For powering the Pi itself, I’m going with this UPS HAT:
However, I’m unsure about the best battery solution for powering the chassis/motors. Ideally, I’d like something safe and almost plug-and-play—similar to the UPS HAT—so I can safely charge it while it’s connected.
Are there any LiFePO4 battery UPS solutions that can reliably power the chassis and provide the necessary voltage/current? Also, any recommendations for motor drivers that work well with the Pi 5 would be greatly appreciated.
Scroll down to the specifications and click the “view more” boxes (2) One will give you pretty basic info and another will have a description which is pretty long with controller board and motor info including drawings. Seems pretty good compared to other Chinese offerings.
Note the motor stall current. That is the all important figure and be aware this is for 1 motor only so for battery requirements you would have to double this. I am assuming 2 motors.
Cheers Bob
Note: the controller board seems to be 5V logic so you will have to think about that.
Thanks for the response!
I won’t be using the included controller board—I’m planning to use a Raspberry Pi 5 with a compatible motor controller instead.
So to revise my original question:
I’m mainly looking for a battery solution (like 11.1V / 3S) that comes with a built-in BMS and a simple charging module—something close to the convenience of the Raspberry Pi UPS HAT.
I’ve seen a few 3S options, but they usually require a DIY setup with separate BMS and charging circuits. I’m after more of a plug-and-play, all-in-one solution if such a thing exists.
Hi Reza
Core have a range of 12V lithium batteries which I believe have built in management. I have not researched on the charging f these but O am certain this is available also. I think 12.6V max current regulated is required
Search “12V Batteries”
Cheers Bob
I think you are looking at a capability of 3A plus a bit of “fudge factor” so a simple 3S set up might not cut it.
From what I can find it seems like this is a fairly rare thing to see a 3S battery with a built in charging circuit and BMS as these kind of batteries are normally aimed at makers that will already have a universal battery charger or are designed to work with a specific device such as a RC car that would have the charging circuit built in.
You could try and find a solution that is designed to work with another RC car and adapt it for your project, depending on your preference for connector type? Barrel Jack or JST connectors are going to be the most common options as USB cables are normally built around lower voltage systems (around the 5V range).
I found some options from a quick Google. You could go with something like this battery and charging setup designed for heated motorbike gear as an example of a system you could adapt for your project.
Otherwise, a generic 12V Battery and a universal charging system would be my suggestion. This way, you will have more freedom and be able to better customise this solution to your project.
