I am doing my first experiments with an IoT starter kit. So far, everything works when the Argon is USB. The moment that I unplug it and try to power it with the provided LiPo battery, it goes dead.
I have tested with the “battery voltage calculation” firmware and it outputs 4.14 v.
I cannot find an example (or tutorial) that explains how to start prototyping with battery-powered boards.
I will appreciate any pointers.
Hey there fellow noob, welcome to the community!
When you say it goes dead, do you mean the device itself not lighting up, certain sensors not working, or the serial isn’t displaying messages?
It would help if you copy the code you are using too (use the </> button) and a description of what is not happening specifically.
Have you checked the battery polarity against the datasheets? Some battery connectors are the other way round.
It should just be a case of plugging in the battery and it works, nothing special required,
Thank you for responding.
@irwige: I mean that the device is not lighting up, it’s like not getting any power. It doesn’t matter which code it has, not even with the Blink an LED example.
@DaveH: the battery came with the IoT starter kit, so I assume that the polarity was correct. Nevertheless, checking against the datasheets, yes, it is correct. Yes, I agree: it should be a case of plugging the battery and it should run…
I found out something: when the Argon is connected to the Grove shield, the battery power does not work. If I remove it from the shield, it does.
Is this the expected behaviour? Am I missing something?
The idea of having the grove system is great (no need for soldering circuits), but not so good if it cannot work with a battery…
I must be missing a piece of this puzzle.
Hmm, odd… Is the Grove shield a feather shield? Check it isnt shorting something out or that you arent accidentally locating it on the socket wrong. I did that once where it was mismatched to the headers (see image below).
You’ll notice that the Li+ pin is not even connected in this instance (also, it’s mismatching a whole heap of other pins).
Edit: also remove any devices connected to the Grove shield to make sure that it isnt a dodgy sensor. Then add them back one by one to figure out which it is. You may have a device plugged into the wrong socket.
I dont use Grove anymore (had one back when I was still using Arduino), but didn’t realise when I first got into this that Grove uses all the same plugs, regardless of whether it’s a digital, analog, or serial sensor. You need to learn which sensors plug into which sockets or they wont work.
@irwige: your post made me think about the shield… It is well connected, that’s not the problem. Luckily, I have a few kits available, so I tested with another shield. And it goes! (see image below)
Can it be that the shield is damaged? I barely used it… just open the kit and run the first example!!!
Probably a dodgy shield shorting something out as the Argon itself is being powered by the battery, not the shield. Check the under side of the shield to see if there is any bridging of solder between a few of the key pins (likely GND, Li+, 3.3, USB, MD, EN, NC, or RST (the rest probably wouldnt stop it at least starting?).
Also, best to obscure images of your QR code and serial numbers, lest someone try to claim your device 
Not sure how easy it is to hijack a unit after it's been claimed, but good practice regardless.
If you have a multimeter, unplug both shields and test resistance between li+ and GND, see if that differs between them. Also check LI+ and EN, then EN and GND. EN is next to LI+, which a messy solder joint could connect. When this is connected to GND it will disable the device. I’m not sure what would happen connecting to LI+.
Thank you for your help. I ask Particle for support and they will send me a replacement shield.
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