Fast Facts

• SPINC is a stylish, automated charger for AA-sized NiMH batteries, built by Maximilian Kern and powered by a Raspberry Pi RP2040 chip.
• The device features a high-resolution LED display, a battery-agnostic charging system, and USB-C power for fast charging.
• Unlike typical chargers, SPINC uses a servo mechanism to load, charge, and eject batteries automatically.
• All design files and firmware are open source under the GPL-3.0 license, encouraging community adaptation and innovation.
• Despite lithium’s dominance, NiMH batteries remain a cost-effective, reliable option for many users worldwide.

Charging Into the Future, One Battery at a Time

Picture a classic Macintosh, but instead of floppy disks, it’s feeding, charging, and spitting out AA batteries with robotic precision. That’s the vibe Maximilian Kern’s SPINC project brings to a technology many had written off: nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries. In a market obsessed with lithium-ion, SPINC dares to make the old new again - with style, smarts, and a dash of hacker panache.

Old Tech, New Tricks: The NiMH Revival

NiMH batteries, once the mainstay of cameras, toys, and remotes, have been overshadowed by lithium-ion cells - lighter, more powerful, but also more volatile and costly. Yet NiMH cells remain beloved for their affordability, safety, and reliability, especially where simple AA or AAA sizes are needed. The catch? Most chargers are uninspired relics, offering little more than a blinking LED and a plastic cradle.

Enter SPINC, a charger that looks and operates like a gadget from the future. Its secret weapon: a Raspberry Pi RP2040 microcontroller, the same chip powering a new generation of DIY electronics. The SPINC doesn’t just charge - it detects battery orientation (no more fiddling to get the plus and minus just right), uses a servo to automate battery handling, and displays real-time charging status on a crisp screen that doubles as a desk clock.

The Hacker’s Edge: Open Source, Open Possibilities

Unlike commercial chargers, SPINC’s blueprints, firmware, and 3D-printable parts are freely available on GitHub. This open-source ethos echoes the best traditions of the hardware hacking community, inviting tinkerers to adapt the design for everything from vintage nickel-cadmium cells to modern lithium packs. The charger’s use of a dedicated charging chip (rather than reinventing the wheel) and a clever H-bridge circuit means it doesn’t care how you insert the battery - a small but meaningful innovation for everyday users.

IEEE Spectrum’s spotlight on SPINC hints at a broader trend: as supply chain hiccups and environmental concerns put lithium under scrutiny, alternatives like NiMH are getting a second look. For budget-conscious users and those wary of lithium’s fire risks, projects like SPINC could be a lifeline.

Conclusion: Style, Substance, and a Spark of Rebellion

In a world racing toward the next big thing, SPINC is a reminder that there’s still magic left in old tech - especially when it’s reimagined with creativity and care. As lithium’s star rises (and occasionally explodes), the humble NiMH battery, dressed up in SPINC’s retro-futurist armor, proves that sometimes the best way forward is to charge up the past.

WIKICROOK

• NiMH Battery: A NiMH battery is a rechargeable nickel-metal hydride battery, commonly used in household devices for its safety, affordability, and standard AA/AAA sizes.
• RP2040: The RP2040 is a microcontroller chip from Raspberry Pi, acting as the processing brain in many DIY electronics and IoT projects.
• H: An H-bridge is an electronic circuit that lets current flow both ways, enabling safe charging or operation of devices regardless of orientation.
• Servo Mechanism: A servo mechanism is a motor-based system that uses feedback to accurately move or position objects, enabling automated and precise control in devices.
• Open Source: Open source software is code that anyone can view, use, modify, or share, encouraging collaboration and forming the base for many larger applications.