{"product_id":"power-bank-keep-alive-based-on-555-timer-kit-form","title":"Power Bank KeepAlive (Kit)","description":"\u003cp\u003eMost power banks will automatically turn off their USB ports when the power\/current being drawn is lower than a certain value. This makes it impossible to run low-power devices on a power bank, such as a \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/pico\"\u003eRaspberry Pi Pico\u003c\/a\u003e, small \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/adafruit-development-boards\"\u003emicrocontrollers\u003c\/a\u003e or even charge your AirPods.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e...until now!\u003c\/strong\u003e This is a \u003cstrong\u003eUSB KeepAlive\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eKit\u003c\/strong\u003e which does exactly that - it keeps your power bank 'alive' by pulsing a small amount of current (via a 555 timer - \u003cem\u003eneat\u003c\/em\u003e) through the USB port. The pulse combined with the low-current draw from your end device will keep your power bank alive.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou plug one end of this into your power bank, the other end into your device, and there you have it - an easy, reliable mobile power source.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThis is the kit form version which requires soldering and assembly \u003c\/strong\u003e- great for those who want to tweak the resistor values for their specific power bank or end device, or even just those who like a cheeky little soldering project. \u003ca href=\"\/products\/power-bank-keepalive-assembled\"\u003eA fully-assembled version is available here\u003c\/a\u003e, and we also stock an \u003ca href=\"\/products\/power-bank-keepalive-usb-c\"\u003eultra-compact USB-C version\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou can also \u003cstrong\u003e3D print a snap-together case\u003c\/strong\u003e for it, just \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.printables.com\/model\/506071-usb-keep-alive-case-kit\"\u003edownload the file from Printables\u003c\/a\u003e, grab some \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/3dqf\"\u003efilament\u003c\/a\u003e and away you go. \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/makerworld.com\/en\/models\/864228#profileId-815106\" title=\"EPLOP USB Powerbank Keep A Live Case\"\u003eOne of our lovely customers also designed their own version\u003c\/a\u003e after we posted an out of date link (oops).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePower Bank Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe've tested all \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/eplop\"\u003eEplop KeepAlives\u003c\/a\u003e with the \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/ansmann\"\u003eANSMANN power banks\u003c\/a\u003e we stock, and they work perfectly together.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eYour mileage may vary!\u003c\/strong\u003e We can't test every power bank out there, however Colin from Eplop has created these KeepAlives with values that should work with most.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe pass-through should work with all devices as the data lines are unaffected. With the resistor values chosen on its own it should not keep most power banks alive, but combined with a very low-power device, it should be enough to stop the power bank from powering off. Since the resistors are easily changed in this kit version, it can be modified to meet your needs\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFrom the Designer\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eWhen I'm working on small projects, I like to power them from a power bank or a similar item. Sometimes, the device draws such a small amount of power that it shuts down the power to the USB port as it thinks the device is off.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThis device that I've designed will stay on by pulsing the power line to ensure that it doesn't shut down. It utilizes the 555 timer in an Astable circuit. With the configured resistors and capacitor, there is a 50% duty cycle which equates to roughly a 10mA draw with a pulse of approx 130mA. Combined with the draw of the device, this shall be enough to keep the power bank active. The data lines are directly connected and unaffected. - \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/eplop\"\u003eColin Hickey\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eResources\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you wish to modify the output for a different duty cycle, the timing can be calculated using the following website: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/circuitdigest.com\/calculators\/555-timer-astable-circuit-calculator\"\u003ehttps:\/\/circuitdigest.com\/calculators\/555-timer-astable-circuit-calculator\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/docs.eplop.co.uk\/USBKeepAliveKIT.html\"\u003eKeepAlive Kit Documentation\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/docs.eplop.co.uk\/USBKeepAliveKIT.html#assembly-notes\"\u003eAssembly notes\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/docs.eplop.co.uk\/USBKeepAliveKIT.html#troubleshooting\"\u003eTroubleshooting\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.printables.com\/model\/506071-usb-keep-alive-case-kit\"\u003eEplop 3D Printed Case Design\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/makerworld.com\/en\/models\/864228#profileId-815106\"\u003eCustomer 3D printed case design\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/discord.gg\/J7GnxDRaHj\"\u003eEplop Discord community\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePackage Contents\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1x PCB (black)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1x Male USB Type A Header\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1x Female USB Type A Header\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e2 x Capacitors\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e3 x Resistors\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1x 555 chip\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKit form - soldering and assembly required\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe PCB in the product images is green, but you lucky-duckys get the swish new black version!\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Eplop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50847172919569,"sku":"106134","price":5.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0901\/6285\/6209\/files\/power-bank-keepalive-kit-eplop-106134-71342381695361.jpg?v=1735207839","url":"https:\/\/abcd3032.myshopify.com\/products\/power-bank-keep-alive-based-on-555-timer-kit-form","provider":"Tayyab Zak","version":"1.0","type":"link"}