Hi Roy and Sam-
Yes, the board will be sold by itself. We may bundle it for a "special price" with two of the cells that we sell too.
I've seen really inexpensive cells <$2.00 each, but have never tried them in this board. I have used $4.00 cells (unprotected variety) and they work just fine. So whatever you have should work well- the charger circuit does a "cell check" before commencing the charging sequence.
Another thing to consider with this board is that while the board is delivering power to a device, the cells are connected in series for a nominal 7.4v output. However, during charging, the cells are electrically isolated from each other, and then they are charged (completely) independently.
What this means is that because the cells are not charged as a "pack", there's no worry of an out-of-balance charging condition, therefore you can place a near fully charged cell in one holder, and a completely discharged cell in the other with no out-of-balance worries.
Testing is on-going today. We're halfway through with zero failures thus far , cables will be made this afternoon/tomorrow morning, and we should be announcing it on the Homepage Wednesday - maybe Thursday. (depends on our cracker-jack staff photographer's timetable).
Movie of it's operation is coming soon too!
Just so you know, this is like another *new baby" to me, and since I don't smoke cigars, I can't decide whether to give out Hershey bars with almonds, or without, because I can't figure out if the Lion board is more boyish or girly
Thank Roy! But it's Teamwork that makes stuff like this happen...
Although I'm considered "Product Owner", there's a lot of others that have had many hands in it along the way.
Here's a "peek" into the process here at Parallax:
Ken says: "Matt G! We need a battery board thingy"
Me: "Like what exactly?"
Ken: "I don't know, that's your job."
Me: "Yessir!"
Me: "Thomas! I designed a really cool new battery thingy"
Thomas: "So I suppose you'll be needing a PCB to put it on?"
Me: "You got that PCB done yet Thomas?"
Chris: "I should double-check your hardware design there, pilgrim"
Me: "Thomas! You got that PCB done yet?"
Engineering Group: "Well, it's not like we would have done it, but at least we don't have to 'put our name' on it"
Matt H: Matt G! This really is going to be a tough PnP and hand solder job - couldn't we just provide all these surface mount components in a Ziplock with assembly instructions, and call it 'good'?"
Manufacturing Group: "Really? Are you serious? You want us to: a) build THAT, and b) by WHEN?. HAHA, That's a good one!"
Terrell: "You want me to solder it how? Dream on, Buttercup!"
Terrell: "After all that soldering, you expect me to test them too?"
Terrell: "Why me? Why don't you go inflict Dennis or Sue with this one?...please....please??
Rich: It'll never work...at least not until I give it My Blessing"
Jennifer: "Stock Codes, Matt! I said I need Stock Codes!"
Lauren: "Aren't you done yet? I'm trying to sell things here - but you gotta help me out here by finishing up and giving me something to sell!"
Stephanie: "Matt G - I need your Product Doc Final Draft Pronto!
JJ: "Matt G - I need pictures, you're holding up the process."
Bump: "I need web content - give me MORE web content!"
Mark: Sure I'll package it - only thing is you have to give me something to package."
Ken: "Matt G! You got that battery board thingy done yet?
Parallax Customers: "Are you done yet? Are you done yet?? Are you done yet???
Me: "Getting sleepy. Is it nap time yet?
Maddie the Intern: "Dad, can we go home now?"
Hi everybody -
I'll be sending out a sample to UPEC, but we can't "sell" anything there - apparently there's tax consequences or something like that, that prevent that from happening - that's what I've been told anyway.
-Matt
So, if one of these happens to be available at UPEC and somebody wanted to be prepared, what are the recommended specs for a compatible wall wart? Voltage, current, plug size?
Thank Roy! But it's Teamwork that makes stuff like this happen...
Although I'm considered "Product Owner", there's a lot of others that have had many hands in it along the way.
Here's a "peek" into the process here at Parallax:
Ken says: "Matt G! We need a battery board thingy"
Me: "Like what exactly?"
