Powering the Framework Laptop 13 mainboard in NAS appliance

Creators & Developers Mainboard
1

I’ve been looking at a way to reuse the Framework Laptop 13 mainboard in a NAS appliance that already has an existing power supply.

Parts list
Case: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006820529087.html
Power button shim to connect to power button and 2x front USB on case: https://www.tindie.com/products/crimier/framework-mainboard-power-button-shim/
ITX mount: (requires modification) GitHub - whatthefilament/Framework-Desktop-Adapter: Mounts to adapt Framework motherboard to ATX and Micro-ATX Motherboards and Cases
M.2 to SATA breakout: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005669800665.html
Power supply: SilverStone Technology SST-FX350-G Flex ATX 1U 350 Watt 80 Plus Gold Power Supply with Fixed Cables | Canada Computers & Electronics

I would like to supply power via the battery connector, but I haven’t been able to find any existing breakout board projects for this. I am aware that I could disassemble a 12v cigarette lighter adapter to provide USB-C PD but it wouldn’t be mountable in the case, it would consume 1 USB-C input, and it might not even fit inside the case.

Could anyone point me in the direction of an existing power input breakout board for the Framework Laptop 13 or some resources on getting started on how to design one?

2

Not sure anyone has made one. I haven’t seen anyone post about one, at least.

The battery connector pinout should be on Framework’s github. But be aware that the EC (Embedded Controller) normally talks to the battery. It may refuse to accept power if it doesn’t hear that the battery is healthy and at a safe temperature. Framework open sourced the EC firmware, so one could take a look, and even modify it to bypass any checks.

3

This supplies 4 cell, so ~16.8v at max charge, so any AC → DC that can provide ~65W of power and is adjustable to 15-16v should do just fine. However, the system might get rather confused since there’s no SMBus present for the battery connect, so it’d think there’s no battery installed. Really not sure, you’d have to as FW themselves, since it’s definitely an a-typical use case.

I’d use a USB-PD (something like https://www.amazon.com/Charger-Anker-Adapter-Foldable-Compact/dp/B08T5QN2TR perhaps), and use that. Going to end up much safer.