HouseRobot:Batteries

Battery Space

The battery area measure approximately 6" x 5.5" x 1" (152.4 x 139.7mm).
6" will stick out just a little bit, it seems closer to 146.05mm

Possible candidate: http://www.all-battery.com/111volt-5700mahli-polypack.aspx <--I could easily fit two of these for 11400mAh.

Battery

• Charged from 11:30am to 8:00pm from dead zero
• Link: http://www.all-battery.com/74volt-2700mahheavydutyli-polypackwithpcb-2.aspx
• Description: 7.4V 6000mAh Heavy Duty Li-Poly Battery Pack with PCB
• 4 cell 2S2P Lithium Polymer 6000mAh battery pack
• Internal PCB for battery protection:
  • Over-charging cut-off: 8.6V
  • Over-discharging cut-off: 5.2V
• Maximum discharge rate 7 Amps
• Maximum charging rate: 2 Amps
• Dimensions: 105mm x 50mm x 24mm
• Weight: 120 grams
• Cells: 3.7V 3000mah (0650100) and 7.4V PCB 7A
• Wires: 18AWG 6" long silicone wires

Charger

• Link: http://www.all-battery.com/universalsmartchargerforli-ionpolymerbatterypack37v-148v1-4cells.aspx
• Description: TLP-2000 Universal Smart Charger for Li-Ion/Polymer battery Pack (3.7V-14.8V 1-4 cells)
• Smart universal charger for Li-Ion and Li-Polymer battery pack with capacity > 500mAh
• 4 Voltage selections at 3.7v 7.4v 11.1v and 14.8v
• Charges pack made of 1 to 4 cells
• Universal 100V - 240V AC input for worldwide power usage
• 500 mA constant charging current.
• Automatic charging stop when battery pack is fully charged or when each cell's voltage reaches 4.2V peak
• LED indication: Red means " In Charging " and Green means " Full " or "open circuits "
• With Tamiya Conncetor
• Weight: 4.5 oz
• Dimension: 1.5" x 1" x 4"

• Operation (Select right voltage level for your pack):
  • For 3.6/3.7V 1-cell pack, set switch button 4.2 position on the charger
  • (My Setting) For 7.2/7.4V 2-cell pack, set switch button 8.4 position on the charger
  • For 3.6/3.7V 3-cell pack, set switch button 12.6 position on the charger
  • For 3.6/3.7V 4-cell pack, set switch button 16.8 position on the charger

Power Usage

• Gumstix + Wifi: .5 amps @ 5.25 volts
• Gumstix + Wifi + Cam + 2 x Motors: ~1.6 amps @ 7.2 volts
• Gumstix + Wifi + Cam + 2 x Motors (switching motors forward/reverse): ~2.25 to 4 amps @ 7.2 volts

• Gumstix + Wifi + Cam + 2 x Motors: ~.9 amps @ ? volts / (1 speed setting / 50 cycles)
• Gumstix + Wifi + Cam + 2 x Motors: ~1 amps @ ? volts / (2 speed setting / 100 cycles)

Type of Batteries

• NiMH - Recommended by Gumstix community.
• LiPo - Better power versus weight, but not as rugged and advised against.

Battery Vendors

http://www.all-battery.com
http://www.batteryspace.com/

Regulators

DC-DC Converter 5 vdc switching regulator (BEC)

http://www.superdroidrobots.com/shop/item.asp?itemid=819

UBEC

http://www.hobby-lobby.net/ubec.htm

Misc

$26 - 12.0 Volt Ni-MH 1600mAh Battery Pack

 http://www.lynxmotion.com/Product.aspx?productID=64&CategoryID=48

My Comments

I think I use use the following: H-Bridge/Motors

http://www.superdroidrobots.com/shop/item.asp?itemid=820

Robo/Gum/Wifistix

http://www.superdroidrobots.com/shop/item.asp?itemid=823

Others Comments

The wifi modules are particularly demanding, needing about 500 mA when idle and instantaneous requirements up to 2A is not uncommon.

The GIB hardware reference says that it has a 400mA regulator for the gumstix. This is definitely too low to be driving wifi. The robostix has a 500 mA regulator and it's too low as well.

Four 1.2v NiMH AA 2400mAh batteries will run the Gumstix for about 6 hours.

Links

Read Voltage Levels

http://www.nabble.com/Battery-Life-Indicator--td14410128.html#a14410128