battery News - Page 2 of 20 - CNX Software

September 22, 2025September 22, 2025 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 5 Comments

Using an overpowered vape as a secondary display

Last week, we noted that it was possible to run a web server on a disposable vape through its USB-C port, and now I’ve been shown DOOM on an even more overpowered vape acting as a secondary display, which is a bit larger in size than the WeAct Display FS 0.96-inch USB display we just covered. Perhaps I should add a ‘vaporware’ category on CNX Software… The new hack was done by Aaron Christophel (ACT1441) using an Aspire PIXO Vape with a Cortex-M4F MCU, a small color LCD, a USB-C port, Bluetooth LE connectivity, and a battery. Aspire PIXO vape hardware specifications: MCU – Puxa PY32F403XC Arm Cortex-M4F microcontroller @ 144 MHz with 64KB RAM, 256KB Flash Storage – External 16MB SPI Flash Display – 323 x 173 LCD Wireless – WS8000 BLE chip USB – 1x USB Type-C port Misc Heating Coil Vape microphone (designed to detect airflow from […]

September 16, 2025September 17, 2025 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 9 Comments

Converting a disposable vape into a web server

People have been recycling batteries in disposable vapes for a while, but BogdanTheGeek has gone a lot of further, converting a specific model of disposable vape into a web server. How is that possible? Vapes have apparently become a bit more sophisticated in recent times, and some integrate an Arm Cortex microcontroller with a USB-C port that can be used to bring a network interface and run a web server. The specific disposable vape (exact model not provided, but Grok thinks it may be from Bang King. Update: Wrong!) used by BogdanTheGeek features one of the ultra-cheap Puya PY32 microcontrollers, namely a 24 MHz PY32F002B Cortex-M0+ MCU with 3 kB SRAM and 24 kB flash. The web server hack here involves using the SLIP (Serial Line Internet Protocol) through a /dev/tty device to bring up a network interface, along with uIP lightweight TCP/IP stack. The first implementation was really slow […]

September 14, 2025 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments

M5Stack Air Quality Kit v1.1 features Sensirion SEN55 environmental sensor and SCD40 CO2 sensor

M5Stack Air Quality Kit v1.1 is an ESP32-S3-based air quality monitor equipped with Sensirion SEN55 and SCD40 sensors capable of monitoring PM1.0, PM2.5, PM4, PM10 particulates, temperature, humidity, VOC, and CO2 concentration in the air. The first version was introduced in January 2024, but M5Stack just introduced the v1.1 model with Stamp-S3A master control, power consumption optimizations, an improved Wi-Fi antenna design, and a larger button for a “better feel”. M5Stack Air Quality Kit v1.1 specifications: Wireless module – M5Stack StampS3A WiSoC – Espressif Systems ESP32-S3FN8 CPU Dual-core 32-bit Xtensa LX7 microcontroller with AI vector instructions up to 240MHz RISC-V ULP co-processor Memory – 512KB SRAM Storage – 8MB flash Wireless – 2.4GHz WiFi 4 (802.11b/g/n), Bluetooth 5.0 LE + Mesh Connectivity 2.4 GHz WiFi 4, 20 MHz and 40 MHz bandwidth, IEEE 802.11 b/g/n protocol, up to 150 Mbps Bluetooth 5, Bluetooth Mesh, with support for 125 Kbps, 500 […]

August 12, 2025August 24, 2025 by Debashis Das - 3 Comments

LILYGO T-LoRa Pager is an ESP32-S3 handheld with support for text messaging, AI motion detection, and NFC

LILYGO T Lora Pager (LoRa + ESP32 S3 Handheld AIOT Programmable Development Device)

LILYGO T-LoRa Pager is an ESP32-S3-based IoT handheld device that comes in an old pager form factor but relies on LoRa for text messaging, GNSS for positioning, NFC for contactless communication, and features AI-assisted motion detection with a BHI260AP IMU sensor. The device also includes a 2.33-inch IPS display (480×222), a QWERTY keyboard, a rotary encoder, an audio codec, a microSD slot, a battery management system, and a wireless charging pad. These features make this device suitable for portable, remote sensing, asset tracking, field communication, and edge AI projects, where GNSS, LoRa, and/or NFC functionalities are required. LILYGO’s T-LoRa Pager specifications: Wireless SoC – Espressif Systems ESP32-S3 CPU – Dual-core 32-bit LX7 processor running at 240 MHz Memory – 512 KB SRAM, 8 MB PSRAM. Storage – 16 MB Flash Wireless – WiFi 4 and Bluetooth 5.x Storage – microSD card slot for external storage Display – 2.33-inch IPS display (ST7796), […]

