Sunny Buddy Solar Charger V13 Hookup Guide

Contributors: SFUptownMaker

Introduction

The Sunny Buddy is a small maximum power point tracking solar charger for single-cell LiPo batteries.

SparkFun Sunny Buddy - MPPT Solar Charger

PRT-12885

This is the Sunny Buddy, a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) solar charger for single-cell LiPo batteries. This MPPT solar …

$28.95

This tutorial will help you understand what the Sunny Buddy is, why it's useful, and how to use it.

Required Materials

The Sunny Buddy can't do anything without a supporting cast. Pair the Sunny Buddy with these buddies to make it work:

• Solar Panel -- Most panels should work, just make sure they produce an output voltage between 6-20V. Our large and huge panels will work. Our small panels will work if you connect two of them in series (see the "Hooking It Up" page for details). The following panels with a center-positive barrel jack will be able to plug directly into the Sunny Buddy with ease.

  

  Solar Panel - 3.5W

  PRT-13782

  Have a project that needs some good power? Do you like free power provided by our friend, Mr. Sun? Check out this high qualit…

  Retired

  

  Solar Panel - 6W

  PRT-13783

  Have a project that needs some good power? Do you like free power provided by our friend, Mr. Sun? Check out this high qualit…

  Retired

  

  Solar Panel - 9W

  PRT-13784

  Have a project that needs some good power? Do you like free power provided by our friend, Mr. Sun? Check out this high qualit…

  Retired

• LiPo Battery (single cell) -- The Sunny Buddy is intended to charge a single Polymer Lithium Ion cell. LiPo's come in all shapes and sizes, we recommend you use one with a capacity greater than 450mAh (e.g. 850mAh, 1000mAh, or 2000mAh). Batteries like those, with a JST termination, will plug directly into the Sunny Buddy. The 450mAh size suggestion is due to the charge rate of the Sunny Buddy--most LiPo cells don't like being charged faster than their equivalent capacity.

  

  Lithium Ion Battery - 850mAh

  PRT-13854

  These are very slim, extremely light weight batteries based on Lithium Ion chemistry. Each cell outputs a nominal 3.7V at 850…

  $10.95

  

  Lithium Ion Battery - 2Ah

  PRT-13855

  These are very slim, extremely light weight batteries based on Lithium Ion chemistry. Each cell outputs a nominal 3.7V at 200…

  $13.95

  

  Lithium Ion Battery - 6Ah

  PRT-13856

  If you need some juice, this 6Ah Lithium Ion Battery is for you. These are very compact batteries based on Lithium Ion chemis…

  $32.50

  

  Lithium Ion Battery - 1Ah

  PRT-13813

  Slim, extremely light weight batteries based on Lithium Ion chemistry. Each cell outputs a nominal 3.7V at 1000 mAh!

  Retired

• A Load -- Your battery has to power something, right? Your load can be anything from an LED to an Arduino-powered robot.

Suggested Reading

Here are some other tutorials you may find useful before delving into this hookup guide:

• Batteries -- Check out the battery tutorial for some help understanding why the Sunny Buddy works only with LiPo batteries.
• Electricity Basics -- It may be useful to review how current and voltage combine to transmit power to a load.
• How to Power Your Project -- Solar power and batteries are just one of many ways to power your project. Make sure to consider all possibilities!
• Voltage, Current, Resistance, and Ohm's Law

  Learn about Ohm's Law, one of the most fundamental equations in all electrical engineering.

  Battery Technologies

  The basics behind the batteries used in portable electronic devices: LiPo, NiMH, coin cells, and alkaline.

  How to Power a Project

  A tutorial to help figure out the power requirements of your project.