This
hand crank flashlight charges a supercapacitor to power an LED when you
turn the crank. In fact, the hand crank system provides enough power
that you can also power the LED directly if the capacitor has run out of
charge. This flashlight uses no batteries and converts your own energy
into light. It could hypothetically run for decades and is great in an
emergency situation.
Step 1: Materials
For this lesson you will need:
(x1) Stepper motor
(x8) 1N5819 schottky diodes
(x1) 1N4733 5.1V zener diode
(x1) Super-bright white LED
(x1) 15F supercapacitor
(x1) 100 ohm resistor
(x1) 0.1uF capacitor
(x1) 330 ohm resistor
(x1) PCB
(x1) Latching pushbutton switch
(x1) 5mm bore shaft coupling
(x1) 2" lever arm
(x4) 6-32 x 1/2" bolts
(x1) M6 x 20mm bolt
(x1) Reflector
(x1) 1" plastic flashlight lens
(x1) Black binding post
(x1) Rubber washer (optional)
(x1) 5" x 2.5" x 2" project enclosure
(x1) Stepper motor
(x8) 1N5819 schottky diodes
(x1) 1N4733 5.1V zener diode
(x1) Super-bright white LED
(x1) 15F supercapacitor
(x1) 100 ohm resistor
(x1) 0.1uF capacitor
(x1) 330 ohm resistor
(x1) PCB
(x1) Latching pushbutton switch
(x1) 5mm bore shaft coupling
(x1) 2" lever arm
(x4) 6-32 x 1/2" bolts
(x1) M6 x 20mm bolt
(x1) Reflector
(x1) 1" plastic flashlight lens
(x1) Black binding post
(x1) Rubber washer (optional)
(x1) 5" x 2.5" x 2" project enclosure
Step 2: Generating Electricity
The
secret sauce to this project is a stepper motor. A stepper motor is a
special type of motor that has two power coils. By powering the coils
one after another, and then alternating the polarity and powering them
again, the motor is able to move. Don't worry too much if this doesn't
make too much sense right now. The key word here is "alternating." If
you consider that a motor is actually a transducer and can both be
powered by electricity, and generate electricity when manually powered, a
stepper motor actually has two coils producing alternating current when
you turn the motor shaft. Since stepper motors tend to have large
magnets and multiple coils, this makes them highly efficient at
generating electricity.
All
we need to do is crank to the motor shaft. To test this out, add an LED
to each pair of motor coils and observe what happens.
Of course, it is not quite that easy. There is one problem to this approach. We are getting alternating current out of the motor, but we are trying to power a DC circuit. This is where diodes start to come in.
Of course, it is not quite that easy. There is one problem to this approach. We are getting alternating current out of the motor, but we are trying to power a DC circuit. This is where diodes start to come in.
Step 3: Bridge Rectifier
By
arranging diodes into a bridge rectifier we are able to convert AC
electricity to DC. In this arrangement, regardless of where the AC
waveform is in its cycle, electricity is always flowing between power
and ground in a uniform direction, and you end up with a DC waveform
output.
The
reason for this is that as the alternating current fluctuates between
positive and negative, two diodes are always forward biased and two are
reversed biased. Through this clever arrangement, there is always a
pathway for electricity to flow only between power and ground.
Since
our flashlight has two coils that each generate an AC signal, we need
two bridge rectifiers. To get them to work together, we simply wire them
in parallel: positive to positive, and ground to ground. We're also
going to add a small capacitor to help smooth out the voltage and fill
in any dips in voltage created as we cycle between the power created by
the two coils.
Step 4: Zener Power Regulation
Once
we have a nice clean DC signal coming out of the rectifiers, we will
then need to charge a supercapacitor. However, before we do that, we
need to make sure that the voltage from the rectifiers will never exceed
the voltage of the supercapacitor.
While the voltage coming out of the motor is probably fairly small, to be on the safe side we can use a zener diode to ensure it never exceeds the capacitors 5.6V operating voltage.
By connecting a 5.1V zener diode in series with a 100 ohm resistor in a reverse bias position between power and ground, we can ensure the voltage to the capacitor never exceeds 5.1V.
If the voltage exceeds 5.1V, then the zener effect kicks in limiting the voltage across the diode to 5.1V, and dropping any additional current across the current limiting resistor. For instance, if the motor produces 9V, then 5.1V will flow across the diode and 3.9V will fall across the resistor. Any component connected in parallel to the diode will receive at most 5.1V.
This is not the best means of voltage regulation since it can potentially generate a lot of heat, but since the current we are working with is relatively small, it should be fine.
