I have a question, for those of you who do #ElectronicDesign:

How do you solve the power supply part in assemblies that are powered from a lipo or li-ion to output 3.3v? Why?

The typical setup is usually charger, buck-boost regulator and preferably a bms.
However, I can't find regulators in easy to mount packages (few leads and no reflow needed), for a current between 200mA and 500mA.

Finding something with 6-8 pins, in SOT, SOIC or SOP packages would be great.
Obviously, if it already incorporated the charger it would be absolutely wonderful, or some method of battery protection, such as over-discharge.

All this makes me think, that in an era where mobile devices, with lithium batteries are imposed, and more and more devices run at 3.3v with the rise of ARM microcontrollers, it is still difficult a compact and simple power solution.

So much so, that what I usually see are buck-only regulators, or LDOs in commercial and DIY products. But it seems like a shitty solution to me.

@RileyStarlight TP4056 and LDO used to be my goto, just because that's what I saw everyone (mostly hacker conference badges) doing. Now working on a project with the BQ25015RHLT which is a lot more expensive (texas instruments, 3 euros) and still in a kinda annoying package (VQFN), but does nicely integrate a 500mA buck converter + lipo charger

@f0x I have done some projects with the TP5400 and LDO, and although it works quite well, it has some things that I don't like because it doesn't deliver everything it promises.

Another solution I have used is MCP73831 + TPS63001. But it is noticeably more expensive and difficult to assemble. And it doesn't convince me either.

And of course, neither of them implement any battery protection.

I'm keeping an eye on the TI BQ2501 chip, which looks interesting, thanks.

@RileyStarlight yeah for battery protection there's the DW01A, quite simple. But I prefer having protection on my cells too (both is best)

@f0x yeah, I have used DW01 also in some of these projects, but in the end, DW01 + FS8205 + charger + regulator are four chips, and I think the market is asking for something simpler (which will probably be BGA and we will continue with the same problem).

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