Adafruit bq25185 USB / DC / Solar Charger with 5V Boost Board

Power your portable and off-grid projects easily with the USB/DC/Solar LiPo Charger + 5 V Boost (Adafruit PID 6106). The board charges a single-cell LiPo battery via USB‑C or a 5–18 V DC/solar source and simultaneously provides a constant 5 V output through its integrated boost converter.

The clever power path design allows you to power your system continuously — both while charging and when running on battery. Automatic source selection means no external switching is required.

An important feature: the board includes 5.1 k pull-up resistors on the USB‑C CC lines, ensuring correct negotiation as a standard 5 V device. This prevents accidental requests for higher voltages, making it safe for use with power banks and USB‑C power supplies.

Both the charging and 5 V boost output deliver up to 1 A. Status LEDs provide clear feedback on charging progress, battery state, faults, and active 5 V output. A single-cell LiPo battery connects easily via the JST‑PH connector.

Key Features

• Power path: simultaneous charging and powering via USB‑C or 5–18 V DC/solar
• 5.1 k CC resistors on USB‑C — ensures safe 5 V negotiation
• Integrated 5 V boost converter for stable output voltage
• Charge current up to 1 A (configurable)
• 5 V output current up to 1 A
• Status LEDs: charging, battery status, fault, 5 V active
• Compact design, easy to integrate into portable systems

Technical Specifications

• Charging IC: bq25185
• Inputs: USB‑C (5–20 V) or 5–18 V via solder pads
• CC resistors: 5.1 k to GND (standard 5 V USB‑C detection)
• LiPo connection: single-cell via JST‑PH connector
• Boost output: 5 V up to 1 A
• Charge current: up to 1 A
• Power path functionality: yes
• PCB dimensions: approx. 30 × 19 × 10 mm
• Protections: overvoltage, short circuit, thermal protection
• Applications: portable electronics, IoT systems, solar-powered projects, embedded applications