DFRobot Solar Power Manager 5V 1A

The DFRobot Solar Power Manager 5V charges a single 3.7 V lithium cell with up to 900 mA from a 5 V solar panel or via USB and provides a regulated 5 V output with up to 1 A. The CN3165 charge controller keeps the panel voltage close to the maximum power point (constant voltage MPPT). Protection functions for the battery, the solar input and the output are built in.

The USB socket supplies 5 V continuously and cannot be switched off. The 5 V output on the pin header can be switched on and off by a microcontroller via the EN pin, for example for sensors that only need power during a measurement. The battery is not included.

Important: The open-circuit voltage of the solar panel must not exceed 6.5 V, otherwise the module may be permanently damaged (DFRobot specification). Panels with a nominal voltage of 6 V usually have a higher open-circuit voltage.

Recommended alternative for solar panels from 6 V to 24 V: MPPT Solar Power Management Module for 6V-24V Solar Panel

Recommended Accessories:

• Solar Cell 5V 200mA 1W 110x60mm
• 5V 2A Semi-flexible Monocrystalline Solar Module 10W
• 18650 Battery Compartment / Battery Holder with Connection Cable

Features:

• Constant voltage MPPT for solar panels with 5 V nominal voltage
• Charging via SOLAR IN or via micro USB (USB IN), USB has priority
• Three-phase charging: trickle charge, constant current up to 900 mA, constant voltage up to 4.2 V
• Battery connection BAT IN as a PH2.0 socket and as a screw terminal, both connected internally
• 5 V output on USB-A and on the pin header, both share 5 V 1 A
• Switchable pin header: jumper on ON, or remove the jumper and connect EN to an output of the microcontroller (HIGH on, LOW off)
• LED indicators: CHG, DONE, REV BAT, REV SOLAR and ON
• BOOT button: after a battery change, the output only switches on again after pressing BOOT or after charging
• With solar panels from 5 W or when charging from a USB power supply, stick the heat sink with the thermal pad to the Cooling Fin area on the underside
• Version V1.1: battery protection against overcharge, deep discharge, overcurrent and reverse polarity, for cells with and without their own protection circuit

Application Examples:

• Solar-powered sensor nodes with ESP32 or Arduino
• Weather stations and data loggers outdoors
• Low-power operation: switch sensors on via EN only for measuring

Documentation:

• DFRobot Wiki with guide
• Schematic V1.1 (PDF)
• Dimension drawing V1.1 (PDF)

Technical Data:

• Charge controller: CN3165
• Solar input SOLAR IN: 4.5 to 6 V, open-circuit voltage at most 6.5 V
• Recommended solar panel power: up to 10 W
• USB IN: 5 V via micro USB, power supply with at least 1 A
• Battery BAT IN: one Li-ion or LiPo cell 3.7 V, at least 900 mAh at 1C charge rate
• Charge current: at most 900 mA
• Charge cut-off voltage: 4.2 V ±1 %
• Regulated output: 5 V, 1 A
• Output efficiency from 3.7 V: 86 % at 50 % load
• Charging efficiency: 73 % at 900 mA
• Quiescent current: below 1 mA
• Protection BAT IN: overcharge 4.3 V, deep discharge 2.4 V, overcurrent 3 A, reverse polarity
• Output protection: short circuit, overcurrent, overtemperature
• Protection SOLAR IN: reverse polarity
• Operating temperature: -40 to 85 °C
• Dimensions: 63 × 33 × 12 mm
• Module weight: 12 g

Scope of Delivery:

• 1× Solar Power Manager 5V V1.1
• 1× jumper 2.54 mm black
• 4× nylon spacers M3 × 10 mm
• 4× stainless steel screws M3 × 5 mm
• 1× aluminium heat sink 14 × 14 × 7 mm
• 1× thermal pad 14 × 14 × 0.5 mm