General Guide to SparkFun Blocks for Intel® Edison

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Power Blocks

The first concern when building a stack of Blocks is power. There are a number of blocks available to power an Intel® Edison. These blocks have the ability to supply the required power to the Edison VSYS input located on the 70-pin expansion connector. All power Blocks built by SparkFun are designed to provide 4.0-4.1V to the VSYS bus.

SparkFun Block for Intel® Edison - Base The Base Block can power an Edison Stack through either micro USB connector. The preferred method is to power through the port labled "Console". This leaves the OTG port available for USB devices such as web cameras, mass storage devices, or other USB-enabled devices. The power button is capable of putting the Edison in hibernation and powering off the module entirely.
	SparkFun Block for Intel® Edison - Console The Console Block can power an Edison Stack through the micro USB connector. The power button is capable of putting the Edison in hibernation and powering off the module entirely.
SparkFun Block for Intel® Edison - UART The UART Block paired with a 5V Compatible FTDI device, such as our FTDI Basic Breakout, will power an Edison Stack. The UART will power Stacks that do not consume over 500mA. This is a limitation of the typical FTDI devices on the market.
	SparkFun Block for Intel® Edison - Battery The Battery Block is likely the simplest way to power an Edison Stack. With a flip of the switch, a 400mAh Lithium Polymer battery can power an Edison for over an hour. Battery life will vary with CPU and WiFi usage. The micro USB connector on the Battery Block provides a way to charge the battery. The micro USB connector is only used for charging.
SparkFun Block for Intel® Edison - GPIO The GPIO Block gives access to the VSYS and GND lines pins in an Edison Stack. While it is possible to power an Edison Stack through the GPIO Block, there are risks. You must pay careful attention to only supply 3.3-4.5V. Exceeding these ranges will damage the Stack and the Edison.