[Noisebridge-discuss] driving multiple LEDs with minimal batteries
T
t at of.net
Wed Jan 5 22:58:41 UTC 2011
Looks to me like it's "just" a boost circuit with current limiter features
in a handy kit. I'd like to see pricing for that kit and the circuit it
implements. Rolf? Not seeing it in google...
And yes, these types of circuits do of course have limits- that's where the
30VDC limit would come from. It's limited by what the components can do at
100% duty cycle and how much juice the battery can produce.
The basic premise you seem to be missing is that the output is measured and
the frequency or duty cycle adapts to meet that requirement. The output can
be measured in terms of current, which is ideal for driving LEDs or in terms
of voltage, which is ideal for other purposes.
Read the wikipedia page on boost circuits I references earlier.
Here's another example of a boost circuit: 9V battery, duct tape, solder,
and microcontroller-based boost circuit driving a 20V inkjet cartridge to
make a hand-held message sprayer:
http://spritesmods.com/?art=inker&page=3
And it can print on a head of foam:
http://spritesmods.com/?art=inker&page=4
Best Regards.
On Wed, Jan 5, 2011 at 14:27, jim <jim at well.com> wrote:
>
>
> restating: so this gizmo gets input from a battery
> (or other DC source) and sends pulses to a transformer
> or a coil (or voltage doubler or...) depending on
> some sensor circuitry that detects load requirements?
> generally, the question of power limit seems still
> unanswered. it doesn't seem reasonable that one can
> power an unlimited number of LEDs; what's the upper
> limit, i.e. how to figure upper limit for a variety
> of LEDs or other devices?
> if there's some sensor circuitry that "does the
> right thing" with respect to delivering voltage and
> current, how does that part work? user configurable?
>
> is this an off-the-shelf part or a fairly simple
> mod of one or more off-the-shelf parts or the design
> of someone using discrete components or what?
>
> many thanks!
>
>
>
> On Wed, 2011-01-05 at 14:10 -0800, T wrote:
> >
> >
> > Outstanding. A boost with a current limiter in a small package!
> >
> >
> > It that really is what it is, then Jim, in answer to your question, it
> > would seem that the output would be *up to* 30VDC, not 30VDC. I.e. it
> > would raise voltage (as boost circuits do by definitiion) by cycling
> > inductors or flying caps or whatever at the appropriate rate to get
> > the spec'd current limit or 30VDC, whichever is lower.
> >
> >
> > The beauty of this family of circuits (boost and buck and active
> > current limiter) is that there's logic that controls the frequency or
> > duty cycle of switching components to get the desired voltage or
> > current instead of a resistor that wastes some of the energy.
> >
> >
> > T
> >
> > On Wed, Jan 5, 2011 at 12:18, jim <jim at systemateka.com> wrote:
> >
> >
> > i'm curious as to the power aspect:
> >
> > assuming an AA battery and a black box gizmo that
> > converts input voltage to 30 VDC out, connecting one
> > LED requires a current limiting resistor. connecting
> > two LEDS requires a smaller current limiting resistor.
> > more LEDs, smaller current limiting resistor....
> > having not done it, i don't know that some number
> > of LEDs requires no current limiting resistor, is
> > that the case? if so, then i'm guessing the internal
> > series resistance of the power supply (the black box
> > gizmo and/or the battery) provides the limit, yes?
> > regardless, it seems that each LED represents
> > power consumption of current times voltage drop
> > across the device. a few LEDs presents no problem,
> > but above a certain number, it seems there may be
> > some kind of failure, possibly dimmer LEDs or hotter
> > battery or blackbox gizmo weirdness or....
> >
> > what's the truth about this?
> >
> > with thanks
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > On Wed, 2011-01-05 at 12:02 -0800, Michael Shiloh wrote:
> > > It's Rolf, copied on this.
> > >
> > > On 01/05/2011 11:49 AM, Jake wrote:
> > > > There was a guy who came to Circuit Hacking Mondays who
> > made these tiny
> > > > circuitboards with a Linear Technologies chip that boosted
> > power from a
> > > > low voltage to up to 30 volts with a set current limit.
> > He brought them
> > > > to CHM as a kit i think, and was making umbrellas with
> > hanging lights.
> > > >
> > > > Mitch or Miloh will know who i'm speaking of. He was
> > really tall and thin
> > > > and older than Miloh...
> > > >
> > > > anyway the great awesomeness of his kit is like this: you
> > hook up a
> > > > battery to it (a single AA, rechargable or not) or a
> > lithium-whatever, it
> > > > doesn't care - and it will work.
> > > >
> > > > On the output side, you simply wire all your LEDs in
> > series - one after
> > > > another, any colors, no resistors necessary - and the
> > thing will power
> > > > them all with the same current. Regardless of the state
> > of the battery
> > > > (until it is empty) Up to 30v or 10-15 LEDs in series per
> > board.
> > > >
> > > > I think the appropriate way to power a scarf is with a
> > single AA sized
> > > > battery. People can use a disposable battery but a
> > rechargable AA is
> > > > ubiquitous and appropriate, and an be charged separately
> > from the scarf.
> > > > And a scarf is something that will hopefully outlast any
> > LiFePo battery or
> > > > NiMH cell, so it has to be a standard, replaceable cell
> > like a AA.
> > > >
> > > > -jake
> > > >
> > > > ---- original mess ----
> > > >
> > > > I'd like to do a soft circuit scarf or three, but I'm
> > always running up
> > > > against the problem of power. I usually use fairly low
> > power LEDs
> > > > (<2v) driven by a 9v battery or one of sparkfun's LiPos.
> > > > I've heard tell of somehow being able to power more, but
> > I'm still
> > > > learning
> > > > this EE stuff. Could some kind person point me in the
> > right direction?
> > > > Meredith
> > > >
> > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > Noisebridge-discuss mailing list
> > > > Noisebridge-discuss at lists.noisebridge.net
> > > >
> > https://www.noisebridge.net/mailman/listinfo/noisebridge-discuss
> > > >
> > >
> >
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