Ken: "I don't know, that's your job."
Me: "Yessir!"
Me: "Thomas! I designed a really cool new battery thingy"
Thomas: "So I suppose you'll be needing a PCB to put it on?"
Me: "You got that PCB done yet Thomas?"
Chris: "I should double-check your hardware design there, pilgrim"
Me: "Thomas! You got that PCB done yet?"
Engineering Group: "Well, it's not like we would have done it, but at least we don't have to 'put our name' on it"
Matt H: Matt G! This really is going to be a tough PnP and hand solder job - couldn't we just provide all these surface mount components in a Ziplock with assembly instructions, and call it 'good'?"
Manufacturing Group: "Really? Are you serious? You want us to: a) build THAT, and b) by WHEN?. HAHA, That's a good one!"
Terrell: "You want me to solder it how? Dream on, Buttercup!"
Terrell: "After all that soldering, you expect me to test them too?"
Terrell: "Why me? Why don't you go inflict Dennis or Sue with this one?...please....please??
Rich: It'll never work...at least not until I give it My Blessing"
Jennifer: "Stock Codes, Matt! I said I need Stock Codes!"
Lauren: "Aren't you done yet? I'm trying to sell things here - but you gotta help me out here by finishing up and giving me something to sell!"
Stephanie: "Matt G - I need your Product Doc Final Draft Pronto!
JJ: "Matt G - I need pictures, you're holding up the process."
Bump: "I need web content - give me MORE web content!"
Mark: Sure I'll package it - only thing is you have to give me something to package."
Ken: "Matt G! You got that battery board thingy done yet?
Parallax Customers: "Are you done yet? Are you done yet?? Are you done yet???
Me: "Getting sleepy. Is it nap time yet?
Maddie the Intern: "Dad, can we go home now?"
All for Fun, and Fun for all!
-Matt
I remember it different.
Matt G: "Hey look everyone were going to make these cool Lion chargers."
Parallax Customers: "Cool. Are you done yet?
Matt G: "Almost done, I just want you all to suffer a bit more."
Parallax Customers: "Okay, we're suffering. Those would sure solve all my problems. Are you done yet?
Matt G: "Okay, you've suffered enough. We'll start making them."
Parallax Customers: "Yeah!, Matt, you're wonderful! Are you done yet?
Matt G: "Just kidding. You haven't suffered nearly enough. Erco and plywood are evil."
Parallax Customers: "Yes, Matt anything you say. Erco is evil. Plastic is better than plywood. We could really use those chargers. You're wonderful. Are you done yet?
Matt G.: "I'll get to it after I take another nap. Ken works be too hard."
Comments
I have allot of the 18650 just need the charging board only and hope that the board dose not cost to much more than $50.00
Like I said in an earlier post I have a solar project that I need the charging boards for
Yes, the board will be sold by itself. We may bundle it for a "special price" with two of the cells that we sell too.
I've seen really inexpensive cells <$2.00 each, but have never tried them in this board. I have used $4.00 cells (unprotected variety) and they work just fine. So whatever you have should work well- the charger circuit does a "cell check" before commencing the charging sequence.
-Matt
What this means is that because the cells are not charged as a "pack", there's no worry of an out-of-balance charging condition, therefore you can place a near fully charged cell in one holder, and a completely discharged cell in the other with no out-of-balance worries.
-Matt
How did the testing go on these boards the other day
Thanks
YES!
Testing is on-going today. We're halfway through with zero failures thus far
Movie of it's operation is coming soon too!
Just so you know, this is like another *new baby" to me, and since I don't smoke cigars, I can't decide whether to give out Hershey bars with almonds, or without, because I can't figure out if the Lion board is more boyish or girly
More to come, stay tuned...
-Matt
-Matt
-Matt
They look really good! I have already got three "non-Parallax customer" people looking at these, so I think they will go pretty quickly.
Although I'm considered "Product Owner", there's a lot of others that have had many hands in it along the way.
