Group Actions
Engagement
  • Author Author: aemarconnet
  • Date Created: Date Created
  • Views 920 views
  • Likes 0 likes
  • Comments 7 comments
Related
Recommended

Battery-free AA gadgetry

aemarconnet

This marks the middle of my second week with the kit. (I had uploaded my first blog-post prior to receiving the unit). I have been having a lot of trouble with the blog posting page crashing (probably because of the number of images)…but managed to mangle this post together

 

For those who are unfamiliar with my challenge proposal: I have a ton of little devices from Bluetooth mice to remote controls throughout my house which do not use much energy at all and could be run for 30+ minutes with only a brief charge on a Qi compatible pad. So my goal is to provide a proof of concept for a wireless capacitor bank as a replacement for AA batteries. i want to fit a small charging circuit, a pair of capacitors, and an energy harvesting circuit (3V output) into the form factor of a pair of AA batteries.

 

Fullscreen contentimage_52550.html Download 
<html><head><title>Jive SBS</title></head>
<body><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif">
<b>Error</b><br><font size="-1">
An general error occurred while processing your request.
</font></font></body></html>

 

I have finally finished moving into my new home and I’ve re-assembled my man/geek-cave so that i can get going on the project....I am putting together the short list of components that i will need to breadboard my charging circuit. My list is blessedly short as i really only need:


image

 

When i first got the kit i was very impressed by how nicely it was assembled. The box makes it easy to travel with. The only problem i had up-front was that the USB charger was a European model. <Sarcasm> it's not like i have a ton of USB chargers laying around or anything </Sarcasm>.

 

Fullscreen contentimage_52552.html Download 
<html><head><title>Jive SBS</title></head>
<body><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif">
<b>Error</b><br><font size="-1">
An general error occurred while processing your request.
</font></font></body></html>

 

I will admit, in person i was surprised at how thick the primary coil was. A quick check with calipers (without removing it) showed around 0.080".



Fullscreen contentimage_52553.html Download 
<html><head><title>Jive SBS</title></head>
<body><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif">
<b>Error</b><br><font size="-1">
An general error occurred while processing your request.
</font></font></body></html>

This had me worried because my application relies on a low-profile receiving coil that i could stick behind a mouse. Thankfully, looking at the receiving block: Most of it is just air. I don't know why it is quite so large, but as a "kit" this is rather convenient, as it is much easier to dis-assemble.

 

Fullscreen contentimage_52554.html Download 
<html><head><title>Jive SBS</title></head>
<body><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif">
<b>Error</b><br><font size="-1">
An general error occurred while processing your request.
</font></font></body></html>

 

down the road, when i am working on fitting the aforementioned electronics into the volume of the AA's: I am planning on trying something different to generate my own low-cost DIY PCB's: A few years ago i purchased a KNK Zing to do some craft work (volunteer)...it is a very versatile little CNC-cutter used primarily on paper/vinyl.

 

 

--> imageimage



I was thinking of either cutting a PCB "Mask" from thin plastic and coating it with an aerosol conductive spray (ex: 843-140G MG Chemicals | Mouser)



+image  image+  image= image





  • or...the more likely choice is to take a pre-copper plated board and simply Engrave away the unwanted copper.

- VIA =

Fullscreen contentimage_52561.html Download 
<html><head><title>Jive SBS</title></head>
<body><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif">
<b>Error</b><br><font size="-1">
An general error occurred while processing your request.
</font></font></body></html>
Fullscreen contentimage_52562.html Download 
<html><head><title>Jive SBS</title></head>
<body><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif">
<b>Error</b><br><font size="-1">
An general error occurred while processing your request.
</font></font></body></html>
Fullscreen contentimage_52563.html Download 
<html><head><title>Jive SBS</title></head>
<body><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif">
<b>Error</b><br><font size="-1">
An general error occurred while processing your request.
</font></font></body></html>
Fullscreen contentimage_52564.html Download 
<html><head><title>Jive SBS</title></head>
<body><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif">
<b>Error</b><br><font size="-1">
An general error occurred while processing your request.
</font></font></body></html>