Batteries

Designing on Particle is a series of video tutorials that center best practices across the Particle platform. This video covers best-practices for battery powered devices including using sleep modes, power management (PMIC) and fuel gauge chip use, and using watchdog timers as a fail-safe.

A number of Particle devices can use a Lithium Ion Polymer battery (LiPo):

  • Argon (Gen 3 Wi-Fi)
  • Boron (Gen 3 Cellular)
  • Xenon (Gen 3 Mesh) (discontinued)
  • B-Series SoM (Gen 3 Cellular, if you include the connector on your board)
  • Electron (Gen 2 Cellular)
  • E-Series (Gen 2 Cellular, if you include the connector on your board)
  • Photon Power Shield (adapter for Gen 2 Wi-Fi Photon) (discontinued)

The Particle 1,800mAh lithium-polymer (Li-Po) battery is compliant with all international safety and transportation standards.

Model Number: ZN-103450
Ratings: 3.7V DC, 1,800mAh, 7.4Wh
Manufacturer: ZHAONENG BATTERY INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD. (Shenzhen, China)
Test Reports:

Particle Battery

  • JST-PH 2-position 2mm connector
  • 3.7V (nominal)
  • With internal protection over/under current protection
  • Does not include a thermal sensor

Adafruit sells larger (and smaller) 3.7V LiPo batteries that are compatible with the Particle devices. They have a matching JST-PH connector wired the same way as Particle device.

Sparkfun does as well.

We recommend those two sources because they are known to carry good quality batteries and the JST-PH connector is wired the same as Particle batteries.

Unfortunately there is no standard for polarity, and a large number of batteries you find on Amazon, eBay, and AliExpress will be wired reverse polarity.

Particle devices must use batteries wired like this: With the key facing down and the wires toward you, the red is on the right.

Close-Up

We do not recommend wiring multiple batteries in parallel. The Fuel Gauge (battery monitor) is only designed for a single cell, and in the case of failure of one battery, excess current can flow into the defective battery, causing damage or even fire.

2-pin vs. 3-pin

Some devices including the M.2 breakout board and Muon include a 3-pin JST-PH connector. The battery pack includes an integrated 10K NTC thermistor which prevents charging when the battery temperature is too low or too high.

Some devices include the Tracker One and Monitor One also control charging, but do so in software using a temperature sensor in the enclosure instead of using a battery pack temperature sensor.

