Explanation of the circuit Price breakdown Construction notes Introduction Explanation of the circuit Price breakdown Construction notes Distribute kits Build time http://www.nisk.k12.ny.us/iroquois/teched//Fall_Conference/battery_eater/battery_eater.htm
Giving old batteries a new life The Battery Eater Giving old batteries a new life DEADERCELL NEVERREADY NEVERLAST http://www.nisk.k12.ny.us/iroquois/teched//Fall_Conference/battery_eater/battery_eater.htm
Battery Eater Joule Thief LED Flasher The Battery Eater is really two Circuits in one LED Flasher
The Joule Thief The Joule Thief uses a hand wound transformer to increase voltage
How it Works: Joule Thief Voltage flows through the left coil, the resistor limits current E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- OFF E- E- E- E- E-
How it Works: Joule Thief The transistor turns on allowing a large current to flow through the right coil E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- ON E- E- E- E- E-
How it Works: Joule Thief The current in the right coil induces a current in the left coil which opposes its existing current flow, shutting off the transistor. E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- OFF E- E- E- E- E-
How it Works: Joule Thief Current in the right coil cannot shut off immediately leading to a bump in voltage as the field in the left coil breaks down Small Voltage rise E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- Field breaks down E- E- E- E- E- OFF E- E- E- E- E-
How it Works: Joule Thief This process repeats, and the voltage rises Small Voltage rise E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- Field breaks down E- E- E- E- E- OFF E- E- E- E- E-
How it Works: Joule Thief Once the voltage reaches the breakdown voltage of the LED electricity can flow Small Voltage rise E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- Field breaks down E- E- E- E- OFF E- E- E- E- E-
Turning the Joule Thief on Making the joule thief turn on at night and off in the morning adds just one extra component A voltage divider is created by the addition of the LDR keeping the transistor off when exposed to light
LED Flasher Two PNP transistors act as switches to turn on LEDs
How it Works: LED Flasher An RC circuit triggers the transistors Changing the resistor and capacitor will determine the LED flash rate
Materials and Kit Cost 14 components, 1 single sided PCB
PCB/Parts Layout