# Lipo charge circuit

**URL:** <https://community.sparkfun.com/t/lipo-charge-circuit/69402>\
**Category:** Development Boards\
**Created:** [August 13, 2026, 1:51pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/lipo-charge-circuit/69402 "2026-08-13T13:51:21Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![artmeans](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/58956e/32.png) [@artmeans](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/artmeans)\
**Post date:** [August 13, 2026, 1:51pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/lipo-charge-circuit/69402/1 "2026-08-13T13:51:21Z")

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**SparkFun Qwiic Pocket Development Board - ESP32-C6. SKU:** DEV-22925

The documentation refers to connecting a single cell lipo that can be charged from the usb connection. Specs show _ **charge rate is set to 214mA@3.3V** _. The voltage seems too low to fully charge a lipo with nominal 3.7v and full charge 4.2v.

Will this board actually work to charge a lipo & will the regulator handle a fully charged 4.2 v lipo?

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**Author:** ![jremington](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/sparkfun/user_avatar/community.sparkfun.com/jremington/32/6595_2.png) [@jremington](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/jremington)\
**Post date:** [August 13, 2026, 2:24pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/lipo-charge-circuit/69402/2 "2026-08-13T14:24:39Z")

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The “@3.3V” does not make sense and is probably a thoughtless typo on the product web page.

[The board schematic](https://cdn.sparkfun.com/assets/d/4/0/a/9/Qwiic_Pocket_Dev_ESP32_C6.pdf) shows that the MCP73831 LiPo charge regulator IC is powered from the USB port with the charge rate set by R10, which you could in principle swap out for a different charge rate.

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**Author:** ![TS-Russell](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/sparkfun/user_avatar/community.sparkfun.com/ts-russell/32/6092_2.png) [@TS-Russell](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/TS-Russell)\
**Post date:** [August 13, 2026, 9:31pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/lipo-charge-circuit/69402/3 "2026-08-13T21:31:55Z")

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It will, it actually charges @ 5v…We’ll get the guide and product page corrected ASAP!

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**Author:** ![artmeans](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/58956e/32.png) [@artmeans](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/artmeans)\
**Post date:** [August 14, 2026, 12:21am UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/lipo-charge-circuit/69402/4 "2026-08-14T00:21:59Z")

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Not to be picky, but isn’t 4.20v the safest/max charge voltage?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jremington](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/sparkfun/user_avatar/community.sparkfun.com/jremington/32/6595_2.png) [@jremington](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/jremington)\
**Post date:** [August 14, 2026, 1:13am UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/lipo-charge-circuit/69402/5 "2026-08-14T01:13:33Z")

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The previously mentioned MCP73831 chip on that board handles the charging cycle details and is completely independent from the MCU. Have a look at the [MCP73831 datasheet](https://ww1.microchip.com/downloads/en/DeviceDoc/MCP73831-Family-Data-Sheet-DS20001984H.pdf).

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![TS-Russell](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/sparkfun/user_avatar/community.sparkfun.com/ts-russell/32/6092_2.png) [@TS-Russell](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/TS-Russell)\
**Post date:** [August 14, 2026, 5:32pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/lipo-charge-circuit/69402/6 "2026-08-14T17:32:07Z")

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Apologies, 5v input/supply, 4.2v charge circuit