EP-0250
UPS V6
Description
UPS v6 is the latest evolution of our UPS Plus series, designed to provide enhanced power management and flexibility for Raspberry Pi and Orange Pi devices. Built on the foundation of its predecessor, UPS v6 introduces significant improvements in battery configuration, power path management, and user customization options. The UPS v6 supports up to 4 channels of 8.4V lithium battery groups connected in, parallel allowing users to expand battery capacity for extended runtime. It also accommodates a single battery slot with two 3.7V 18650 lithium batteries connected in series, offering versatile power solutions. The device features intelligent power path management, prioritizing external power when available and seamlessly switching to battery power during outages. Equipped with I2C communication, UPS v6 enables real-time monitoring of battery voltage, temperature, capacity, and device version information. Users can leverage OTA (Over-The-Air) upgrade support to upload custom firmware, ensuring maximum flexibility and control. For DIY enthusiasts, UPS v6 offers programmable LED indicators and a Pikapython interface, allowing users to upload Python scripts for advanced device status monitoring and control. Additional features include auto-restart on power recovery with configurable voltage thresholds, safe shutdown countdown, and protection against low-battery loops. Whether you need reliable backup power, customizable monitoring, or advanced power management, UPS v6 delivers a powerful and versatile solution for your Raspberry Pi or Orange Pi projects.
Features
- Enhanced Compatibility: Fully compatible with Raspberry Pi and Orange Pi series devices.
- Flexible Battery Configuration: Supports up to 4 channels of 8.4V lithium battery groups connected in parallel to increase capacity. Compatible with a single battery slot using two 3.7V 18650 lithium batteries connected in series.
- Advanced Power Path Management: Prioritizes external power supply when available. Seamlessly switches to battery power when external power is disconnected.
- Comprehensive Battery Monitoring: Real-time monitoring of battery voltage, temperature, and capacity via I2C communication, Device version information retrieval.
- OTA (Over-The-Air) Upgrade Support: Allows custom firmware uploads for enhanced flexibility and user control.
- DIY Customization Options:: Programmable LED control for customizable status indicators; Pikapython interface for uploading Python scripts to read and control device status.
- Smart Power Management:Auto-restart on power recovery with configurable voltage thresholds to prevent low-battery loops.
- Safe shutdown countdown functionality.
Main Features Details
Feature 1: Auto Start Mode
- Register: auto_start_mode
- Function: Enables automatic power-on logic when written.
- Conditions for Auto Start: when Battery voltage > auto_start_voltage and Valid external power source present
- Protection Mechanism: Monitors battery voltage after auto-start; If voltage drops to battery_protection_voltage multiple times:
Auto-start attempts will be abandoned
- Manual Shutdown by Button
Auto clears auto_start_mode functionality
Feature 2: Delayed Shutdown
- Register: shutdown_countdown
Initiates shutdown after specified seconds when written.
- Important Notes
Combined with active auto_start_mode: Functions as a reboot if conditions are met For complete shutdown: Must clear auto_start_mode setting
Feature 3: Runtime Tracking
- Register: runtime
- Unit: milliseconds (ms)
- Functionality: Tracks continuous operation time since last power-on
Feature 4: Force OTA Mode
- Register: ota_request
- Write value: 0xA5A5
- Behavior： Immediately forces device into OTA mode
Feature 5: Physical Button Control
- Current Implementation
Single button operation Toggles power state immediately
Important Notice
- Immediate shutdown risks: Potential data loss
- Recommended method: Use shutdown_countdown for safe shutdown
Feature 6: L_FAST LED Indicators
| LED State | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Fast blinking | Bootloader mode |
| Solid on | Fast charging available |
| Slow blinking | UPS Fault |
| Off | No input power |
Specifications
- Device Compatibility: Supports Raspberry Pi and Orange Pi series devices.
- Battery Configuration: Parallel Mode, Up to 4 channels of 8.4V lithium batteries.
- Series Mode: Single battery slot with two 3.7V 18650 lithium batteries.
- Power Management: External power prioritization with automatic failover to battery power.
- Communication Interface: I2C protocol for battery and device status monitoring.
- OTA Upgrade: Custom firmware upload support for user-defined configurations.
- DIY Features: Programmable LED control via user-defined code.
- Pikapython interface for Python script execution.
- Power Recovery Settings: Configurable voltage thresholds for auto-restart.
- Safe shutdown timer to prevent data loss.
Gallery
TBD.
Package List
TBD.
How to assemble it?
TBD.
User Manual
- Please read the user manual carefully before proceeding.
This documentation assumes you are using a Raspberry Pi for testing. You can also use Orange Pi devices, but you will need to adjust the I2C controller address based on your specific setup. The default I2C device address for Raspberry Pi is /dev/i2c-1, while Orange Pi may use /dev/i2c-3. Adjust these settings according to your hardware.
The testing environment for this documentation includes:
- Raspberry Pi 5
- 4 battery groups, each consisting of two fully charged 18650 lithium batteries connected in series to provide 8.4V.
- A 100W USB-C PD protocol charger.
- Raspberry Pi OS 64-bit Bookworm, updated to the latest version.
If you are using a different operating system, refer to its specific environment configuration. Note that we currently provide configuration guidance only for Raspberry Pi OS. For other systems, please resolve compatibility issues independently.
