JST sockets for powering the controller -> Integrated battery & charger

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To make powering the controller a little easier, would it be possible to add 
two JST sockets to the PCB? That way two Lithium Ion batteries could be hooked 
up.

Two 1000mAh batteries would give us enough play time, right?
I'm looking at these...
http://www.sparkfun.com/products/339

The batteries would have to be removed for charging, so having the connectors 
close to an edge of the PCB might make connecting and disconnecting easy.

Original issue reported on code.google.com by joymonkey on 4 Apr 2012 at 7:39

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Well if we do that, we need to make an easy to use charging circuit as well 
with a standard barrel jack for the charger.

Original comment by michael....@mac.com on 5 Apr 2012 at 12:48

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Hmmm... maybe I'm thinking about it completely wrong (or too much).  Powering 
with the barrel jack/screw terminal adapter going into the Arduino just seems 
kind of hokey to me, so I was trying to think of the simplest way of doing it. 
I thought unplugging the batteries and charging with a separate universal 
charger might be an easy way of starting out and I could keep a spare set of 
charged batteries at the ready.

Maybe if we just had a RAW/GND input on the controller shield, then we could 
hook up whatever we want to it - like maybe a future battery/charging board or 
just a couple of 3.7v batteries connected in series. Or we could just keep 
using a barrel jack adapter.

Original comment by joymonkey on 5 Apr 2012 at 1:39

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If we put a RAW/GND input, JST or RCY connectors, we also then need to put 
regulator circuits for 5v & 3v3, and then we also need to make sure everyone 
gets the same LiPos, since we'd still need a charger solution.

And for the battery, some more like  http://www.sparkfun.com/products/10472

How about we change the barrel on the Arduino?

Original comment by michael....@mac.com on 5 Apr 2012 at 2:34

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I thought the RAW pin went straight to the Arduino's own regulator, same as the 
barrel jack?
I guess changing the barrel jack wouldn't be a big deal. So long as builders 
are comfortable with modding their Arduino.

My mind is running all over the place here, but would using readily available 
li-ion camera batteries be a viable option? Replacement 3.7v 1200mAh-1400mAh 
batteries for Canon point-n-shoots (NB-4L) are dirt cheap, and chances are a 
lot of builders already have chargers. I could machine a housing that would 
take a couple of those, I'm just unsure of how the contacts could be connected 
(would need to find spring connectors of some sort). They could be popped out 
and replaced with fresh batteries nice and easily.

Original comment by joymonkey on 5 Apr 2012 at 2:59

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How do we make the housing to hold the battery?

Original comment by michael....@mac.com on 5 Apr 2012 at 8:25

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For those Canon batteries I was thinking of a piece of acrylic with a 
milled-down area to receive the battery, and a simple PCB that gets slotted 
into the top (just above the battery). The PCB would have some 90 degree pin 
headers that would make contact with the batteries contacts. The PSB would be 
set up for two batteries in series with a screw terminal for output. I'll try 
and make one for myself with a perfboard PCB.

Original comment by joymonkey on 6 Apr 2012 at 11:12

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Been thinking about this... we can do this...

3.7v 1000 to 2200mah LiPo, still tiny, attached to pcb with a charging circuit 
& a 3.7 DC to +v 5DC converter  like an NCP1402 and could charges off the 
Arduino USB 

http://www.sparkfun.com/products/8290

Original comment by michael....@mac.com on 6 Apr 2012 at 12:40

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Maybe use either a MAX8662 or a MAX8663 PMIC

Original comment by michael....@mac.com on 6 Apr 2012 at 12:59

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Original comment by michael....@mac.com on 6 Apr 2012 at 1:18

• Changed title: JST sockets for powering the controller -> Integrated battery & charger

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Ordered an 8290 to see how well this idea could work.

Original comment by michael....@mac.com on 8 Apr 2012 at 10:05

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Paul, this works well with the controller.  

I used the .95 JST cable & header with  the 8290 SFE PowerCell to boost the 
3.7v to 5v.

BTW, I just inserted the +5V & GND into the test points below the XBee socket

The question now becomes,

1) Can we just continue to use the 8290 SFE PowerCell?
2) If we make our own, do we really want to integrate it onto the controller 
board? I still need to find a through hole version.
3) When do we integrate it onto the Controller PCB now or do we do this in a 
future version?

Original comment by michael....@mac.com on 10 Apr 2012 at 8:12

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BTW, I used http://www.sparkfun.com/products/10300

Original comment by michael....@mac.com on 10 Apr 2012 at 8:13

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That little charger/booster seems great! It's so small, it could probably just 
be incorporated into the wristmount design rather than trying to integrate it 
into the shield.
Can it only be charged by using the micro USB connection, or could it be 
charged by plugging the barrel jack or USB into the Arduino? Just curious.

Original comment by joymonkey on 10 Apr 2012 at 9:27

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We can charge it via the Arduino as well.

Original comment by michael....@mac.com on 25 May 2012 at 10:16

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After seeing the battery in action at CVI, I picked up a similar LiPoly with a 
jst connector on it.
So, where can I add that connector to the controller shield? (v.4) Do I need 
the 8290?

There is already a jst on the v6 (or is it 7?)

Original comment by gvarda...@gmail.com on 25 Sep 2012 at 7:52