WRL-15435 Battery Charging via V_USB

Wireless & IoT Other Radios
1

Good afternoon,

I’m currently testing an XBee3 setup using the Thing Plus -XBee3 Micro (U.FL) boards as both my coordinator and my end devices. I’m attempting to test a solar-powered version to act as a network nodes for connecting moving end devices. When using a battery and USB power, I get the charging LED indicator. However, when powering the board via V_USB and Ground through a solar panel and buck converter it runs but I do not get the charging LED indicator. (I’ve also tried a 12vdc power supply to the buck converter and still don’t get the charging indicator)

Is the onboard charger limited to the actual USB port only? Or is the USB indicator only limited to this?

Thanks!

IMG_1074 Large.jpeg
IMG_1074 Large.jpeg1280×960 350 KB

2

My 1st guess is that the solar panel might not be outputting enough mA to supply the board + charging? Test it to see how many amps the panel is pushing out

3

Hi TS-Russell, thanks for the reply!

I figured that might be it as well. However, I did try it with a 12VDC 2A power supply connected to the buck converter with similar results

4

With 12VDC supply only

IMG_1078.jpeg
IMG_1078.jpeg4032×3024 3.49 MB

Battery and 12VDC supply

IMG_1079.jpeg
IMG_1079.jpeg4032×3024 3.11 MB

Battery Only

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IMG_1080.jpeg4032×3024 3.25 MB

5

USB and Battery

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IMG_1081.jpeg4032×3024 2.55 MB

6

Also, I did just verify that the same behavior is present on 3 separate WRL-15435 boards trying 2 separate buck regulators (COM-18356)

7

The AP63203 regulator board outputs 3.3v. Vusb should be 5v

/mike