Register Summary Table
| Address | Name | Width | Access | Description | Default Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0x00 | WHO_AM_I | 8 | R | Device identification register | 0xA6 |
| 0x01 | version | 8 | R | Version number | - |
| 0x02 | uuid0 | 32 | R | Unique ID (lower 32 bits) | - |
| 0x06 | uuid1 | 32 | R | Unique ID (middle 32 bits) | - |
| 0x0A | uuid2 | 32 | R | Unique ID (upper 32 bits) | - |
| 0x0E | output_voltage | 16 | R | Output voltage (unit: mV, 5V output) | - |
| 0x10 | input_voltage | 16 | R | Input voltage (unit: mV) | - |
| 0x12 | battery_voltage | 16 | R | Battery voltage (unit: mV) | - |
| 0x14 | mcu_voltage | 16 | R | MCU voltage (unit: mV) | - |
| 0x16 | output_current | 16 | R | Output current (unit: mA, 5V output) | - |
| 0x18 | input_current | 16 | R | Input current (unit: mA) | - |
| 0x1A | battery_current | 16 | R | Battery current (signed, unit: mA) | - |
| 0x1C | temperature | 8 | R | Temperature (two's complement, unit: °C) | - |
| 0x1D | CR1 | 8 | R/W | Control Register 1 | 0x01 |
| 0x1E | CR2 | 8 | R/W | Control Register 2 (Reserved) | 0x00 |
| 0x1F | SR1 | 8 | R | Status Register 1 | - |
| 0x20 | SR2 | 8 | R | Status Register 2 | - |
| 0x21 | battery_protection_voltage | 16 | R/W | Battery protection voltage (unit: mV) | 7400 |
| 0x23 | shutdown_countdown | 16 | R/W | Shutdown countdown (unit: seconds) | - |
| 0x25 | auto_start_voltage | 16 | R/W | Auto-start voltage threshold (unit: mV) | 7400 |
| 0x27 | pika_output_len | 16 | R/W | Python output buffer content length | - |
| 0x29 | ota_request | 16 | W | Writing to 0xA5A5 will request OTA mode. | - |
| 0x2B | runtime | 64 | R | Cumulative runtime (unit: microseconds) | - |
| 0x33 | charge_detect_interval_s | 16 | R/W | Charge detection interval (unit: seconds) | - |
| 0x35 | led_ctl | 8 | R/W | LED control register | 0x01 |
Control Register CR1 (Address: 0x1D)
| Bit | Name | Access | Description | Default Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIT0 | auto_start_mode | R/W | Auto-start mode (0=disabled, 1=enabled) | 1 |
| BIT1 | python_load | R/W | Load Python code (write 1 to begin loading) | 0 |
| BIT2 | python_exec | R/W | Execute Python code (write 1 to begin execution) | 0 |
| BIT3 | python_read_return | R/W | Read Python output log (write 1 to begin reading) | 0 |
Status Register SR1 (Address: 0x1F)
| Bit | Name | Access | Description | Default Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIT0 | sw_status | R | 5V output status (0=off, 1=on) | - |
| BIT1 | fast | R | Fast charging status (0=12V fast charging, 1=slow charging/no external power) | - |
| BIT2 | charge | R | Charge/discharge status (0=charging, 1=discharging) | - |
| BIT3 | input_low | R | Input voltage low (0=normal, 1=low) | - |
| BIT4 | output_low | R | 5V output low (0=normal, 1=low) | - |
| BIT5 | battery_low | R | Battery voltage low (0=normal, 1=low) | - |
| BIT6 | adc_mismatch | R | ADC mismatch (0=normal, 1=INA219 vs MCU sampling difference exceeded) | - |
| BIT7 | battery_fail | R | Battery failure (0=normal, 1=failure) | - |
Status Register SR2 (Address: 0x20)
| Bit | Name | Access | Description | Default Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIT0 | python_exec_toobig | R | Python code too large (0=normal, 1=code exceeds limit) | - |
LED Control Register (Address: 0x35)
| Bit | Name | Access | Description | Default Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIT0 | i2c_ack | R/W | LED on during I2C communication | 1 |
| BIT1 | bat_charge | R/W | LED on during battery charging | 0 |
| BIT2 | bat_discharge | R/W | LED on during battery discharging | 0 |
| BIT3 | fault_report | R/W | LED on when fault detected | 0 |
| BIT4 | ok_report | R/W | LED on during normal operation | 0 |
Special Notes
- Data Format:
Voltage/current values are unsigned integers battery_current is signed (two's complement format) temperature is signed 8-bit integer (two's complement), range: -40°C to +85°C
- Reserved Bits:
All reserved bits default to 0 Write operations to reserved bits are ignored (recommended to maintain default values)
- The register definitions in the bootloader state are not fully compatible.
Getting Start
- Assume that your Device Environment: Raspberry Pi 5, operating system: Raspberry Pi OS 64-bit (Bookworm).
- Assume that your Raspberry Pi 5 can access internet including GitHub.
- Assume that you have already assembled the UPS v6 with your Raspberry Pi 5 and booting up properly.
- Please refer to the following steps for operation:
Install Dependencies package and libraries
- Open a terminal and typing:
sudo apt update sudo apt upgrade -y sudo apt -y install build-essential cmake libi2c-dev libssl-dev gcc-arm-none-eabi git wget vim-* virtualenv i2c-tools
Build your own firmware
- Download UPS v6 repository from Github:
git clone https://github.com/geeekpi/upsv6.git cd upsv6/app/ mkdir build cd build cmake .. make -j4 ls firmware.* cp firmware.bin ../../scripts/
Encrypt firmware
cd upsv6/scripts/ ./encrypt_tool firmware.bin firmware_encrypted.bin
Upload new firmware
- Step 1. Enter into OTA mode
- Step 2. Upload new firmware_encrypted.bin file
python enable_ota.py
Check if the UPS v6 has been entered into OTA mode:
i2cdetect -y 1
If the i2c device address is changed from 0x17 to 0x18 means UPSv6 is already in OTA mode.
./user_write_tool firmware_encrypted.bin
Until you see following figure:
