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Makers and Making: Supercapacitor contest results
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Aug 2nd 2006
A few weeks ago I started a tiny contest, where the challenge was to come up with the best project idea involving supercapacitors. A number of regular Make forum participants submitted entries, and I suspect that a lot of the other (quiet) participants here would be interested to see some of the supercapacitor project ideas that came out of the contest.
After what seemed like an endless evening of reading and debating the entries, we finally got through the stack. The results of the contest and the long list of honorable-mention supercapacitor project ideas are now posted at <A HREF="http://www.evilmadscientist.com/article.php/SuperCapWinners">http://www.evilmadscientist.com/article.php/SuperCapWinners</A>.
I hope that the list comes in handy. If anyone tries out any of these projects, I (and a lot of other people) would love to hear about it!
-Windell.
After what seemed like an endless evening of reading and debating the entries, we finally got through the stack. The results of the contest and the long list of honorable-mention supercapacitor project ideas are now posted at <A HREF="http://www.evilmadscientist.com/article.php/SuperCapWinners">http://www.evilmadscientist.com/article.php/SuperCapWinners</A>.
I hope that the list comes in handy. If anyone tries out any of these projects, I (and a lot of other people) would love to hear about it!
-Windell.
Aug 2nd 2006
I really like that wireless mouse mod idea. I broke the reciever on my few month old logitech laser mouse a couple of weeks ago. I replaced it with a new one, and now have a spare mouse just waiting for a mod. May have to give it a try.
Aug 2nd 2006
A couple of supercaps really only hold enough juice to drive a mouse for about a day-- but since recharging is so fast, it's actually reasonable. You just need a couple of charging terminals coming out of the mouse case.
Aug 2nd 2006
That seems like a reasonable trade off, especially since it's only a spare mouse. The supercaps in your picture are only 1.5F, but Sparkfun has 10F supercaps for $4.95. Any guesses on what kind of life expectency I could get from a couple of those?
Aug 2nd 2006
How much run time depends on the current draw and voltage of your mouse. If it's expecting 1.5 V, you might use two in parallel charged to 1.5V. 1.5 V x 20F gives 8.3 mAh. Compared to a typical NIMH of 1800 mAh, that looks pretty sorry.
I don't know how much current the mice draw, nor how "smart" they are-- do they turn off when you're not moving the mouse? Perhaps you could <A HREF="http://www.lifeofram.com/roots/index-0-0-mightymouse-1.html">hack</A> yours to be a little smarter. And perhaps you'd really need to stuff your little mouse full of supercaps to make it last more than half an hour!
I can't tell from the data sheet, but it looks like the ones at sparkfun might actually have <i>high</i> internal resistance, unlike the ones that I've been working with.
I don't know how much current the mice draw, nor how "smart" they are-- do they turn off when you're not moving the mouse? Perhaps you could <A HREF="http://www.lifeofram.com/roots/index-0-0-mightymouse-1.html">hack</A> yours to be a little smarter. And perhaps you'd really need to stuff your little mouse full of supercaps to make it last more than half an hour!
I can't tell from the data sheet, but it looks like the ones at sparkfun might actually have <i>high</i> internal resistance, unlike the ones that I've been working with.
Aug 2nd 2006
I think 1 10 F super capacitor will last you around 10 days @ 24V 150mA,
yes, i think super capacitors don't last you compared to a battery BUT
you can always recharge a super capacitor...
yes, i think super capacitors don't last you compared to a battery BUT
you can always recharge a super capacitor...
Aug 2nd 2006
Hmmm ...
There have been a number of posts and articles about the "LED Throwies" on here and in MAKE.
Take a supercap, the photovoltaic cell from a thrift store solar calculator, and a blinking LED and you should end up with an LED Blinkey that will work for years. :-)
John
There have been a number of posts and articles about the "LED Throwies" on here and in MAKE.
Take a supercap, the photovoltaic cell from a thrift store solar calculator, and a blinking LED and you should end up with an LED Blinkey that will work for years. :-)
John
Aug 2nd 2006
Okay .... I just followed the original link and that was basically the grand prize winner, although he left out the solarcell that would keep it running forever. :-)
John
John
Aug 2nd 2006
There were actually quite a few solar/blinky LED ideas. The grand prize winner suggested using a five watt LED with an extremely low duty cycle.
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