What is it?

SCLD is a lithium battery charger module with a wide voltage input capability designed to charge a 1SxP lithium battery pack from either small solar panels or DC input and drive Leds during the night

Why did you make it?

There is a need for outdoors lighting solutions but most are either too expensive or too weak. This is a compact solution with the only thing limiting its applications being your imagination!

What makes it special?

INPUT

SCLD has a wide voltage input which can be anything from 5V and all the way up to 40V (max), allowing to operate with virtually any DC source within the range like old laptop charger, router wall adapter, old atx psu, solar panels etc.

CHARGER

SCLD can charge a single series battery pack (1 or more in parallel if needed). It will charge with max 0.6A and the battery is fully protected against short circuit, over voltage & over discharge

LED DRIVER OUTPUT

Unlike previous models which had a joule thief output, SCLD rev 7 has a complete redesigned output stage based on MT3608 boost converter in SEPIC topology configured as LED driver. This allows SCLD to drive ANY led from as little as 2V and up to 24V forward voltage. Efficiency is around 75% on average (using the battery from 4.2 down to 3V). You can set the output current using 4 solder jumpers for 20-40-100-300mA (all 4 engaged allow max current possible which is 440mA). The driver is protected against open LED but its best if Led are in series to avoid overdriving them if one parallel line is damaged for any reason. Your only consideration using SCLD is setting the LED current correctly for the LED you are going to use. Set to 20mA output, it can for example turn on 10-12 Red LED (forward voltage 2-2.1V).

LIGHT SENSOR

SCLD rev 7 is using a photoresistor going through a Schmidt Trigger inverter gate to engage the output stage. This allows for a more stable and uniform performance than in previous versions (no more faded led, output is either on or off).

APPLICATIONS

SCLD's practical applications are only limited by your imagination!

It can function as a night light, garden light, replacing the photoresistor with a PIR sensor it can be motion activated etc. It is particularly well suited to replaced aging or failing NiCd/NiMH garden lights or to create your own!

You can house it in a small waterproof box with a pack of batteries and power it from DC or Solar source (12V/5W solar panel for a single 18650 battery is more than enough) then use it as the power source to light smaller pieces of 12V led strips spread around a building or a yard etc. If powered by a DC source it will always be charged in case of a power failure.

What you get

You will receive a fully assembled and tested SCLD v7 module and a photoresistor which you can either solder on the PCB or wire to an enclosure of your choice to suit your final application.

PCB dimensions 41x31mm (13mm max height)