The battery
A MusicBox can run on mains power or on a battery, depending on its version. Here is what to know before leaving it in a child's hands.
What the software does not do yet
The MusicBox software does not measure the battery. No color shows its level or the charging, and the app does not display it.
It does not warn you when the battery runs low, and it does not turn the MusicBox off when it is empty.
On the Prototype V4
The Prototype V4 uses a single-cell LiPo battery, 3.7 V, 5,000 mAh. It charges through the USB-C port of the Adafruit bq25185 charger board.
A switch turns the MusicBox off. Turn it off when it is not in use: nothing else will do it for you.
Polarity, before the first connection
For a MusicBox you built yourselfThe wiring of battery leads is not standardized: a cell sometimes ships with its leads swapped, and the connector plugs in both ways.
Before plugging it in, check that the black wire goes to minus and the red wire to plus, according to the markings on the charger board. Reversed, the battery destroys the charger board and can overheat and run away.
On a MusicBox built on a breadboard
For a MusicBox you built yourselfThe breadboard version is powered by a 5 V USB adapter of at least 1 A, like a phone charger.
Guide checked on October 29, 2026 against the MusicBox software of that day.
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