SnowDrifter Posted August 12, 2013 Report Share Posted August 12, 2013 Right... So I have a bank of supercapacitors with 50 ohm resistors on each cell to balance them. It works great, but I'm not a fan of the leakage current. So I got to thinking... Could I use something like a diode (zener?) to limit the maximum cell voltage but without excessive leakage below that threshold. I'm not too familiar with how zener diodes work. But if I get a 2.4v diode wouldn't that theoretically limit the maximum voltage of the cell to 2.4v? ~~~~~~~~SAY NO TO PHOTOBUCKET~~~~~~~~ Snow's DD-1 tracks here: https://www.stevemeadedesigns.com/board/topic/167433-snows-dd-1-tracks/ My take on OFC vs CCA: https://www.stevemeadedesigns.com/board/topic/110381-things-that-piss-you-off-in-the-car-audio-world/?do=findComment&comment=2461444 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wicks Posted August 12, 2013 Report Share Posted August 12, 2013 Could be a great alternative. Zeners are commonly used as mini voltage regulators on circuit boards. There's a few balancing circuits on eBay that are just arrays of diodes rather then resistors. This post sent with 100% recycled electrons. 2004 BMW M3Mechman 280A 2 - XS Power XP30001 - XS Power D375 500F of Maxwell SuperCaps (soon to be 1000F) iPadMini2Dash mounted O-scopeAudison bitOne (Remote DRC MP) Highs Amp - PPI Art A404 Hertz HSK130 (HSK165 waiting...) DC Audio DC9.0K 2- DC Audio XL12m2LEGAL - 147.3dB @ 41Hz OUTLAW - 150.2dB @ 45Hz OUTLAW - 145.7dB @ 30Hz JUNE 2014 SOTM WINNER 2014 COLORADO PEOPLE'S CHOICE WINNER SOTM BUILD:http://www.stevemeadedesigns.com/board/topic/141656-wicks-e46-m3-build-bass-turbo-button-and-a-big-new-addition/page-68#entry2802026 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnowDrifter Posted August 12, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 12, 2013 Interesting. I was looking at diodes + a resistor to limit current going through the diode. That way if an individual cell gets too high it will be drained vs. how I'm set up right now where they are all drained, and the higher voltage cells are drained faster due to ohms law. I guess this is more or less a public brainstorm since right now if my car is going to be sitting for more than about a week (for whatever reason) I need to unplug the capacitor bank. Kind of annoying ~~~~~~~~SAY NO TO PHOTOBUCKET~~~~~~~~ Snow's DD-1 tracks here: https://www.stevemeadedesigns.com/board/topic/167433-snows-dd-1-tracks/ My take on OFC vs CCA: https://www.stevemeadedesigns.com/board/topic/110381-things-that-piss-you-off-in-the-car-audio-world/?do=findComment&comment=2461444 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wicks Posted August 12, 2013 Report Share Posted August 12, 2013 In researching it a bit more, yeah when you reach the zener voltage, they'll start conducting which will be a problem. Adding a current limiting resistor will drop your voltage to the cap-bank and throw off the voltage distribution to the diodes. Hmmm, may have to think about this one... This post sent with 100% recycled electrons. 2004 BMW M3Mechman 280A 2 - XS Power XP30001 - XS Power D375 500F of Maxwell SuperCaps (soon to be 1000F) iPadMini2Dash mounted O-scopeAudison bitOne (Remote DRC MP) Highs Amp - PPI Art A404 Hertz HSK130 (HSK165 waiting...) DC Audio DC9.0K 2- DC Audio XL12m2LEGAL - 147.3dB @ 41Hz OUTLAW - 150.2dB @ 45Hz OUTLAW - 145.7dB @ 30Hz JUNE 2014 SOTM WINNER 2014 COLORADO PEOPLE'S CHOICE WINNER SOTM BUILD:http://www.stevemeadedesigns.com/board/topic/141656-wicks-e46-m3-build-bass-turbo-button-and-a-big-new-addition/page-68#entry2802026 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnowDrifter Posted August 12, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 12, 2013 Could you expand on that? I'm envisioning in my head: Instead of a resistor wired to each capacitor, I'd have a resistor AND a diode. Cell voltage gets too high, diode conducts, resistor limits current to a safe level, once the cell voltage drops below the threshold, it will stop conducting and I'll have no more leakage ~~~~~~~~SAY NO TO PHOTOBUCKET~~~~~~~~ Snow's DD-1 tracks here: https://www.stevemeadedesigns.com/board/topic/167433-snows-dd-1-tracks/ My take on OFC vs CCA: https://www.stevemeadedesigns.com/board/topic/110381-things-that-piss-you-off-in-the-car-audio-world/?do=findComment&comment=2461444 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justin0943 Posted August 12, 2013 Report Share Posted August 12, 2013 get 5v if you get one 2.4v it;ll be like sticking a wire in it what a diode does it keep current from comming backwards it keeps it flowing one way. 02 dodge ram 1500 reg cab 3rd gen 2 sundown sd-2 d4 soundstream rub1.2500 amp