Here's a "peek" into the process here at Parallax:
Ken says: "Matt G! We need a battery board thingy"
Me: "Like what exactly?"
Ken: "I don't know, that's your job."
Me: "Yessir!"
Me: "Thomas! I designed a really cool new battery thingy"
Thomas: "So I suppose you'll be needing a PCB to put it on?"
Me: "You got that PCB done yet Thomas?"
Chris: "I should double-check your hardware design there, pilgrim"
Me: "Thomas! You got that PCB done yet?"
Engineering Group: "Well, it's not like we would have done it, but at least we don't have to 'put our name' on it"
Matt H: Matt G! This really is going to be a tough PnP and hand solder job - couldn't we just provide all these surface mount components in a Ziplock with assembly instructions, and call it 'good'?"
Manufacturing Group: "Really? Are you serious? You want us to: a) build THAT, and b) by WHEN?. HAHA, That's a good one!"
Terrell: "You want me to solder it how? Dream on, Buttercup!"
Terrell: "After all that soldering, you expect me to test them too?"
Terrell: "Why me? Why don't you go inflict Dennis or Sue with this one?...please....please??
Rich: It'll never work...at least not until I give it My Blessing"
Jennifer: "Stock Codes, Matt! I said I need Stock Codes!"
Lauren: "Aren't you done yet? I'm trying to sell things here - but you gotta help me out here by finishing up and giving me something to sell!"
Stephanie: "Matt G - I need your Product Doc Final Draft Pronto!
JJ: "Matt G - I need pictures, you're holding up the process."
Bump: "I need web content - give me MORE web content!"
Mark: Sure I'll package it - only thing is you have to give me something to package."
Ken: "Matt G! You got that battery board thingy done yet?
Parallax Customers: "Are you done yet? Are you done yet?? Are you done yet???
Me: "Getting sleepy. Is it nap time yet?
Maddie the Intern: "Dad, can we go home now?"
All for Fun, and Fun for all!
-Matt
Well done Matt G and Team Parallax!!
I'll be sending out a sample to UPEC, but we can't "sell" anything there - apparently there's tax consequences or something like that, that prevent that from happening - that's what I've been told anyway.
-Matt
That's what I hear. I've got "top people" working on this...
-Matt
So, if we can bring stuff, what should we bring?
a) Lions
b) Lion cells
c)
d)
e)
(help us fill in the blanks!)
-Matt
Recommended power supply is: Center positive, 2.1mm barrel jack, 7.5v - 12v, 1 amp.
Our #750-00009 works well. (there will be some of these available at UPEC too).
-Matt
I remember it different.
Matt G: "Hey look everyone were going to make these cool Lion chargers."
Parallax Customers: "Cool. Are you done yet?
Matt G: "Almost done, I just want you all to suffer a bit more."
Parallax Customers: "Okay, we're suffering. Those would sure solve all my problems. Are you done yet?
Matt G: "Okay, you've suffered enough. We'll start making them."
Parallax Customers: "Yeah!, Matt, you're wonderful! Are you done yet?
Matt G: "Just kidding. You haven't suffered nearly enough. Erco and plywood are evil."
Parallax Customers: "Yes, Matt anything you say. Erco is evil. Plastic is better than plywood. We could really use those chargers. You're wonderful. Are you done yet?
Matt G.: "I'll get to it after I take another nap. Ken works be too hard."
Duane
-Matt
I might have exaggerated a bit. But it does seem like you like to torment us with cool products we can't buy yet.
Keep them coming and I'll keep buying them and I'll keep using plastic.
Duane
In case any of you missed the announcement. The Lion chargers are here. 11 left last I checked.
It looks like the batteries are sold separately.
Matt G, you're wonderful!
Duane
(That's strange. There are now 12 left.)
Go manufacturing go!
I also noticed the QuickStart boards are back in stock.
please (yawnnnnn) quit disturbing my nap time zzzzz...
-Matt