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delhatch / PiPod_Zero2W

Modifying the PiPod project for the Pi Zero 2 W.
MIT License
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Less an issue, more of a question. #1

Open Redfeatherrr opened 2 months ago

Redfeatherrr commented 2 months ago

Hi, I'm looking to build this project soon, it looks really cool! I just have a few questions about the battery.

Thanks in advance, really excited to build this!

delhatch commented 2 months ago

1) Yes, you can use a higher capacity battery. I built a PiPod_ePaper (check out that repository if you haven't seen it yet) using a 2000 mAh battery (Adafruit product #2011). 2) You do not NEED to, but you can change the value of R6 (connected to the TP4056 IC). This resistor (connected to the PROG pin) sets the charging current: 10k = 130mA, 5k = 250mA, 4k = 300mA, 3k = 400 mA, 2k = 580 mA. The schematic value of 3.8k sets charging current to just over 300 ma. To keep the battery life long, I like to keep the charging current around 0.25C. Charging current of 300 mA is 0.25C for a 1200 mAhr battery, but is only 0.15C for a 2000mAh battery. (Very slow charging.) So changing it to around 2k would be fine for a 2000 mAHr battery (0.29C charge rate).

3) Li-ion battery would be fine. 4) The 2000 mAHr battery is slightly thicker than the 1200 mAHr battery. I will be modifying the case of the PiPod_ePaper version soon, for that battery in the next week or two. I will not be modifying the PiPod_Zero2W case, because I am only working on the ePaper version right now. So, yes, just modify the case to fit any battery you want.

Have fun!

Redfeatherrr commented 2 months ago

Awesome, thanks so much for all the info! Really excited to build this, and I'm very glad to hear that a larger battery will be just fine!

Redfeatherrr commented 2 months ago

Popping back here because I checked out the ePaper version and it looks great, but I'm already getting the PCB made for the one with a TFT display.

I see that the ePaper version has more bug fixes and some software changes, I have a few questions about that, sorry for being such a nuisance.

delhatch commented 2 months ago

1&2) The ePaper software is so much better than the TFT version. I have added a lot of great UI features, and fixed all the bugs. But no, it is not perfectly compatible. The main differences is that the ePaper version does not use the Linux fb1 frame buffer, instead it writes to the screen via I2C. Having said that, it would be possible to diff each files, and bring all of the "good stuff" over from the ePaper version. (But I don't plan on doing that.)

2) Yes, I laid out a new PCB for the ePaper version. It was needed to support the ePaper display, and I added a headphone amp.

BTW, I have a mostly-stuffed PCB for the ePaper version that I will not be using, if you want to buy it. If interested, email me at engineering?type@yahoo.com (but replace the ? with an underscore character _ )

Redfeatherrr commented 2 months ago

I might just build the TFT version first and make an ePaper one later on if I feel the need to.

Would you say that there are any software files that are directly compatible that may improve the experience of the TFT version? Or some that are easy-ish for a newbie like me to figure out how to "port" them over?

If I do end up doing the ePaper version I will definitely hit you up on that offer, as long as nobody beats me to it!

delhatch commented 2 months ago

All of the files for the ePaper version started as the files for the Pi Zero 2 W, but then got modified. I would say a 2nd year (or bright 1st year) college student could diff the files and figure it out. You have to understand how images are created for the non-ePaper version, and how they are created for the ePaper version, and think through all of the differences, and be willing to understand the Python library files and interfaces involved. Not easy, but do-able. Good luck. Have fun!

Redfeatherrr commented 2 months ago

Hmm alright, I might not be quite at that level yet, especially not with programming. I may try my luck but I'm not going to get my hopes up for any success. Thanks so much for your quick responses, and for the awesome work you've done creating these two projects to make the original design just that much better! It really is super cool.