The "Dead" Battery Lamp

scottiebabe over 1 year ago

Soft 404

Top Replies

scottiebabe over 1 year ago in reply to beacon_dave +4

Excellent reference! Karen did a wonderful job on her joule-thief circuit . I thought about mentioning it, takes for mentioning Karen's project! These modules are beginner friendly and provide a regulated…
scottiebabe over 1 year ago in reply to Jan Cumps +3

Yes, past 600 mV there isn't much left... Of course you can use a fresh cell too Some of the low cost dollar store solar lamps use tabbed ni-mh cells, I'm sure if I were to shop around I could find them…
Jan Cumps over 1 year ago in reply to scottiebabe +2

you could, but for a very short time. By the time an alkaline battery has dropped to that voltage, there's virtually no joules left.

Parents

beacon_dave over 1 year ago

Nice. I like the lamp shade, nice touch. Just needs the pull cord switch

It was suggested here that you may be able to get down to 200mV:

/challenges-projects/element14-presents/thelearningcircuit/w/documents/4041/the-learning-circuit-39-inductor-project-battery-juicer?CommentId=06408919-8975-4aa5-9223-759ed4e5d4a6

May be able to fit that toroidal core in the base ?
Cancel
Vote Up +1 Vote Down

Sign in to reply

Cancel
scottiebabe over 1 year ago in reply to beacon_dave

Excellent reference! Karen did a wonderful job on her joule-thief circuit. I thought about mentioning it, takes for mentioning Karen's project!

These modules are beginner friendly and provide a regulated stable DC output. So you could also run a neopixel and small mcu off a single alkaline cell.
Cancel
Vote Up +4 Vote Down

Sign in to reply

Cancel
Jan Cumps over 1 year ago in reply to scottiebabe

you could, but for a very short time. By the time an alkaline battery has dropped to that voltage, there's virtually no joules left.
Cancel
Vote Up +2 Vote Down

Sign in to reply

Cancel
scottiebabe over 1 year ago in reply to Jan Cumps

Yes, past 600 mV there isn't much left... Of course you can use a fresh cell too

Some of the low cost dollar store solar lamps use tabbed ni-mh cells, I'm sure if I were to shop around I could find them for pennies...
Cancel
Vote Up +3 Vote Down

Sign in to reply

Cancel
beacon_dave over 1 year ago in reply to scottiebabe

A simple module like that could be used to charge a basic USB powered device like a power bank from an alkaline cell in pretty much any state of discharge. Handy when you are off grid and nowhere to plug a USB charger into. In the ol' days you used to be able to swap your NiCd AA rechargeable cells with a pack of alkalines from the nearest store. Harder to do that these days with this new-fangled stuff.
Cancel
Vote Up +2 Vote Down

Sign in to reply

Cancel

Reply

beacon_dave over 1 year ago in reply to scottiebabe

A simple module like that could be used to charge a basic USB powered device like a power bank from an alkaline cell in pretty much any state of discharge. Handy when you are off grid and nowhere to plug a USB charger into. In the ol' days you used to be able to swap your NiCd AA rechargeable cells with a pack of alkalines from the nearest store. Harder to do that these days with this new-fangled stuff.
Cancel
Vote Up +2 Vote Down

Sign in to reply

Cancel

Children

scottiebabe over 1 year ago in reply to beacon_dave

Every mW counts! Dave Jones claims you can fly to the moon on such power budgets

Time to stock up on 5V solar panels just in case: Checkout this test rig
Cancel
Vote Up +2 Vote Down

Sign in to reply

Cancel
Jan Cumps over 1 year ago in reply to scottiebabe

scottiebabe said:
on such power budgets

"the sniff of an oily rag"
Cancel
Vote Up +2 Vote Down

Sign in to reply

Cancel
beacon_dave over 1 year ago in reply to scottiebabe

Have you tried wind generators yet ?

https://www.instructables.com/WINTURER-a-Portable-NP-F-Battery-Charger-Wind-Turb/
Cancel
Vote Up +1 Vote Down

Sign in to reply

Cancel