Powering neopixels from a 3.7v LiPo

Components & Accessories Power
1

Evening all.

As per the subject, I’d like to power a string of 40 neopixels at 3.7v (LiPo)

If I read correctly, at full brightness, neopixels consume 60mA each (not sure if that’s at 5v or 3.7v though.)

So, 40 neopixels x 60mA /1000 = 2.4A

I am looking for a product that will allow me to charge the LiPo (with a USB/5V input) and simultaneously power the neopixels.

I already have this product: https://www.sparkfun.com/products/12711

Well, in truth, I have the much older version of this product that has 2 outputs (5V and SYS)

But I am not certain that this lipo usb charger will be able to provide 2.4A. The JST connectors imply to me (yes…an assumption) quite small guage wires that might not be able to carry more than 1A at best.

Is there a product that would meet the following criteria?

  1. Accept USB or another 5V input to charge a LiPo

  2. Can charge a single 3.7 LiPo (perhaps as large as 6000mAH)

  3. Provide at least 2.4A output to the circuit that it’s powering. I don’t mind if it outputs 5v or 3.7v. I can work with either

I don’t mind a small charge rate (even as low as 500mAh 100mAh is fine)

The application simply a light for my wood shed.

The light is probably only going to be turned on for 5 to 10 minutes every 2 days while I load up a basket and bring firewood into the house. At that use rate, I’m not going to be depleting the battery at any great rate.

Thanks for your consideration.

Be kind to eachother.

-Adrian

2

Hi Adrian.

Unfortunately we don’t carry a boost converter that can supply 2.4A, you might want to have a look at [this boost converter from Pololu, I think that should work fine for you. We don’t have a LiPo charger that outputs this much current either, but PRT-12711 (and most all the chargers we carry) will charge at 500mA and as long as your lights are only on 10 minutes every 2 days it will provide more than enough charging to bring the battery back to full charge between time that your lights are on. :-)](Pololu 5V Step-Up Voltage Regulator U3V50F5)