Power Up Your Feather Boards with These Two New Power-Focused FeatherWings
The PowerWing and SwitchWing allow Feather boards to take input voltages up to 36 volts and to switch loads up to 5 amps.
We are big fans of the Feather form factor, and you probably are too. Loop Research released a pair of power boards for the Feather format. The PowerWing allows up to 36 volts to power a Feather and its circuit. The other board is the SwitchWing, which is a high-side driver that can switch loads as high as 20 amps with voltages up to 28 volts.
The PowerWing is a buck converter based on the TI LMZ14201H power module. It outputs 5 volts with inputs ranging from 6 to 36 volts. The converter's current rating is 1 amp. One design choice we like is that Loop Research used 0805 components on the wing. These easy to work with surface mount components makes it possible to customize the design for your specific application. It comes with an input connector designed to work with 20-26 AWG wire. However, since this board re-purposes the VBAT pin of the Feather, it is not possible to use these with Lithium-Ion batteries.
SwitchWing is a high-side driver. This design makes it ideal for controlling high current loads like motors or LED lighting. While the STMicro VN5E010AH driver can handle peak currents of 20 amps, Loop Research recommends keeping the continuous current below 5 amps. The SwitchWing provides access to a current sense signal so that it is possible to monitor the load current.
Both boards are available through Loop Research's Tindie store, where you can also find links to the schematics.