GCN Wavebird LiFePO4 battery

[AndehGX]

First post here.
I'd like to put a rechargeable battery into my Wavebird controller. My idea is to use LiFePO4 batteries as they are nominal 3.2v which is perfect for the Wavebird.

I'd like some advice on what components I will need to accomplish this.
I plan to use the TP5000 board to handle charging. I'll be adding a Micro USB port to the top of the controller for connecting a USB cable for charging.

What I am unsure of is whether I will need a 3.3v regulator to power the Wavebird from the 5v USB, while the battery is charging?
And also if I will need a diode on the output of the battery and regulator to stop any reverse current? (Since both the regulator output and battery will be connected to the Wavebird)

Advice?

 

[uyjulian]

Just use rechargable AA NiMH batteries...

 

[AndehGX]

Just use rechargable AA NiMH batteries...

That's no fun though! I'm doing this more so to challenge myself because I like to mod stuff. Plus, plugging a USB cable into my controller is alot easier than replacing batteries.

Also Rechargeable NiMh batteries are 1.2v, not 1.5v, so you end up with 2.4v powering the wavebird instead of the expected 3v. I've found this affects the wireless signal (periodic disconnections)

 

[Ryccardo]

I would use a regular 3,7 to 4,2 V lithium, a charge controller, and a 3,little V regulator - unless the one you planned on using can actually output 3,3 out of 3,2 or even 3,5 (the classic non-switching designs won't, for instance)

Duracell used to make a single flat-cell power bank with the charger and the inverter on separate boards, which sounds nice as a base for your application

 

[AndehGX]

The regulator I was looking at was the LT1117. I'm not too familiar with electrical components, so im sure someone can point me better in the right direction. As far as I can tell though, the LT1117 outputs 3.3v at 800mA. So it should be fine for the wavebird?

The regulator will only be used when the 5v USB is connected. The LiFePO4 batteries will be outputting 3.2v anyway, so they wont need to go through the regulator.