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Adafruit PowerBoost 500 Shield - Rechargeable 5V Power Shield

Adafruit PowerBoost 500 Shield - Rechargeable 5V Power Shield

The Adafruit PowerBoost 500 Shield turns your Arduino into a portable project by adding a rechargeable LiPo battery charger and 5V DC/DC boost converter in a stackable shield format. Plug in a battery, charge it via Micro-USB, and unplug from the wall — the shield automatically switches to battery power.

The on-board boost converter provides a sustained 500 mA with peaks up to 1A, plenty for most Arduino projects with sensors, displays, and LEDs. An on-board fuse protects the converter and battery from overcurrent situations. An optional on/off switch can be soldered in for convenient power control.

Key Features

  • 5V DC/DC Boost Converter – 500 mA sustained, 1A peak output from a single LiPo cell
  • Built-In LiPo Charger – Charges via Micro-USB; auto-switches between USB and battery power
  • On-Board Fuse – Protects the boost converter and battery from overcurrent
  • Optional On/Off Switch – Pad included for a slide switch to control power
  • Stackable Shield – Uses only GND and 5V pins; other shields can stack on top or below
  • Compatible Battery Sizes – Works with any 3.7V LiPo/Li-Ion with protection circuitry; 1,200 mAh or 2,000 mAh recommended

Compatibility

  • Arduino UNO, Duemilanove, Mega, Leonardo, Due
  • Any Arduino-pinout board (only GND and 5V pins used)
Warning: Use only LiPo/Li-Ion batteries with built-in protection circuitry. The boost converter is not designed for high-current spike loads such as motors or servos, which may damage the converter.
Note: The shield does not pass through the ICSP headers (the battery occupies that space). If stacking a shield that uses ICSP for data (e.g. Ethernet Shield), place the PowerBoost above it.

Ideal For

  • Portable Arduino projects and wearables
  • Battery-backed sensor stations and data loggers
  • Untethered demonstrations and exhibits
  • Any project that needs to run away from a power outlet

Package Contents

  • 1× Adafruit PowerBoost 500 Shield PCB
  • 1× Stacking header set (requires soldering)
  • 1× Optional slide switch
Note: Battery, USB cable, and wall adapter are sold separately.

The Adafruit PowerBoost 500 Shield - Rechargeable 5V Power Shield appears in the following collections:

SKU AF-2078
by Little Bird