Battery connector

Looking at the exposed end of the connector attached to the battery

SKU Description USB connector Battery Connector Lifecycle
ARG-AQKT Argon Air Quality Monitor Kit [x1] micro-b 2-pin NRND
ARG-LDKT Argon Leak Detection Kit [x1] micro-b 2-pin Deprecated
ARG-STRTKT Argon Starter Kit [x1] micro-b 2-pin NRND
ARGN-H Argon [x1] micro-b 2-pin Deprecated
ARGNKIT Argon, Starter Kit [x1] micro-b 2-pin NRND
ARGNTRAY50 Argon, Tray [x50] micro-b 2-pin Deprecated
ASSET2GV2 Asset Tracker 2G micro-b 2-pin Deprecated
ASSET3G260V2 Asset Tracker 3G (Americas/Aus) micro-b 2-pin Deprecated
ASSET3G270V2 Asset Tracker 3G (Eur/Asia/Afr) micro-b 2-pin Deprecated
B402MEA B-Series LTE CAT-M1 (NorAm), [x1]   2-pin Deprecated
B402MTY B-Series LTE CAT-M1 (NorAm), Tray [x50]   2-pin Deprecated
B404MEA B-Series LTE-M (NorAm, EtherSIM), [x1]   2-pin Deprecated
B404MTY B-Series LTE-M (NorAm, EtherSIM), Tray [x50]   2-pin NRND
B404XMEA B-Series LTE-M (NorAm, EtherSIM), [x1]   2-pin GA
B404XMTY B-Series LTE-M (NorAm, EtherSIM), Tray [x50]   2-pin GA
B504MEA B-Series LTE CAT-1/3G (NorAm, EtherSIM), [x1]   2-pin GA
B504MTY B-Series LTE CAT-1/3G (NorAm, EtherSIM), [x50]   2-pin GA
B523MEA B-Series LTE CAT-1/3G/2G (Europe) [x1]   2-pin Deprecated
B523MTY B-Series LTE CAT-1/3G/2G (Europe), Tray [x50]   2-pin NRND
B524MEA B-Series LTE CAT-1/3G/2G (Europe, EtherSIM) [x1]   2-pin GA
B524MTY B-Series LTE CAT-1/3G/2G (Europe, EtherSIM), Tray [x50]   2-pin GA
BRN310KIT Boron 2G/3G (Global) Starter Kit, [x1] micro-b 2-pin Deprecated
BRN310TRAY50 Boron 2G/3G (Global), Tray [x50] micro-b 2-pin NRND
BRN314KIT Boron 2G/3G (Global) Starter Kit, [x1] micro-b 2-pin Deprecated
BRN314TRAY50 Boron 2G/3G (Global), Tray [x50] micro-b 2-pin NRND
BRN402 Boron LTE CAT-M1 (NorAm), [x1] micro-b 2-pin Deprecated
BRN402-AQKT Boron LTE CAT-M1 (NorAm) Air Quality Monitor Kit, [x1] micro-b 2-pin Deprecated
BRN402KIT Boron LTE CAT-M1 (NorAm), Starter Kit [x1] micro-b 2-pin Deprecated
BRN402TRAY50 Boron LTE CAT-M1 (NorAm), Tray [x50] micro-b 2-pin NRND
BRN404 Boron LTE CAT-M1 (NorAm), [x1] micro-b 2-pin Deprecated
BRN404KIT Boron LTE CAT-M1 (NorAm, EtherSIM), Starter Kit [x1] micro-b 2-pin Deprecated
BRN404TRAY50 Boron LTE CAT-M1 (NorAm, EtherSIM), Tray [x50] micro-b 2-pin Deprecated
BRN404X Boron LTE CAT-M1 (NorAm), [x1] micro-b 2-pin GA
BRN404XKIT Boron LTE CAT-M1 (NorAm, EtherSIM), Starter Kit [x1] micro-b 2-pin GA
BRN404XTRAY50 Boron LTE CAT-M1 (NorAm), Tray [x50] micro-b 2-pin GA
E260KIT Electron 2G/3G (Americas/Aus) Starter Kit, [x1] micro-b 2-pin Deprecated
E260TRAY50 Electron 2G/3G (Americas/Aus), Tray [x50] micro-b 2-pin Deprecated
E270KIT Electron 2G/3G (EMEA) Starter Kit, [x1] micro-b 2-pin Deprecated
E270TRAY50 Electron 2G/3G (EMEA), Tray [x50] micro-b 2-pin NRND
E310KIT E-Series 2G/3G (Global - E310) Evaluation Kit, [x1] micro-b 2-pin NRND
E310MOD1 E-Series 2G/3G (Global - E310), [x1]   2-pin Deprecated
E310TRAY50 E-Series 2G/3G (Global - E310), Tray [x50]   2-pin Deprecated
E313EA E-Series 2G/3G (Global - E313), [x1]   2-pin Deprecated
E313TRAY50 E-Series 2G/3G (Global - E313), Tray [x50]   2-pin End of life
E314KIT E-Series 2G/3G (Global - E314) Evaluation Kit, [x1] micro-b 2-pin NRND
E314MOD1 E-Series 2G/3G (Global - E314), [x1]   2-pin Deprecated
E314TRAY50 E-Series 2G/3G (Global - E314), Tray [x50]   2-pin NRND
E350KIT Electron 2G Kit (Global) micro-b 2-pin Deprecated
E350TRAY50 Electron 2G (Global), Tray [x50] micro-b 2-pin Deprecated
E402KIT E-Series LTE CAT-M1 (NorAm) Evaluation Kit, [x1] micro-b 2-pin NRND
E402MOD1 E-Series LTE CAT-M1 (NorAm), [x1]   2-pin Deprecated
E402TRAY50 E-Series LTE CAT-M1 (NorAm), Tray [x50]   2-pin NRND
E404KIT E-Series LTE-M (NorAm, EtherSIM) Evaluation Kit, [x1] micro-b 2-pin NRND
E404MOD1 E-Series LTE-M (NorAm, EtherSIM), [x1]   2-pin NRND
E404TRAY50 E-Series LTE CAT-M1 (NorAm, EtherSIM), Tray [x50]   2-pin Deprecated
E404XTRAY50 E-Series LTE CAT-M1 (NorAm, EtherSIM), Tray [x50]   2-pin GA
ELC314TY Electron 2G/3G (Global - U201) , Tray [x50] micro-b 2-pin NRND
ELC402EA Electron LTE CAT-M1 (NorAm), [x1] micro-b 2-pin Deprecated
ELC402TY Electron LTE CAT-M1 (NorAm), Tray [x50] micro-b 2-pin Deprecated
ELC404TY Electron LTE CAT-M1 (NorAm, EtherSIM), Tray [x50] micro-b 2-pin Deprecated
M2BREAKOUT Particle M.2 SoM Breakout Board [x1] c 3-pin In development
M2EVAL Particle M.2 SoM Evaluation Board [x1] micro-b 2-pin GA
MHAT M-HAT c 3-pin In development
MHAT504e M-HAT with LTE CAT1 for North America c 3-pin In development
MHAT524e M-HAT with LTE CAT1 for Rest of World c 3-pin In development
MUON404EA Muon LTE-M/2G Kit (Global, EtherSIM), [x1] c 3-pin In development
MUON404KIT Muon LTE M1/2G Kit (Global, EtherSIM), [x1] c 3-pin In development
MUON524EA Muon LTE CAT1/3G/2G Kit (Europe, EtherSIM), [x1] c 3-pin In development
MUON524KIT Muon LTE CAT1/3G/2G Kit (Europe, EtherSIM), [x1] c 3-pin In development
MUON635EA Muon LTE M1/2G/Satellite Kit (Global, EtherSIM), [x1] c 3-pin In development
MUON635KIT Muon LTE M1/2G/Satellite Kit (Global, EtherSIM), [x1] c 3-pin In development
MUONCB Muon Carrier Board c 3-pin In development
MUONCB-BETA Muon Carrier Board - Beta Sample c 3-pin In development
MUONCBKIT Muon Carrier Board c 3-pin In development
SNSRKIT3G260 Electron 3G (Americas/Aus) Sensor Kit, [x1] micro-b 2-pin Deprecated
SNSRKIT3G270 Electron 3G (Eur/Asia/Afr) Sensor Kit, [x1] micro-b 2-pin Deprecated
XENNTRAY50 Xenon [x50] micro-b 2-pin End of life

