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Project Notes

#538 Single-cell Charge/Boost Board

An 18650 single-cell battery module with integrated TP4056 5V/USB charge controller and MT3608 5V output boost converter.

Build

Notes

This is a board/kit often listed with a description such as: 5V/12V 18650 Lithium Battery Boost Step Up Module Charge Discharge the Same Time UPS Protection Board Charger Circuit Li-ion

It’s quite a neat module:

  • powered from a single 18650 lithium battery
  • BMS/charging circuit with micro USB or direct 5V connection
  • output boost converter - available for 5V or 12V output

kit_parts

Charge-controller functions:

  • Lithium battery charging
  • Lithium battery protection (short circuit protection, over voltage protection, under voltage protection)
  • charging is automatically stopped
  • equipped with universal Micro USB connector and direct 5V input pads
  • LED charging status indicators
  • charges with 5V at up to 1A
  • uses the TP4056 constant-current/constant-voltage charge controller

Boost converter:

  • boost module requires an external switch to be attached, or pads shorted for “always on” (what the vender specs refer to as “UPS” mode)
  • during the operation, it is possible that the board will enter the protection state and turn off output
  • uses the MT3608 boost controller (chip marking: B628)

Board Connections

kit_annotated_board

Usage

Output boost converter on; no charger connected:

operating_power_on

Charging with 5V USB power; output boost converter off:

operating_charging_power_off

Charging with 5V USB power; output boost converter on:

operating_charging_power_on

Credits and References

About LEAP#538 PowerBMS
Project Source on GitHub Project Gallery Return to the LEAP Catalog

This page is a web-friendly rendering of my project notes shared in the LEAP GitHub repository.

LEAP is just my personal collection of projects. Two main themes have emerged in recent years, sometimes combined:

  • electronics - usually involving an Arduino or other microprocessor in one way or another. Some are full-blown projects, while many are trivial breadboard experiments, intended to learn and explore something interesting
  • scale modelling - I caught the bug after deciding to build a Harrier during covid to demonstrate an electronic jet engine simulation. Let the fun begin..
To be honest, I haven't quite figured out if these two interests belong in the same GitHub repo or not. But for now - they are all here!

Projects are often inspired by things found wild on the net, or ideas from the many great electronics and scale modelling podcasts and YouTube channels. Feel free to borrow liberally, and if you spot any issues do let me know (or send a PR!). See the individual projects for credits where due.