TP4056 charging module: charge a lithium cell over USB without mistreating it

In a handheld console battery mod, the lithium cell is never connected directly to a USB port: it needs a circuit that manages constant-current then constant-voltage charging and cuts off at 4.2 V. That's the TP4056's job. This board takes 5 V over USB and feeds a 3.7 V cell, with a protection circuit against deep discharge and short circuits.

What it does

• Full charge cycle: constant current then constant voltage, automatic cut-off at 4.2 V. Current set to 1 A by the factory-fitted programming resistor.
• Cell protection: the version listed cuts the output on deep discharge, overcurrent and short circuit. You can recognise it by its OUT+ and OUT− pins, separate from B+ and B−.
• Three connectors to choose from: USB-C, micro USB or mini USB, to match the cable you already have or the hole planned in the shell.
• Sold in packs of 2 or 5: enough to equip several builds and keep a spare board, so a €1 module that burns out doesn't hold up the project.
• Two indicator LEDs show charging in progress and charge complete.

What it doesn't do

• It doesn't step up the voltage: the output follows the cell, between 3.0 and 4.2 V. A console expecting 5 V or the equivalent of four AA batteries also needs a boost converter.
• It only handles a single cell (1S). No balancing for a 2S or 3S pack, no 3.2 V LiFePO4, no NiMH or alkaline batteries.
• No fast charging and no USB Power Delivery negotiation: the input stays at 5 V, 1 A maximum. The USB-C connector is just a connector.
• No cell, battery holder, cable or wire is supplied.
• This isn't a plug-and-play module: it's soldered in place and sized according to your cell's capacity.

Compatibility

Any single lithium-ion or lithium-polymer cell with a 3.7 V nominal voltage: 18650, 18350, 14500, or flat LiPo pack. It's the charging building block used in retro handheld console battery mods, in Raspberry Pi-based portable arcade machines and in battery-powered retro-geek decor projects. Not suitable for LiFePO4 batteries, series packs, or replacing an original battery that already has its own management circuit.

Skill level required

Fine soldering on pads: four to six joints depending on whether you use the protected output. Have a fine-tip iron, solder, heat-shrink tubing and a multimeter to check polarity before the first connection — reversing it destroys the board and can damage the cell. Allow 15 to 30 minutes for a simple build, longer to integrate it neatly into a console shell.

In the box

• 2 or 5 TP4056 charging modules, depending on the variant chosen.
• USB-C, micro USB or mini USB connector, depending on the variant chosen.
• Bare boards supplied, without cable, cell or wire.

Read before ordering: Accessories and workshop parts

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