Table of Contents
There are three general power options for the IF2C/GXN (or G) board stack for demo purposes, and a few options in the details of how you do it.
For powering by battery or 4.1VDC supply via battery connector, there is a 5VDC output from the IF2C that should be connected by a wire to the +VDC input on the Host (G/XN) board, for example at the screw terminal block on the Host. This provides power to the Host from the IF2C.
However, for a cleaner look, this same connection can be made by connecting the solder jumper for VSYSIN on the IF2C. And then you don’t need that jumper wire. This may reduce some charging functionality. So it is only advisable if you are dedicating an IF2C/GXN pair to be always and only powered by USB 5VDC the way that a stand-alone G/XN or DLITE are often configured with a USB-Serial cable. Though, feel free to test it either way. Erring on the conservative side here. See below for more details (5VDC from USB to Host (G/XN) Terminal Block).
Battery
Battery is the tested and preferred demo power supply option for the IF2C/GXN (or G) hardware stack. It is the basis of the demo use-case.
- Chemistry: Single-cell Li-Poly
- GXN+IF2C stack was tested with 2500mAh flat single-cell LiPoly with JST-PH connector and built-in overcurrent and undervoltage control
- There are single-cell LiPoly options available off the shelf (OTS) in a variety of capacities, e.g. 4400mAh, 6600mAh, etc.
- You can populate any of the DNP’d battery connectors on the IF2C.
- See Quick Start for more info on battery choices.
Bench DC Supply (4.1VDC) to the Battery Connector
Without a battery, if you want to get started, a reasonable option is to use an adjustable bench supply to provide 4.1VDC or thereabouts to the battery input of the IF2C to power a stack of the two boards: DLITE variant + HDL-0108-IF2C.
The board is not designed or populated at this time for powering via the USB Mini-B connector on the IF2C.
On the IF2C, as shipped, the USB connector is for charging only and will disable main system power when plugged in. The same is true for any 5VDC applied to any of the charge input options (not populated by default, but you can populate them).
5VDC from USB to Host (G/XN) Terminal Block
Although not a tested or intended use case, it turns out you can probably get away with powering the board stack from a USB-Serial cable for example. (See IF2C/G/XN/Host Communications Options)
The tested USB configuration was using a battery/4.1VDC-bench supply into the IF2C with only the USB-Serial (1) ground, (2) Tx, and (3) Rx (maybe a flow control line if you use that in your setup) connected to the board stack. (What use this that way? Just R&D purposes.)
However it turns out that the board stack will probably work with a 5VDC input to the Host board, the same way it is usually powered. It appears that any signals or rails in question are tolerant of being ‘back powered’ here.
So, you could apply the USB-Serial 5VDC wire to the +VDC input on the Host as usual.
Then you could use either a wire to connect that power to the 5VDC pin/through-hole on the IF2C or you could solder together the VSYSIN solder jumper on the IF2C.