SupTronics Raspberry Pi 5 UPS HAT X1202 V1.1 takes four 18650 batteries delivering up to 25W

For the tinkerers and DIYers out there, keeping a Raspberry Pi project running reliably, day in and day out, especially when the power is out is crucial, and previously Raspberry Pi UPS solutions have been available for years with products like Pascal Herczog’s Red Reactor, PiJuice Zero, PiVoyager, or LiFePO4wered/Pi+ and many others. But the problem with all these old solutions is that they cannot handle the power requirements of the new Raspberry Pi 5, especially when the PCIe is active and other peripherals are attached to it.  This is where the SupTronics Raspberry Pi 5 UPS HAT comes in.

This new SupTronics X1202 V1.1 UPS Shield includes four 18650 batteries and can deliver 5V with a higher current output of up to 5A, or 25W of power. Additionally, it includes automatic power switching and battery level detection via I2C, an integrated fuel-gauge system, battery protection mechanisms, and fast charging support, making it the first Pi UPS we have seen to support the Pi 5.

SupTronics Raspberry Pi 5 UPS HAT Specifications

• Compatibility – Raspberry Pi 5 Model B
• Battery support – 4-cell 18650 battery holder
• Power input
  • 6V to 18V input range with DC jack and XH2.54 connectors
  • 5V DC input with built-in USB-C port on the HAT
  • 3A fast charge with High-efficiency DC-DC converter
• UPS output
  • Up to 10 hours of continuous operation (depending on battery and usage)
  • 5.1V ±5% Max 5A output
  • Advanced Power MOSFET for minimal power loss
  • Pogo pin connection for Pi power
  • XH2.54 connectors and USB sockets for 5V output
• Battery charging and protection features
  • 3000mA fast charging
  • GPIO control
  • Overcurrent and overvoltage protection
  • Reverse connection protection
  • Maxim fuel gauge system for battery monitoring
• Power Management
  • Seamless backup power switching
  • Onboard power button (mirrors Pi button)
  • Auto power-off when Pi shuts down
  • AC power loss and adapter failure detection
  • Auto power-on
  • Programmable low-voltage shutdown
  • Ultra-low standby power consumption
• Indicators
  • Onboard LEDs for charge level indication
  • Power status and Pi detection LED
• Dimensions – 97.4 x 85mm

The company shares a list of mostly generic safety instructions & warnings out of which I found some of the most important ones:

• Never apply power to your Raspberry Pi via the Type-C USB socket while using the X1202 UPS shield.
• Do not use 18650 batteries with built-in protection circuits.
• Do not mix old and new batteries, and do not use batteries from various brands.
• When discharging or charging the battery, do not connect the polarities in the opposite direction

The company does not provide specific hardware details such as IC part numbers or schematics on its wiki page. However, they do offer information on configuring the Raspberry Pi for I2C and get the battery information from the HAT. Additionally, there is a detailed schematic of the PCB with dimensions for reference.

The Raspberry Pi 5 UPS HAT X1202 V1.1 is available for purchase at DFRobot for $53, on Amazon for $49 under the Geekworm brand, as well as on the “Raspberry Pi Store” on Aliexpress (unrelated to Raspberry Pi Limited, it belongs to a company called “Shanghai Xuan Core Technology”). For detailed product specifications and additional information, you can visit the SupTronics website.

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