0-50% SoC).
Is it better to store lithium batteries charged or uncharged? Lithium-ion should be stored in a charged state, ideally 40%. This prevents the battery from dropping below 2.50V/cell, triggering sleep mode. Discard Li-ion if kept below 2.00/V/cell for more than a week.
Should lithium batteries be removed when not in use? Conserve battery life by turning off a device and removing the batteries when it is not in use and is not expected to be used for long periods of time. Practice proper battery storage by keeping batteries in a cool, dry place at normal room temperature.
Can I use a regular charger on a lithium battery?
You can use a lead acid charger on a lithium battery if you wish, HOWEVER, you should NOT use a lead acid charger if it has an automatic “equalization mode” which cannot be permanently disabled .
What is the difference between a lithium-ion charger and a regular charger? The Li ion charger is a voltage limiting device that has similarities to the lead-acid system. Differences with Li-ion are higher voltage per cell, tighter voltage tolerances and no trickle charge or full charge float.
Can I use a regular trickle charger on a lithium battery? It is important to note that trickle charging is not acceptable for lithium batteries. “Trickle charging” means that a certain current is forced into the battery even when it is full. Trickle charging is used in lead acid, NiCad and NiMH batteries to maintain them to the maximum.
Will a regular charger run on a lithium-ion battery? You don’t need a specific lithium battery charger.
Do you need special charger for lithium battery?
All Dakota Lithium batteries and most lithium-ion batteries require a higher voltage than lead-acid batteries to fully charge and work best when charged with a lithium-specific battery charger that charges at 14. 4 ÷ 14.8 volts.
Can I charge 18650 with 5V?
Yes you can, have done this several times using a 5v DC supply, you should have a multimeter and be able to measure cell voltage while charging, stop when cell voltage reaches 4.2v max.
Can you charge 18650 batteries in a normal charger? Li-Ion 18650 packs can be charged with any battery charger with lithium-ion battery charging function, in other words, the charging process should end at 4.2V. individual cells with a constant 4.2V supply if you are unable to obtain a charger. But lithium batteries require special balance chargers.
Can I charge a lithium battery with 5V? You can’t just connect 5v to a lithium-ion battery and expect it to work. What will happen is that the cell will reach 4.2V or be fully charged and then continue to increase, well beyond 4.3V it will start to heat up as it will no longer be able to accept a charge. If you continue, the cell will discharge and may even catch fire.
What voltage should I charge my 18650? The 18650 is a popular cylindrical lithium cell, with a capacity of 2500 mAh. The datasheet recommends a constant current charge of 1250mA, then a constant voltage charge of 4.2V and an end of charge when the current drops to 50mA.
Can you charge a 3.7 V battery with 5V?
Generally, 3.7V lithium battery needs “protective board” for overcharging and discharging. The battery without protection board can only be charged with 4.2V voltage, because the ideal full charge voltage of a lithium battery is 4.2V, once the voltage exceeds 4.2 V, the battery may be damaged.
How to charge a 3.7V rechargeable battery? To safely charge 3.7 V lithium-ion batteries, they must be charged at a constant current of 0.2 to 0.7 times their capacity, until their terminal voltage reaches 4.2 V , then they should be charged in constant voltage mode until the charge current drops to 10% of the initial charge rate.
Can you charge a 3.7 V battery with a 6v charger?
No, and not just because of the voltage difference. A “6-volt” secondary battery is actually a 3-cell lead-acid battery. It needs a voltage of 6.85V to be applied for “float” charging, or a higher voltage of 7.2V in a particular scheme for “cyclic” charging. The battery can be left connected to a floating charger indefinitely.
How many volts does it take to charge a 3.7v battery? 2 – The minimum voltage required to charge a 3.7v Li-Ion battery (up to 3.7v), is 3.7v. A more practical voltage would be, 4.0v (3.7
Can you charge a 3.7V battery with a 12V charger? Originally Answered: Can I charge four 3.7 volt lithium ion batteries in series with a 12 volt charger? No, you can’t do this with a 12V supply, but you can if you add proper regulation and an automatic cut-off circuit between the 12V supply and the battery.
Can I use 5v instead of 3.7 V battery?
Not directly, but when it’s in your cell phone, yes. The confusion can come from two sources: the 5v “charger” is actually just a 5v DC power source. It’s not really a charger; the charging circuit is (normally) in your phone.
Is 5V enough to charge a phone? Most phones and other devices are capable of handling 5V/2.4A. For fast charging, manufacturers increase the voltage from 5V to 9V or 12V and beyond, or increase the amperage to 3A and above. The introduction of USB-C helps accomplish this with support for up to 100W and 20V, enabling faster charging speeds.
Is it OK to use a 5V charger for a 3.7V battery? As we know, in most cases, 5V charger can be used for USB of computers and mobile phones. The 3.7V battery charge cut-off voltage is 4.2V, and the discharge cut-off voltage is 3.0V. Therefore, when the open circuit voltage of the battery is lower than 3, 6V, it should be able to charge.
Can you charge 18650 with USB?
There are two types of 18650 lithium-ion battery chargers available in the market: USB powered 18650 battery chargers: With these chargers, you can charge the battery from any USB power port/outlet that you see around. It is recommended to use your high current mobile charger to charge the batteries with this device.
How to charge an 18650 battery with a phone charger? Required Component: 5V (1A or above) cell phone charger, connecting cables, 18650 battery holder, tp4056 module (required). By making the connection shown in the image above, you can safely charge the 18650 battery. If you use a low rated current mobile phone charger, only charge a single 18650 lithium cell with it.
Can I charge a 3.7V battery with USB? To answer your question as it is written: yes you can recharge them via USB.
Do 18650 batteries need a special charger? To charge an 18650, you must use a special charger for lithium-ion cells.
Can I charge a lithium battery with a USB charger?
USB is 5V; not high enough to charge a 7.4V lithium battery. It is a 2S battery which should be charged with a dedicated 2S balanced charger for safety. Such a charger will need a supply of at least 8.4V, usually 9V, capable of handling the required charging current.
Can you charge a lithium battery with a USB flash drive? Sometimes overshadowed by its data bus partner, each USB connection also contains a power bus. With a maximum power rating of 5.25V/500mA, the USB power bus is an excellent source for charging a single cell lithium-ion battery.
Can I charge a lithium battery with a phone charger?
Yes, but remember the cells must be connected in parallel for the charger to charge it and you also need to use an external charging circuit (like tp4056) for reverse voltage, overcharge, overdischarge protection, otherwise you may cause your batteries or charger to explode.
How to charge a lithium battery without a charger? How to charge a lithium-ion battery without a charger?
- Use a USB port.
- Charging from an AC adapter.
- Use the metal contacts on your terminals and on the inside wall of your battery box.
- Charging with a car battery.
What chargers work with lithium-ion batteries?
Dakota Lithium 24V 5 amp charger for Li-Ion, LiFePO4, NCM and other lithium batteries. All Dakota Lithium batteries should be charged using a LiFePO4 compatible charger.
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