3100 mAh cylindrical

The M.2 breakout board and Muon include a 3-pin JST-PH connector (left), not the 2-pin JST-PH connector on some other Particle devices (right). The TS pin is expected to be connected to a 10K NTC thermistor in the battery pack. The TS jumper (26) must be installed for normal operation with a temperature sensor.

The included battery is a 3100 mAh 3.7V LiPo battery with temperature sensor. Battery datasheet.

Cylindrical battery

Reversing polarity

If you buy batteries with the reverse polarity, it is possible to swap the pins. This video shows how to do it. Make sure you never connect a reverse polarity battery to a device is there is no reverse voltage protection and you will permanently damage the device.

Wiring a new connector

Another alternative if your battery does not already have a JST-PH connector is to wire the connector yourself.

Connector Housing:

  • JST Sales America Inc.
  • Model: PHR-2
  • Description: 2 Position Rectangular Housing Connector Receptacle Natural 0.079" (2.00mm)
  • Digi-Key 455-1165-ND

Pins:

You need a crimping tool to successfully make the connection. It's not really practical to try to squeeze the connector with pliers or try to solder it, because the tolerance for getting the connector into the housing is small.

The official JST crimper is really expensive (US$1500)! Fortunately, this $22.99 tool from Amazon works fine with this connector.

IWISS Crimping Tools Works on Mini Connectors XH2.0mm XH2.54mm XH3.96mm Dupont D-Sub Terminals JST Pin Crimper SN-01BM Crimping Tools for Crimper Plier for AWG 28-20 (0.08-0.5mm2)

This video shows how to use the crimper:

Battery options

Compatible LiPo batteries come not only in different capacities, but also different shapes and sizes. For example, here's a thin 2800 mAh vs. the Particle 1800 mAh.

Comparison with Particle battery

Likewise, both of these are 5000 mAh batteries, but one is thin and larger, and the other is approximately twice the thickness but smaller.

Large batteries, top view Large batteries, side view

All of the non-Particle batteries were purchased from Amazon, and I had to reverse the polarity on the JST-PH connector.

Note that many drone and RC car and aircraft batteries have a different connector and some have wires that are too large to fit into a JST-PH pin, so check carefully before trying to use one of those.