Holder & charger for mobile LiPo batteries (Open letter to Jack / DAGU)

Since I had good luck last time (https://www.robotshop.com/letsmakerobots/node/7046) - I will try again.

This time, it is batteries.

As I was just talking with Gareth about, it is a shame that all the used mobile phones get thrown away, with nice LiPo batteries, even chargers.

And you can get really cheap LiPo's if you get some that should be sold as spare batteries to common cel phone types, or outdated models.

What I would like, would be a HOLDER and second a CHARGER. This would open a world for us!

 

HOLDER:

Biggest problem is using these batteries are to make sure that you get a good connection out to your circuit - and specially if you want to stack 2 batteries.

I am very sure that a universal holder / one that would cover major brands or could be adjusted, would be a huge selling hit; The easiest way in the world to get all the LiPo action that you would ever need. Make sure this holder is light weight, could even just be a clip to connect.

 

CHARGER (and discharging circui?):

Charging LiPo's are scary. And I am not sure if it can start fires to hook up a motor to a battery that was designed to last for a week with low usage. So, I would also like to be able to purchase what ever (possibly) needed to be able to use the battery without causing too much dangerous stuff. And as a pure luxury, it would be cool if the clip could be hooked up with a charger, so one would not have to move the battery from the robot, to be charged by the phone. In the event that one only has the battery, not the phone, this would be really nice.

 

So, all you clever people :) Can we design such a clip/holder, can the electronics be done?

Let's build, gentlemen :)

All inputs below, thanks.

Charging lipo’s is actually

Charging lipo’s is actually quite easy today with the multitude of li-ion/po charging integrated circuits that are avaliable.  I am building a li-ion charger now using the MCP73861 from microchip.  A lot of phones actually use chips like that in them, and the devices that oddbot posted most certainly do, as do the cheap hobbey lipo chargers such as this .

Why not just get a cheap LiPo/charger?

I got 3s1p (11.1V) lipo from hobby king, and it was about $12 (USD). In fact it was considerably cheaper to buy that LiPo and have it delivered to my door (from Hong Kong or wherever) than it would have been to buy one at any of the shops in NZ, even the same model battery was going to cost at least double what I paid.

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_index.asp

I highly recommend them. Also they sell all the connectors, chargers, monitors etc that you could need.

Phone batteries just seems like more trouble than they’re worth…

Hmm… But phone batteries

Hmm… But phone batteries are often free, and it is good for the invironment.

There would be no trouble, if this clip could work, that is my point.

But good info, you may be right.

Well, just like with the

Well, just like with the mounting brackets there where a lot of “YOU DONT NEED THIS”, but … well… I still have easy access to a lot of nice LiPo from old phones. And I still am not using them for my next project.

If DAGU had made this clip, I know I would.

well, dagu may not make one,

well, dagu may not make one, but you can buy them for $2 delvered from here

Oh, thank you

Now, that clip may be a charger. But I am interested in a nice thing that I can use to power my robot with say 2-3 batteries.

It would really be a clumsy bot (and it would not take much movement before it lost power) if it wa to utilize these.

But thank you for showing me that shop, that just cost me USD 54,93!

:smiley:

Description Unit price Qty Amount
Virtual 5.1-Surround USB 2.0 External Sound Card
Item# 22475
$2.14 USD 1 $2.14 USD
Mini USB to Micro USB Adapter
Item# 41527
$2.20 USD 1 $2.20 USD
Real+Growable Lucky Bamboo Plant In-a-Bottle Keychain (2-Pack)
Item# 10684
$2.38 USD 1 $2.38 USD
Car Cigarette Powered 1000mA USB Adapter/Charger - Black (DC 12V)
Item# 40470
$2.59 USD 1 $2.59 USD
Jet 1300-C Butane Lighter JODKEN
Item# 1320
$2.78 USD 3 $8.34 USD
Neodymium NIB Magnet Spheres (6mm / 20-Pack)
Item# 13503
$3.74 USD 1 $3.74 USD
Novelty Dippy Drinking Bird
Item# 29233
$4.35 USD 1 $4.35 USD
Super Strong Rare-Earth RE Magnets (20mm x 2mm / 100-Pack)
Item# 13515
$29.18 USD 1 $29.18 USD
Registered Air Mail ##
Item# 0
$0.01 USD 1 $0.01 USD
Subtotal $54.93 USD
Total $54.93 USD