Customer:
I have a few 2000mah LiPo batteries which power the Inkplate 10 fine, but I can’t get any of them to charge using the USB connector. If I disconnect the battery and plug in USB, the device powers on normally. If I have the battery plugged in and USB plugged in, the battery continues to slowly drain. What am I missing?
Originally submitted via email support on 22 January 2024. Migrated to the forum for community visibility.
Soldered Support:
The charger on the Inkplate 10 board is designed for charging Li-Ion batteries, but it should also charge LiPo batteries. Connect the Inkplate to USB and measure the voltage at the battery connector without the battery connected. The voltage should be around 4.2V. If the voltage is lower, there is an issue with the charger.
Customer:
Are there any instructions on how to measure the voltage? Can this be done via the Arduino IDE or would I need to use a multimeter?
Soldered Support:
You need to measure the battery voltage with a multimeter. Measure at the pads next to the battery connector. The pads are marked with - and + signs.
Customer:
I tested with a multimeter and got 4.5V with no battery attached and 3.44V with the battery attached (which I assume is the charge level of the battery). The battery level has been consistently falling, so it doesn’t seem to be charging. I also tried with a different Li-Ion battery and got the same result. What am I missing?
Soldered Support:
The voltage at the battery connector is higher than it should be. Normally when you connect the battery, the voltage drops because the battery is not fully charged, and you see the battery voltage instead. Does the charging LED light up when you connect the battery? Can you send a picture with the battery connected, showing the part of the board around the battery connector? The charger is located below the connector.