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Super Capacitor Flashlight Charger DIY Kit - Charges to 5.33v
This listing is for a super capacitor flash light DIY electronics kit that I designed. It comes with a DIY charger board that charges two series 2.7v series super capacitors to roughly 5.33v. This kit does not come with said super capacitors. This set was designed for super capacitor flash light applications. We sell these kits in several different variations. If you watch the video above, you will see how you can use these parts to make your own super capacitor flash light. Since this is the second least inexpensive version of the kit, it does not include a 9v 1000mA transformer, or the voltage booster, switch,the 2x 400f 2.7v super capacitors or the LED bank. If you purchase this listing, you will only receive the DIY super capacitor charger board. This board can not charge two series 2.5v caps. They must be 2.7v caps, as the devise is programmed to charge two capacitors in series to 5.33v. You would purchase this kit if you have your own set of two 2.7v super capacitors, and a means of a 7v-9v 1A power source, and other plans for the output. The above and below videos will give you a complete demonstration of how the boster board works, and how you can put it together. If you have your own power source and two of your own super capacitors rated for more than 2.7v each at more than 50f each, then this listing is beneficial, because you don't necessarily need a voltage booster at the output. You can use your own switch, and a dollar store LED flash light head, which can be powered from 3-6v. Dollar store LED flash light heads consume very little current, and will last with this device (when fully charged) for hours. Do not use bulb flash lights. They consume too much current, and will drain your capacitors much faster. Super capacitors can be charged and discharged hundreds of thousands of times, where batteries only have a few hundred charge/discharge cycles. As well, unlike batteries, super capacitor do not have a memory. You can use super capacitors with lower capacitance with this kit, but the lower capacitance you use, the less power it will store. We sell all sorts of super capacitors in our store.
The video below describes the assembly process in fine detail. These videos serve as your instructions.
How it works (The entire circuit, not just the booster, which is included in this listing):
The wall transformer acts to power the charger board, as well as to charge the capacitors. The charger board limits power to the super caps, and acts to turn the charge to the caps on and off, depending on the voltage detected on the caps. When you plug in the board, charging commences (See Video Below). When the voltage on the caps reach roughly 5.33v, the charger stops charging the caps. The power on the caps can be access via the output terminal block. A switch is connected between the positive lead of the capacitor bank via the terminal block to the input of a voltage booster. This voltage booster needs to be calibrated to a voltage using an on board variable resistor. As long as there is at least 3.4v at the input of the voltage booster, then the output can boost to up to 34v. Make sure that before you connect the LED bank, that you tune the output to 8-12v. I suggest 9v (See Video Below). The LED bank is connected to the voltage booster output, where it receives power. When the switch is turned on, the capacitor voltage is connected to the booster voltage, which is then boosted to a higher voltage which can operate the LED bank.
Description of included Parts:
Capacitor DIY charger kit - This board serves to charge your capacitor bank up to roughly 5.33v. When charging is complete, the green indicator LED starts flashing, and continues to flash until the user removes power. Once the capacitors are charged, there is no back powering through the device. An internal relay separates the capacitor bank from the rest of the charger board circuitry. Once charged, the bank should stay charged unless it is loaded via the output terminal block. You solder this board together using the below video. Time to heat up the good ole soldering iron!
Documentation!
This kit is based off of this instructable that I wrote. It fully describes the whole process:
http://www.instructables.com/id/The-Super-Capacitor-Flashlight-with-Custom-Charger/
Here is a demonstration of a fully build with a housing (Housing, booster, switch. LED bank, and transformer not included with this listing):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbA7zx9149U
We also offer two other variations of this kit. Just check out our store!
1) Just the charger board DIY electronics kit with two 400f 2.7v super capacitors (No transformer/LED bank/Booster/Switch).
2) The Whole Shabang! Everything you need to make your own super capacitor flash light from scratch, minus a housing. The charger board DIY electronics kit, 2x 400f 2.7v caps, a 9v 1000mA wall transformer, a switch, a voltage booster, and a 12v LED bank.
Watch the video. It will show you everything that you need to know. No hard copy instructions are included. Everything that you need is right in the video. The video is your instruction, and your functionality guide. Please do not hesitate to ask any questions you may have. We will answer them quickly!