Getting Started with FoBE Mesh Solar Power
Introductionβ
FoBE Mesh Solar Power is a versatile solar expansion board designed to enhance the capabilities of QUILL series devices. It offers a convenient and efficient solution for solar power integration, battery management, and an adjustable low-power DC-DC boost converter.
This expansion board features dual 18650 battery holders, a solar charging interface, an adjustable voltage boost output, and an I2C (IIC) interface, making it ideal for a wide range of applications, including portable devices, remote sensors, and off-grid power systems.
Key Featuresβ
-
Power Management
- Dual 18650 battery holders for extended battery life
- Solar charging interface (2βpin PH2.0) for sustainable power
- Adjustable voltage boost output interface (2βpin PH2.0) for flexible power supply
- Battery protection IC for safe operation
-
Expansion and Connectivity
- Two rows of double 14βpin female sockets meet the requirements of the QUILL series and also provide additional free pins.
- 4βpin SH1.0 I2C (IIC) interface for easy integration with sensors and peripherals
Hardware diagramβ
The following figure shows the FoBE Mesh Solar Power hardware diagram.
Mechanical dimensionsβ
FoBE Mesh Solar Power is a PCB with dimensions of 100 mm Γ 42.8 mm, designed to be compatible with QUILL series devices, featuring two rows of double 14βpin female headers.
Power Output Configurationβ
The boost voltage output can be manually set using the 2-bit switch on the board. The S1/S2 switch configurations correspond to the following output voltages:
| S1 | S2 | Output Voltage |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 5V |
| 1 | 0 | 9V |
| 1 | 1 | 12V |
Status Indicatorsβ
The board has three indicator LEDs:
- Solar Panel Input Voltage Indicator
- Solar Charging Indicator
- Battery Full Indicator
Peripheral Powerβ
External I2C (IIC) power is supplied by PERI-3V3 and is controlled by the Quill device via pin D13.
Onboard NTCβ
In addition to the battery protection IC, there is an onboard NTC measurement circuit (B = 3380 K; powered by PERI-3V3 with a 10 kΞ© resistor) connected to pin A5. The Quill device can measure and monitor this NTC via the corresponding pin.
BOOST MODE Jumperβ
The board also has a reserved solder jumper: BOOST MODE. If a resistor is populated, the boost converter operates in PWM mode; otherwise, it operates in PFM mode.
Under moderate to heavy load, the device works in pulse width modulation (PWM) mode. Under light load, the device supports two modes selected by the MODE pin: pulse frequency modulation (PFM) to improve efficiency, or forced PWM to avoid issues caused by low switching frequency. The switching frequency in PWM mode is adjustable from 200 kHz to 2.2 MHz via an external resistor.
Resourcesβ
[PDF] FoBE Mesh Solar Power Datasheet
[PDF] FoBE Mesh Solar Power Schematic