A battery module manages charging, protects the battery, tracks battery levels, and supplies power to electronic devices.
PN Labs has launched Battery Pal, a battery management module for embedded systems and Internet of Things (IoT) devices. The module combines battery charging, cell protection, voltage regulation, and charge monitoring on a single board for projects powered by one lithium-ion or lithium-polymer cell. The product is being offered through a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign.
Battery Pal supports USB Type-C Power Delivery (PD) charging at 5V or 9V, with selectable charging currents of 0.5A, 1A, 2A, or 3A. It can also accept a 5V to 14V external power supply, including compatible solar panels. The module provides a regulated 3.3V or 5V output at up to 1.5A, while its unregulated system output supports currents up to 3A.
The module includes a power-path management circuit that allows a connected device to operate while its battery charges. It can also power a device directly from an external source without a battery connected. An onboard I2C fuel gauge provides battery state-of-charge, voltage, current, and estimated time-to-empty information. A Qwiic connector supports integration with compatible development boards and systems.
For battery protection, Battery Pal includes safeguards against overvoltage, undervoltage, overcurrent, short circuits, and reverse battery connection. It also supports temperature-monitored charging using a 10kΩ negative temperature coefficient (NTC) thermistor, following the JEITA charging profile. Labeled solder jumpers allow users to configure several operating parameters without programming firmware.
The board supports breadboard prototyping through 2.54mm headers and integration into production circuit boards through castellated edges for surface-mount soldering. It is designed for applications such as wireless sensor nodes, portable test instruments, robotics, wearables, and solar-powered devices.
The module is intended for engineers, electronics hobbyists, and product developers who want to add battery power to a design without developing separate charging, protection, monitoring, and regulation circuits. PN Labs lists an introductory price of US$14.99 for the first 500 backers, with a higher price planned thereafter.
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