Pika Power Board is a portable, easy to use, widely compatible power supply. It’s able to provide power for all your projects and gadgets with multiple, simultaneous, 3.3 V, 5 V, +12 V, -12 V and adjustable outputs, with currents up to 1.5 A. We believe current power solutions in the market are way behind what our Pika Power Board can offer. Other power solutions typically have lower power, and have only a single output. Worst case, users might need multiple boards and products. Pika Power Board is a solution for all of this!

Pika Power Board comes in handy for all kinds of applications. Use it to facilitate remote or in-person education related to hardware engineering, product design, and other STEM-related topics – be it for kids, college students, and geeks of all ages. Up your power game for that Arduino-based robotics project. Or, if you’re between projects, press it into service as a portable, general-purpose power supply and battery charger.

Pika Power Board with extension board attached

A Handy Extension Board with Every Order

Pika Power Board is not just for breadboards. Every order will also receive an extension board to provide additional flexibility. It’s a handy little adapter that runs from the main board pins to block terminals on the extension board. With the extension board, you can connect to a wide variety of other boards and systems. After all, this system is here to make your life easier.

Pika Power Board with breadboard voltage labels

Pika Power Board voltage inputs

Features & Specifications

• Breadboard compatible
• Useable without a breadboard with the handy extension add-on
• Accepts various inputs: USB-C (5 - 20 V), standard USB (5 V), Li-ion battery (3.7 V and higher), lead acid battery (6 V - 24 V)
• Provides multiple outputs simultaneously, with varying polarity: 3.3 V, 5 V, +12 V, -12 V and adjustable (1.2 V - 25 V)
• Two adjustable outputs possible
• Can supply loads with a high current, reaching 1.5 A
• Short circuit and overheating protection
• Uniform thermal distribution for less heating and prolonged life
• Separate LED indicator for each output
• More than one input can be connected simultaneously. Priority will be given to the highest input

Pika Power Board unassembled

Comparisons

Documentation

You can find the project write-up and schematics on our public Hackaday project page.

Performance Tested

The Pika Power Board was tested to ensure that voltage is stable and temperature stays cool to the touch, even when under load. To run these tests, each output was probed using the Ground Spring method at each output capacitor. The voltage ripple measurements are shown below at different loads: first test was at no load, and the second test at 0.5A load from each rail. The load was supplied by a programmable DC electronic load, and the Pika Power board was powered by a USB-C charger.

Pika Power Board voltages with no load

Pika Power Board voltages with load

To test thermal conditions, the board was tested under the highest current (1.5A). These thermal images are of the top and side view, showing that the temperature did not exceed 53°C.

This video demonstrates how the voltage output remains stable when placed under load.

Manufacturing Plan

Once our campaign is completed, an order for PCBs and the BOM will be placed, and the PCBS will be assembled by a PCB assembly factory. After receiving and inspecting all items, we will package all items in a protective container to prepare for shipment.

Fulfillment & Logistics

After our production run is complete, we will box everything up and send it along to Crowd Supply’s fulfillment partner, Mouser Electronics, who will handle distribution to backers worldwide. You can learn more about Crowd Supply’s fulfillment service under Ordering, Paying, and Shipping in their guide.

Risks & Challenges

• The board is optimized to provide the highest currents for each output when it is supplied by a USB-C adaptor or a battery. Lower current should be expected if supplied by a standard USB or 3.7 Li-ion battery.
• The quality of the breadboard might affect the output voltage at different points due to the resistance of the breadboard conductors.
• Please refer to the specifications of the breadboard to make sure you are not exceeding the voltage or amperage rating of the breadboard.
• No more than 25V should be supplied due to the ratings of the capacitors used in the design to meet the compactness.
• The biggest source of risk for fulfillment is based on the availability of all chips used in the project. We have designed the board to work with the most common chips to mitigate this risk.