Adafruit
Adafruit Universal USB / DC / Solar Lithium Ion/Polymer charger - bq24074
The Adafruit Universal USB/DC/Solar Lithium Ion/Polymer Charger (bq24074) charges 3.7V/4.2V LiPo or LiIon batteries from virtually any power source — USB Typ...
The Adafruit Universal USB/DC/Solar Lithium Ion/Polymer Charger (bq24074) charges 3.7V/4.2V LiPo or LiIon batteries from virtually any power source — USB Type-C, DC adapter, or solar panel — with a wide 5–10V input range. Its near-MPPT solar tracking automatically draws the maximum current available from any panel in any light condition.
Smart load sharing prioritises input power over battery power when available, preventing unnecessary charge/discharge cycles. The regulated LOAD output stays at 4.4V or below, making it safe for downstream 3.3V regulators or 5V boost converters.
Key Features
- Triple Input – Charge via USB Type-C, DC jack (5–10V), or 6–10V solar panel; both USB and DC can be connected simultaneously
- Up to 1.5A Charge Rate – Default 1000 mA, adjustable to 500 mA or 1.5A via solder jumper
- Near-MPPT Solar Charging – Automatically tracks maximum current from any wattage solar panel
- Smart Load Sharing – Prioritises input power over battery to prevent cycling; up to 1.5A load output regulated to ≤4.4V
- Wide Input Protection – Accepts 5–10V input, protected up to 28V
- Status LEDs – Power Good (green) and Charging (red); charging LED turns off when complete
- Optional Temperature Monitoring – Solder in a 10K NTC thermistor for battery temperature protection (not included)
- JST Battery Connector – Standard 2-pin JST for Adafruit LiPo/LiIon batteries
Ideal For
- Solar-powered outdoor projects and sensor stations
- Portable battery-powered devices
- USB or DC-charged LiPo/LiIon projects
- IoT and remote monitoring systems
Package Contents
- 1× Adafruit bq24074 Universal Charger (fully assembled)
- 1× Header strip
Resources
Jargon buster
Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.
- 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.
- LED
- A light-emitting diode is a small electronic component that lights up when current flows through it in the correct direction. In this kit, LEDs create the flashing effect, so polarity and correct soldering matter for the project to work.
- LiPo
- A lithium polymer rechargeable battery commonly used in portable electronics projects. It matters because LiPo batteries need correct charging circuitry and care, and this board includes hardware intended for that battery type.
- solder jumper
- A solder jumper is a small pair or group of pads on a circuit board that can be bridged or cut with solder to change a hardware setting. It matters because changing modes may require careful soldering rather than just changing software.
- USB Type-C
- A reversible USB connector used for power and data on many modern devices. On this kit it indicates an alternate 5V power input, which may be useful for setup or charging without the solar panel.
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Related Tutorials
Free guides on learn.littlebird.com.au
