I just have two simple questions about the PicoCalc:
Is it fine to have two batteries installed? I noticed the promo photos have only one battery installed, but maybe that’s just to show that it can operate with only one?
When charging, I noticed the LED on the device is yellow. Will it turn green to let me know its done charging? All the stuff I read about these batteries make me nervous about overcharging.
Here are my battery stats:
Protected Button Top
Nominal Capacity: 2600 mAh
Nominal Voltage: 3.7V
Discharge End Voltage: 2.75V
Max. Continuous Discharging Current: 2C
Dimensions:
68.90mm (L) x 18.50 mm (D)
Protection Circuit (Over charge, over discharge, over current, and short-circuit)
Based on the info you provided, your batteries seem good quality, and there shouldn’t be any danger using them. The main thing is to not get cheap/fake batteries. Since yours already have a protection circuit, you should be fine.
My batteries just arrived.
I just found this on AliExpress:
￡13.33 | 1-40pcs LiitoKala King4000-JT+box 3.7V 18650 4000mAh 12A Discharging Rechargeable Batteries For Flashlight batteries https://a.aliexpress.com/_Eu9c1pe
If those end up working it would be good to know. I suspect they’d work on the PicoCalc, though I’d be hesitant to try them on the uConsole or Devterm, simply because they came from Aliexpress and don’t seem to be from a “known” and trusted battery maker like Samsung or Panasonic. The fact that they are labelled “flashlight batteries” might imply that they can’t handle devices that draw a lot of power at once, but I’m guessing the PicoCalc probably doesn’t anyway (unless, perhaps, with the Luckfox Lyra inside, since that’s a beefier module and might require more power?) They do claim 12A though, so if that’s not a lie then they should be ok.
Aliexpress is just known to have lots of fakes. Amazon too, probably because it’s all the same suppliers selling their stuff there just with a big markup on their prices from Aliexpress. Aliexpress can be a good way to get some stuff, like electronics, but getting batteries there makes me nervous!