July 26, 2025 by Debashis Das - No Comments

PD.Charger-GSM v2.5 – An industrial solar MPPT charger with Wi-Fi, LTE/GPS, and RS485

rotoDevs GmbH PD.Charger GSM v.2.5 industrial solar MPPT charger

The PD.Charger-GSM v2.5 is an industrial-grade solar and LiFePo4 charger/controller with MPPT support, designed for 2–4 cell Li-Ion/LiFePo4 batteries. With various connectivity options and a cryptographic co-processor, it’s ideal for IoT, remote solar power systems, and battery-powered industrial applications. The device features a dual-MCU architecture where the STM32 handles battery charging and monitoring, and an ESP32 manages WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, as well as LTE/NB-IoT GSM/GPS, and RS-485 with ModBUS support. The board also offers two solar inputs with MPPT, a DC adapter input, automatic buck/boost control, SMA connectors for all RF interfaces, a USB Type-C for programming, and expansion headers for prototyping. A hardware crypto co-processor handles secure key storage, TLS encryption, and secure boot. PD.Charger-GSM v2.5 specifications: SoCs STM32L051xx MCU for battery management and monitoring ESP32-D0WDQ6-V3 dual-core Xtensa LX6 processor, 240 MHz, 16MB Flash, 8MB PSRAM Display – Supports optional PD.Screen / PD.Screen_PRO modules for real-time display of […]

July 23, 2025July 26, 2025 by Debashis Das - 7 Comments

Waveshare ESP32-S3 watch devkit features AMOLED touch screen, supports on-device AI voice interaction

Waveshare ESP32 S3 Touch AMOLED 2.06 A ESP32 S3 watch development board

Waveshare has recently released the ESP32-S3 2.06-inch AMOLED Touch, an ESP32-S3-based watch devkit with Wi-Fi 4, Bluetooth 5, and offline voice recognition in a watch-style enclosure. We have written about various ESP32-S3-powered smartwatches in the past. Some examples include the TinyWatch S3 open-source device with various sensors, but no battery or a strap, and the more complete LILYGO’s T-Watch S3 with LoRa, audio, and a built-in battery. Compared to both of those, the Waveshare ESP32-S3 watch stands out with a 2.06-inch AMOLED capacitive touchscreen, a 6-axis IMU, two digital microphones, an ES8311 audio codec, an RTC (PCF85063), and AXP2101 PMIC with lithium battery support. The watch also features a microSD card slot, a USB Type-C port, programmable buttons, and reserved I2C/UART/USB headers for communications. ESP32-S3-Touch-AMOLED-2.06 specifications: SoC – Espressif ESP32-S3R8 CPU – Dual-core Tensilica LX7 microcontroller up to 240 MHz with vector instructions for AI acceleration Memory – 8MB PSRAM Wireless – […]

July 17, 2025July 17, 2025 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments

CamThink NeoEyes NE101 – A low-power, modular ESP32-S3 Vision AI Camera with optional 4G LTE and WiFi HaLow connectivity

CamThink NeoEyes NE101 is a battery-powered, low-power Vision AI Camera powered by an ESP32-S3 wireless module, featuring event-triggered image capture, and suitable for real-time vision control. By default, the camera supports WiFi 4 and Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, and ships with a 5MP OV5640 camera module with an LED flash. However, the ESP32-S3 camera has a modular design, and it is offered with 4G LTE Cat 1 or WiFi HaLow connectivity, supports replaceable lenses, optional housing, and custom mounting options. CamThink NeoEyes NE101 specifications: Wireless Module – ESP32-S3-WROOM-1 MCU – ESP32-S3 dual-core Tensilica LX7 up to 240 MHz with 512KB SRAM, up to 8MB PSRAM Storage – 16MB flash Wireless – WiFi 4 and Bluetooth LE 5 PCB antenna Optional wireless features NE101-L01GL – LTE Cat 1 with global support NE101-HL00 – WiFi HaLow 868 MHz NE101-HL01 – WiFi HaLow 915 MHz Storage – MicroSD card slot Camera FPC camera connector […]

July 7, 2025 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 5 Comments

GamerCard is a gift card-sized, Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W-powered handheld console with a 4-inch color display

GameCard Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W gift card handheld console

Grant Sinclair’s GamerCard is a handheld console based on the Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W and a 4-inch color IPS display offered in an ultrathin design that’s about the size of a typical retail gift card. It joins other Raspberry Pi-based handheld terminals like the BeepBerry, ShaRPiKeebo, or DevTerm, but it’s more of a consumer device and offers by far the slimmest design at just 6mm thick. Being described as a “Grab & Go Raspberry Pi Gaming” platform, it’s mainly designed as a portable gaming console, but since it’s based on Raspberry Pi hardware, you could also use it as a battery-powered Linux terminal connected to a USB keyboard and mouse, and it also offers expansion capabilities through a Qwiic connector. GamerCard specifications: SBC – Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W (soldered on mainboard) – Based on Raspberry Pi RP3A0 quad-core Arm Cortex-A53 SiP with 512 MB SDRAM, Bluetooth 4.2 and […]