• LiFePO4 battery technology--made convenient for makers.
• 3.2V 600 mAh LiFePO4 battery is included!
• Now selling NEW revision 3 with CN3058E charge controller, USB Type C and temperature protection!

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What is it?

Your power system, done!

This module provides a complete turn-key solution for any 3.3V prototype or design that needs to be battery powered, or that could be improved by being both battery and wall-powered. The heart of the module is the LiFePO4 (lithium iron phosphate) battery. This exciting new battery chemistry, widely used in electric vehicles, also happens to match the recommended voltage range of many 3.3V chips perfectly. This allows you to power your microcontroller system directly from the battery, without even needing a voltage regulator. Combined with the low self-discharge rate of LiFePO4 batteries, this makes for a perfect power supply for ultra low power systems such as wireless sensor nodes.

This does not mean that it is only good for low power systems though! These batteries have very high power density and can easily run small DC motors and servos for hours. Due to their low internal resistance, they can happily power heavy loads and won't even get warm. This, combined with improved thermal characteristics over other lithium chemistries, makes them great for outdoor projects as well.

Being a newer lithium chemistry, the use of these batteries for electronics is not yet as wide-spread as other lithium-ion batteries. So let's change that!

Why did you make it?

Because I wanted one myself of course! :-) And there didn't seem to be anything like it on the market.

I felt that LiFePO4 batteries have a lot of potential for use in electronics and robotics, but there didn't seem to be any convenient way for makers and engineers to add them to their designs. The parts were out there, but integrating the technology wasn't easy because of the small pitch components needed.

Now there's a convenient solution. Just solder down the two battery terminals and your power system is done. Or if that doesn't fit your design, just clip off the battery terminals and connect using the extra connector. And if your system uses USB, you don't even need to worry about adding a USB connector anymore, because the USB signals of the charge port are also available through the extra connector.

What makes it special?

High power, low self-discharge, high charge/discharge cycle count, 3.2V nominal voltage with 3.6V max during charge, good high and improved low temperature performance, environmentally friendly and safe... what's not to like? Add in the module's convenient form-factor with 0.1" grid connections, the smart charge chip that allows you to keep the USB connected without overcharging the battery and the charge indicator LED and you can hardly get a better power supply module than this. Plus, you can use any USB charger you already have laying around to charge the battery. The new revision 3 uses a modern USB Type C connector and adds temperature protection to limit battery charging to temperatures between -5 °C and 45 °C!

Disclaimer

When purchasing this product you agree to release Silicognition LLC and all its employees from all liability relating to injuries that may occur (during activity, usage, etc.). You also agree to hold Silicognition LLC and its employees entirely free from any liability, including financial responsibility for injuries incurred, regardless of the circumstances. Although one of the safest types of lithium batteries, LiFePO4 have high power density so think about what you are doing and don't do stupid stuff!