SparkFun LiPo Charger/Booster - 5V/1A

The SparkFun 5V/1A LiPo Charger/Booster is a robust and economical circuit designed to generate 1A from a Lithium Polymer battery at 5V. It's equipped with a PAM2401 IC booster circuit and protection diodes, allowing you to run multiple cells in series for an extra boost. This board is capable of drawing more current the lower the input voltage, making it ideal for delivering a strong charge in a short amount of time.

The circuit is built around an MCP73831 charge controller IC, which is connected to the LiPo port and the input of a PAM2401 boost controller. The board offers multiple connection types for the battery, charge source, and switch, ensuring versatility in application. Two LEDs provide system status feedback. If your project requires more than 5V, you can daisy-chain multiple SparkFun LiPo Charger/Boosters together for increased output.

Note: This board is not a direct replacement for the SparkFun Power Cell as it uses a different IC. It also lacks undervoltage and other battery protection features, so it's recommended to use it only with batteries that have a built-in protection circuit.

The SparkFun 5V/1A LiPo Charger/Booster comes with several key features:

• Charger with microUSB, 500mA capacity
• Booster with 5V, 1A output
• Designed to fit 1,000mAh batteries
• Battery isolation switch with optional external connections
• Enable pin broken out
• Disabled current less than 10uA
• LED indicators for power and charge
• High-frequency switching for a super-clean output signal

Supporting documents include:

• Schematic
• Eagle Files
• Hookup Guide
• Fritzing Part
• Datasheets for MCP73831 and PAM2401
• GitHub Hardware Repo

SparkFun also provides a detailed Hookup Guide to help you get started with the LiPo Charger/Booster.