An attempt at building the cheapest mains voltage emergency light unit possible using the least circuitry. Full concept, design, PCB, etch, populate and test. Only issue with the design was a slight problem with the chosen Zener leaking too much current. That was fixed by using a lower power Zener with a low Zener-current.
The fully charged unit runs for about 10 hours at gradually reducing intensity and can easily light a room enough for navigation.
This project is quite dodgy because it's entirely referenced to the mains and an open circuit zener could result in serious lithium cell overcharging, even with protection circuitry (it's not rated for high voltages). The whole thing would have to be mounted in an insulated case including the LED.
The final circuit just had two component changes. The Zener was replaced with a lower power one with a lower Zener current of just 5mA and the X2 capacitor was replaced with a 220nF one for a higher charge current. For 120V use you would just need to change the X2 capacitor for a 330nF or 470nF one rated for 250V.
If you enjoy these videos you can help support the channel with a dollar for coffee, cookies and random gadgets for disassembly at:-
http://www.bigclive.com/coffee.htm
This also keeps the channel independent of YouTube's advertising algorithms allowing it to be a bit more dangerous and naughty.
The fully charged unit runs for about 10 hours at gradually reducing intensity and can easily light a room enough for navigation.
This project is quite dodgy because it's entirely referenced to the mains and an open circuit zener could result in serious lithium cell overcharging, even with protection circuitry (it's not rated for high voltages). The whole thing would have to be mounted in an insulated case including the LED.
The final circuit just had two component changes. The Zener was replaced with a lower power one with a lower Zener current of just 5mA and the X2 capacitor was replaced with a 220nF one for a higher charge current. For 120V use you would just need to change the X2 capacitor for a 330nF or 470nF one rated for 250V.
If you enjoy these videos you can help support the channel with a dollar for coffee, cookies and random gadgets for disassembly at:-
http://www.bigclive.com/coffee.htm
This also keeps the channel independent of YouTube's advertising algorithms allowing it to be a bit more dangerous and naughty.
Hi Clive.
I have a faulty commercial emergency light module. Would you like it for the rainy day pile?
I haven't attempted to fault find, but note it has been gently reworked.
No obvious thermal failures, but definitely a bit sad.
Love your work! Regards. Philip.
I was a machinist. We used lead hammers, because they were sod and heavy, to tap stuff around. Big shops had to use crappy “shot mallets”, but I never had to deal with them… dunno how I could have done it without.
The big problem with lead, is mining it… Easy to end up with it in water…
what do you use for software to create board layout ?
plz and thanx buddy. keep up the great vids
Instead of using tape to hold the components for soldering, a piece of hard plastic or thin plywood with a thin foam rubber sheet on one side, held on with 2 elastic bands makes the job simple.
Do you play drums, Clive? Let's jam, my man.
Nice circuit. I was thinking wouldn't it be alot easier to use a 240v solid state relay and keep it open until power is lost and then
connect the battery to the LED. but then you would need a seperate charger for the battery. Still very nice
Can any one help with what sort of terminal block is that? Sounds like he says Hersee, who seems to make terminal blocks but I'm not sure where to go from there since there are so few results I think it might be a misspelling.
The real reason to put solder on the iron is because your tip sucks and the bastard won't heat the board.
Signal diodes are dirt cheap and can put put in series for a low voltage references and to act like a zener diode. It's really amazing what we can build with just a few components and how those same components can be rearranged in so many ways. Circuit building should be the smell test applied to people seeking power over others. That might weed out the illogical craziness (might). Best wishes Clive 👍
Oooo quite nice 😬 Smells like a nice JLCPCB project
Please make the video about the mister!
Why did you choose to use a 3.9V zener to clamp the charging? Full battery for lithium ion is 4.2, or are you deliberately undercharging for longer battery life?
Love to see more of these minimalist type of videos in the future.
any1 know if a cheap uv torch would set the gel off ?
I'd love to produce my own boards at home if I had the time, would be so satisfying, could maybe get some bits from work.. lol
We produce bare boards and also assemble full circuits under one roof, so cool
when i design pcbs i do higest to lowest resistance / capacitance so i dont need to think.
It is so low in a battery without a bms so your sign does not cause the conditions that will need said sign