Adafruit
Adafruit bq25185 USB / DC / Solar Charger with 3.3V Buck Board
· MPN: ADA6092
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The Adafruit bq25185 is an all-in-one charging and power supply board that supports USB, DC, and solar charging with an integrated 3.3V buck converter. It is...
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The Adafruit bq25185 is an all-in-one charging and power supply board that supports USB, DC, and solar charging with an integrated 3.3V buck converter. It is an excellent upgrade from MCP73833 or MCP73831-based chargers, combining power path management and regulated output in a single board.
Connect a 500 mAh or larger LiPo battery to the JST PH 2-pin port, charge via USB-C or DC/solar input, and power your 3.3V project directly from the regulated output. Smart power path management prioritises external power, sending excess current to the battery instead of constantly cycling it.
Key Features
- USB Type-C Input – 5V at up to 1A with 5.1k CC resistors for universal compatibility; data lines broken out on the bottom
- DC/Solar Input – 5–18V via side pads with near-MPPT solar optimisation
- Adjustable Charge Rate – Defaults to 1A, adjustable to 500 mA via onboard jumper
- Smart Power Path – Prioritises external power, extends battery life by avoiding charge cycling
- 3.3V Regulated Output – TPS62569 buck converter delivering stable 3.3V at up to 1A
- 4.5V Max Load Output – Ranges from 3.0V (low battery) to 4.5V (external power active) at up to 1A
Status LEDs
- Orange – Charging
- Red – Fault
- Green – 3.3V output active
Additional Features
- Enable Pad – Disable the 3.3V buck converter when not needed
- Battery Monitoring Pads – Check battery voltage via breakout pads on the bottom
- Mounting Holes – For easy installation in enclosures
Tip: For solar-powered projects, use a 5–7V solar panel. Higher voltage panels will only generate excess heat. Connect via the DC input side pads.
Ideal For
- Portable 3.3V battery-powered projects
- Solar-powered IoT devices
- Projects requiring USB + solar charging flexibility
- Replacing MCP73833/MCP73831 charger setups with integrated power regulation
Note: Both outputs may drop to 3.0V when the battery is nearly empty. Use a 500 mAh or larger LiPo battery for best results. Battery not included.
Package Contents
- 1× Adafruit bq25185 USB/DC/Solar Charger with 3.3V Buck Board
Jargon buster
Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.
- breakout
- A breakout board carries a small or fine-pitched component and brings its connections out to standard, breadboard- and header-friendly pins. Describing a part as a breakout means it can be wired into a project without soldering directly to the component's tiny contacts.
- Buck converter
- A power circuit that reduces a higher DC voltage to a lower DC voltage. It is useful when your supply voltage is too high for a module or microcontroller and you want less heat and better efficiency than a simple linear regulator.
- DC
- DC means direct current, where electricity flows in one constant direction, as supplied by batteries, USB ports and many plug-pack power supplies. When a product specifies DC, it runs from a DC supply rather than mains AC, so you need to provide the correct voltage and polarity.
- IoT
- Short for Internet of Things, meaning physical devices that connect to networks or the internet to send data or be controlled remotely. It matters if you want projects such as connected sensors, remote controls or classroom data-logging activities.
- JST PH
- A small keyed plug-and-socket connector with 2 mm pin spacing, often used for low-power electronics connections. You need the correct JST PH cable, and its current rating limits how much power should be passed through it.
- LiPo
- A LiPo (lithium polymer) battery is a rechargeable lithium battery widely used in portable projects because it is light and compact. LiPo cells need correct charging circuitry and careful handling to stay safe, so equipment that supports LiPo generally includes charging or protection hardware suited to that battery type.
- MCP73831
- A lithium battery charger chip used to safely charge a single-cell LiPo battery. It matters because it lets the board recharge a battery from USB or another input without needing a separate charger module.
- Power path
- A power path is the route electricity takes from one or more supplies to the circuit being powered. Understanding the power path helps you choose parts that can safely handle source selection, backup power, and supply switching.
- USB Type-C
- USB Type-C is a small, reversible USB connector used for power, data and sometimes video on many modern devices. The connector itself does not guarantee a particular speed or voltage, so check the supported USB version, data rate and whether it carries more than 5V via USB Power Delivery.
- USB-C
- USB-C is a small, reversible USB connector that can carry power, data and, on some devices, video over a single cable. The same connector can range from charging only to high-speed data, so the functions a given port actually supports vary.
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