Summary of BooSTick – small AA voltage booster
BooSTick is a compact, portable voltage booster the size of an AA battery that supplies regulated 5V or 3.3V power to Arduino, wearables, and DIY projects. It eliminates the need for external wiring by plugging directly into breadboards or Arduino boards. The device supports high-current applications like Wi-Fi modules with added capacitors and can drive POV projects untethered. Users can achieve higher current outputs by connecting two BooSTicks in parallel or using a dual AA holder.
Parts used in the BooSTick Project:
- AA Battery
- NiMH Rechargeable Batteries
- Breadboard
- ESP8266 Module
- Capacitor
- Arduino Board
- Power Hungry Shield
- Two Battery AA Holder
- Bike Wheel (for POV project)
Featured on:
BooSTick has captured imaginations around the world and has been featured on some really cool international online blogs and magazines!
Slightly larger than a AA battery with holder, but supplies higher voltage for anything!
This tiny board allows you to bring the power to your project, and not the other way around. Bring your micro to the sensor without running wires! A single AA battery is used to provide breadboard power of 5V or 3.3V (or other voltages by tuning the feedback resistors). A boost regulator provides the voltage.
BooSTick provides extremely small and convenient portable regulated power to Arduino, wearables, DIY, and other projects. The entire package is about the size of a single AA and can drive Arduino projects for many hours at a time. When the battery is used up, pop another in for continued use. Or use NiMH rechargeable batteries to reduce your footprint.
What can I do with a BooSTick?
I’m glad you asked!
Prototyping: Since BooSTick plugs right into your breadboard, you can use it for prototype power and testing.
Wi-Fi: Even Wi-Fi is possible with the BooSTick. The ESP8266 draws a bit of a current spike at some point in its operation, so a cap is required on the power supply to keep the BooSTick from dropping out during operation. With the cap, Wi-Fi runs great!
Arduino: BooSTick plugs right into some Arduino boards and provides power in a footprint smaller than a standard shield.
At 5 V, 200 mA output, BooSTick can handle even the biggest Arduinos. Even if you’re sloppy with power management in your code and you use a power hungry shield, you can use two BooSTicks in parallel to provide even more than 200 mA. Or better yet, connect a two battery AA holder to achieve more than 550 mA at 5 V. That’s enough to charge a cell phone!
LED lights: I’ve used the BooStick in a POV (persistence of vision) project where I needed an untethered power source to put my electronics in a bike wheel: https://hackaday.io/project/6470-multi-sensor-pov-light
Read more: BooSTick – small AA voltage booster
- What is the primary function of BooSTick?
It provides extremely small and convenient portable regulated power to Arduino, wearables, and other projects. - How does BooSTick compare in size to standard batteries?
The entire package is about the size of a single AA battery. - Can BooSTick be used to power Wi-Fi modules?
Yes, Wi-Fi runs great with BooSTick if a capacitor is added to the power supply to handle current spikes. - What is the maximum output current of a single BooSTick at 5 V?
A single unit provides 200 mA at 5 V. - How can I increase the current output beyond 200 mA?
You can connect two BooSTicks in parallel or use a two battery AA holder to achieve more than 550 mA. - Is it possible to charge a cell phone with this device?
Yes, connecting a two battery AA holder provides enough power to charge a cell phone. - What type of battery does BooSTick utilize?
It uses a single AA battery, but NiMH rechargeable batteries can also be used to reduce your footprint. - How does BooSTick simplify prototyping?
It plugs right into your breadboard to provide prototype power without running wires.
