The Adafruit MiniBoost is a tiny charge-pump voltage booster that converts 3–5 V input to a regulated 5 V output at up to 100 mA. About the size of a linear regulator, it's an easy drop-in solution for battery-powered projects running on 2–3 alkaline cells or a single lithium cell.

Based on the AP3602A charge pump IC, this board doubles the input voltage and then regulates down to 5 V. While not as efficient as inductor-based boost converters, charge pumps are compact, low-cost, and ideal for low-current applications where space is at a premium.

Key Features

• 5 V Regulated Output – Up to 100 mA from a 3–5 V input
• Charge Pump Topology – Compact, inductor-free design using the AP3602A
• Enable Pin – Pull low to disable the output and save power
• Ultra-Compact – Similar footprint to a TO-220 linear regulator
• Simple Wiring – IN, OUT, GND, and EN pins with included header
• Pre-Assembled – Fully soldered breakout board, just add header

Ideal For

• Battery-powered projects needing a small 5 V rail (2–3 AA/AAA or 1× LiPo)
• Powering low-current 5 V sensors, displays, or logic
• Space-constrained designs where an inductor-based booster won't fit
• Prototyping and breadboard-friendly power supplies

Package Contents

• 1× Adafruit MiniBoost 5V Charge Pump Breakout (assembled)
• 1× Header strip