I have several ESP32S3 board. I’d like to use them in a setting where mains power is not guaranteed. The idea was I hook up batteries to the device, and mains power.
My expecation was for the device to switch automatically and charge when needed. It does not.
it resets when there is a battery connected and it’s on mains power using the USB connector, and one then unplugs the USB.
Also, if the battery is disconnected and then connected again to a running device, it does not start charging.
Anyone got experience with this? As it is right now, it’s unusable.
It depends on the load and battery ability to supply necessary power.
In my case I have a Super Capacitor (or Ultracap) as the “battery” and it can handle a maximum current of 630mA (130mA continuous), so I detect the (5V from Solar) power “fail” and switch to “battery mode” - shutting down certain functions.
If the “battery voltage” goes too low, I isolate it and put the ESP32 into (timed) Deep Sleep.
The resistor is part of the voltage divider for a sensor. The battery is a 1100Mah Lipo.
What I’ve noticed… it charges (flashing led) until it’s full. But once full, it stops charging, never to resume again. Also flickig the switch while in operation on USB, will cause a crash. Removing the usb while in operation, same thing.
Check which PMIC your board uses, if any.
If it’s bare TP4056, it won’t support auto power switching.
Try a dev board with proper PMIC (like IP5306 or BQ24074).
Perhaps a related question: my plan is to use LiPo battery and connect a solar panel directly to the USB. Will the trickle from the panel charge the battery?
darkk011,
The battery charging IC used in the ESP32S3 is set to a charging voltage of 4.2V and a charging current of 110mA.
How many volts and amperes does the solar panel supply to the USB connector?
I am using XIAO ESP32S3 for Meshtastic & LoRa that is mounted on the Grove Shield for XIAO with battery management chip, so I am not sure if this will actually manage the battery charging. The panel I ordered is 5V 5W portable solar panel charger from Amazon and I suppose that it will supply up to 1A, but obviously depending on the sun conditions.
If the output of the 5V 5W portable solar panel charger is a constant voltage of 5V, the battery connected to the ESP32S3 battery pad can be charged.
I am not sure about the Grove Shield as I cannot find a circuit diagram, but it should probably be possible to charge it.
Thank you both, I should be getting the battery shortly (the solar panel may take a bit longer) and I am still working out if the battery voltage can be monitored and reported, so once everything is ready I will report back.