all sky high car audio-fuse,fuse holder,wire,ring lugs and rca flex tech box design by Joe X supension-mcgaughys 2in drop spindal ,western chassis 6in flip kit,buddy custom c-notch 04 5.7l hemi motor swap and made it an slt eletric everthing youtube channel-http://www.youtube.c...43?feature=mhee http://www.stevemeadedesigns.com/board/topic/190882-02-dodge-ram-1500-3rd-gen/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMI CUSTOMS Posted August 12, 2013 Report Share Posted August 12, 2013 Any Diode will have a voltage drop across the diode, they will work for what you want, but will be limiting the cap bank potential. I say get rid of all that balancing circuit stuff it isn't necessary. Dozen's of USACI guys run caps, none of them run balancing circuits, and they run alot more caps then you have. TEAM SOUNDQUBED -- TEAM SOUTH TEAM S.O.B. - Founder & Captain 3x Streetbeat World Record Holder 2017 MWSPL 1st place Mayhem & 4th Xtreme 4 2016 MWSPL 1st place Mayhem/2nd Adv 4/2nd Xtreme 4 2015 MWSPL 2nd place Mayhem & 4th Xtreme 4 2014 USACI 2nd place Streetbeat 5 - 162.6 db 2014 MWSPL 2nd place Xtreme 4 - 144.9 db 2013 USACI 1st place Streetbeat 4 - 161.9 db 2013 USACI 1st place Street Q+ - 162.8 db 2013 MWSPL 3rd Kaos2 & 4th Xtreme 4 2011 USACI 2nd place MOD 1001-2k - 160.0 db 2011 MWSPL 4th place: Adv3 - 157.8 db, Kaos2 - 150s db, Xtreme4 - 140s db 2010 ARSPL 1st place 501-750 - 160.3 db Arkansas loudest Best score to date 164.4 db - Termlab Outlaw Streetbeat 4 - 161.9 db Streetbeat 5 - 162.6 db MWSPL on Dash Legal door open (Music) - 162.5 db Sealed on dash Legal (Music) - 161.1 db - Termlab THE BLACK NASTY CURRENT BUILD & FAB The Black Nasty (6) 15 Rebuild Log 2012 (4) 15 Walled Sierra Build Log Evo X build log Facebook page The Black Nasty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnowDrifter Posted August 12, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 12, 2013 get 5v if you get one 2.4v it;ll be like sticking a wire in it what a diode does it keep current from comming backwards it keeps it flowing one way. Why do you say 5v? My caps are rated at 2.7v and during usage don't see more than 2.36v ea Any Diode will have a voltage drop across the diode, they will work for what you want, but will be limiting the cap bank potential. I say get rid of all that balancing circuit stuff it isn't necessary. Dozen's of USACI guys run caps, none of them run balancing circuits, and they run alot more caps then you have. Ehh. I like to play things safe. It will cost me only a couple bucks to do it. I see it like a fuse: May not need it, but better safe than sorry. I don't see how they would limit the potential though? All I'd be doing is making sure all of the individual caps run around the same voltage vs. having some run at say 2.7v, others running at 2v, etc ~~~~~~~~SAY NO TO PHOTOBUCKET~~~~~~~~ Snow's DD-1 tracks here: https://www.stevemeadedesigns.com/board/topic/167433-snows-dd-1-tracks/ My take on OFC vs CCA: https://www.stevemeadedesigns.com/board/topic/110381-things-that-piss-you-off-in-the-car-audio-world/?do=findComment&comment=2461444 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMI CUSTOMS Posted August 12, 2013 Report Share Posted August 12, 2013 Explain to me how in a series bank you would have some running at 2 volts and some at 2.7, it is a cap not a battery. TEAM SOUNDQUBED -- TEAM SOUTH TEAM S.O.B. - Founder & Captain 3x Streetbeat World Record Holder 2017 MWSPL 1st place Mayhem & 4th Xtreme 4 2016 MWSPL 1st place Mayhem/2nd Adv 4/2nd Xtreme 4 2015 MWSPL 2nd place Mayhem & 4th Xtreme 4 2014 USACI 2nd place Streetbeat 5 - 162.6 db 2014 MWSPL 2nd place Xtreme 4 - 144.9 db 2013 USACI 1st place Streetbeat 4 - 161.9 db 2013 USACI 1st place Street Q+ - 162.8 db 2013 MWSPL 3rd Kaos2 & 4th Xtreme 4 2011 USACI 2nd place MOD 1001-2k - 160.0 db 2011 MWSPL 4th place: Adv3 - 157.8 db, Kaos2 - 150s db, Xtreme4 - 140s db 2010 ARSPL 1st place 501-750 - 160.3 db Arkansas loudest Best score to date 164.4 db - Termlab Outlaw Streetbeat 4 - 161.9 db Streetbeat 5 - 162.6 db MWSPL on Dash Legal door open (Music) - 162.5 db Sealed on dash Legal (Music) - 161.1 db - Termlab THE BLACK NASTY CURRENT BUILD & FAB The Black Nasty (6) 15 Rebuild Log 2012 (4) 15 Walled Sierra Build Log Evo X build log Facebook page The Black Nasty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neckbeard Posted August 12, 2013 Report Share Posted August 12, 2013 I thought the name of the thread was "Dildoes for capacitor balancing" Build log, Super slow!!: http://www.stevemeadedesigns.com/board/topic/168096-slow-neckbeards-1970-opel-gt/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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