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Testing the opto-isolator array which detects the first super capacitor to reach full charge.

By Julian

Youtuber, shed dweller, solar charge controller aficionado

16 thoughts on “Supercapacitor optoisolator full charge detector”
  1. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Richard KB Formally FireballXL5 says:

    Conductance might have been a better term.
    Dam you actually said it later in the video :).

  2. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars TheChipmunk2008 says:

    But transistor literally means 'transfer resistor' 😛

  3. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars electronzapdotcom says:

    Fun video 🙂 There's not enough supercapacitor balancing videos.

  4. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars pvc says:

    If you are worried about protection transistors overheating, put some of these sticky miniature heatsinks on them.

  5. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars noakeswalker says:

    I have a set of those cheapy croc clip leads – and rather than mark them up, I bit the bullet and soldered all the clips – 20 of them I think :o( I have some cheap Dupont style jump leads too, and not only are the crimps too loose, but I've just discovered that one wire at least is open circuit due to corrosion up inside the insulation – blasted CCA wire – are we doomed to put up with this stuff forever now ? I think I may throw the Dupont style leads away and start again….

  6. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Sam Ba says:

    I think you need a new episode on your computer build its been a long time program counter ??

  7. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars dapelow says:

    Thanks for all this work, but I think it would work better with an op-amp working as a comparator type lm393 since it works from 2v. Sorry for my bad English.

  8. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Santiago Hormazabal says:

    Technically, those dmm are measuring resistance with a constant current source, then measuring the voltage drop on the resistor. This means, when no R is used, it'll saturate the constant current source and the voltage you'll be able to read is about the Vcc. Also, the fact that's putting some current into a collector/emmiter of these optos is actually how they managed to measure it. The optocoupler doesn't work as a switch, but rather as a "remote controlled" transistor. I would've used the diode setting to measure this. Probably you would have seen a Vdrop of about the Vce sat (1.2 or so volts). Make sure that's enough to turn off the enable line of your switching power supply, which should be pulled high by default.

  9. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Melkior Wiseman says:

    Fun Fact: When you connect capacitors in series, you increase the voltage they can take but you reduce the capacitance.
    Specifically, the resulting capacitance is given by 1/(1/C1+1/C2+1/C3+1/C4+1/C5+1/C6) where C1-C6 are the capacitance values of capacitors 1 through 6. Edit: If all 6 capacitors are the same value then you can get the same result by 1/((1/C)*6)

  10. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Nope says:

    Is there a reason you keep messing around with these capacitors? Is there some ultimate project in mind or just goofing around for fun?

  11. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars SidneyCritic ComedyHound says:

    I couldn't get my Arduino EFI running with those croc clips, and that's when I found out they came in 3 sizes, S, M, L. Soldering the S ones probably would been enough because I only need 1A, so I wouldn't've had to buy the L.

  12. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars fumthings says:

    strangely pedantic about not calling it the resistance of a tranSISTER, but saying "neither one" instead of "not one" when referring to 6 items, and saying "either" transistor instead of "any" transistor, again out of 6 items. frankly i could be fewer impressed…

  13. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Mark dj Deenix says:

    I’m new to your channel.

  14. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Mark Burton says:

    I was worried each time you waved the metal ended pencil near the caps.

  15. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars deslomeslager says:

    For testing only, please remove the supercaps and use regular caps (10V 1000 uf or so). Your video will be done in 3 minutes then, almost the with same results. All you are testing is the pcd on top of the supercap, not the supercap itself.

  16. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars 405line says:

    Are you going to put 15v across these caps when you use the speaker? What happens if you connect them directly across a car battery? Do you need to current limit if you are not "overvolting" Do caps have to be slowly charged up like batteries, I thought their advantage was that you can charge them up quickly.

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