While the voltage coming out of the motor is probably fairly small, to be on the safe side we can use a zener diode to ensure it never exceeds the capacitors 5.6V operating voltage.
By connecting a 5.1V zener diode in series with a 100 ohm resistor in a reverse bias position between power and ground, we can ensure the voltage to the capacitor never exceeds 5.1V.
If the voltage exceeds 5.1V, then the zener effect kicks in limiting the voltage across the diode to 5.1V, and dropping any additional current across the current limiting resistor. For instance, if the motor produces 9V, then 5.1V will flow across the diode and 3.9V will fall across the resistor. Any component connected in parallel to the diode will receive at most 5.1V.
This is not the best means of voltage regulation since it can potentially generate a lot of heat, but since the current we are working with is relatively small, it should be fine.
Step 5: Storage
After
the power is generated and regulated, it is then stored in a
supercapacitor like we used in the vibrobot project. The capacitor is
simply in parallel with the zener diode.
Step 6: The LED and Switch
The LED and its current limiting resistor are wired in parallel to the zener diode and supercapacitor.
A switch is then connected in series with the resistor in order to toggle on and off its connection to the supercapacitor power supply.
When the supercapacitor runs out of power, the LED can be powered directly by the hand crank to long as the switch is toggled on. If the switch is toggled off, the capacitor gets charged instead.
A switch is then connected in series with the resistor in order to toggle on and off its connection to the supercapacitor power supply.
When the supercapacitor runs out of power, the LED can be powered directly by the hand crank to long as the switch is toggled on. If the switch is toggled off, the capacitor gets charged instead.
Step 7: Attach the Template
To
begin with, cut out and attach the drilling template for the stepper
motor. It should be taped to the lid of the enclosure on center about 1"
from one of its shorter edges.
Step 8: Drill the Template
Drill the outer mounting holes with a 1/8" drill bit and the center hole for the shift with a 3/8" drill bit.
Step 10: Widen the Crank Hole
Widen the hole at the end of the crank arm to be 1/4" wide to receive the bolt for the crank knob.
Step 11: Attach the Crank Knob
Insert thread-locking fluid into knob's threading to prevent the bolt from later loosening while you crank the flashlight.
Loosely fasten the knob to the crank arm using an M6 x 20mm bolt. It should be attached loosely enough that the knob will be able to spin in place.
Loosely fasten the knob to the crank arm using an M6 x 20mm bolt. It should be attached loosely enough that the knob will be able to spin in place.
Step 13: Attach the Motor Crank
Fasten the crank arm to the motor shaft using the shaft coupling's set screw.
This completes the motor's crank arm assembly.
This completes the motor's crank arm assembly.
Step 14: Trim the Wires
Trim the wires coming out of the stepper motor to be about 4" - 6" long.
This will make it easier to work with later and fit in the case.
This will make it easier to work with later and fit in the case.
Step 15: Reflector Hole
Drill
a hole on center on one of the smallest faces of the enclosure for the
flashlight's reflector cone using a 1-1/16" hole saw.
The easiest way to find center of any rectangular surface is to draw an X from corner to corner.
The easiest way to find center of any rectangular surface is to draw an X from corner to corner.
Step 16: Power Switch Hole
Drill
a 1/8" pilot hole in the side of the enclosure near the hole for the
reflector, and then widen it to 3/8". This is for mounting the switch.
Step 17: Wire the Circuit
Now is time to build the circuit on the PCB as pictured in the schematic.
To begin, I wired the two bridge rectifiers in place.
I then connected the zener diode voltage regulator.
After that, I wired in both capacitors.
Lastly, I added the resistor for the LED. The remaining components will be mounted off the board and connected later.
Step 18: Wire the LED
Connect
a red wire to the LED's anode and a black wire to its cathode. Insulate
the solder joints with shrink tubing to protect them and prevent
potential shorts.
Step 19: Mount the LED
Apply contact cement to the reflector and the lip around the edge of the LED.
Wait for both to dry until they are tacky to the touch and then firmly press them together to make a firm bond.
Wait for both to dry until they are tacky to the touch and then firmly press them together to make a firm bond.
Step 20: Attach the Lens
Attach
the lens to the reflector by applying contact cement around the front
inner lip of the reflector and the outer edge of the lens.
Again, wait for both to dry until they are tacky to the touch and press them together firmly.
Again, wait for both to dry until they are tacky to the touch and press them together firmly.
Step 21: Switch
Pass the switch up through the hole in the enclosure and fasten it in place with its mounting hardware.
Step 22: Mount the Reflector
Apply contact cement on the enclosure around the outer edge of the reflector mounting hole, and the edge of the reflector.
Press the two firmly together once the contact cement is dry enough.
Press the two firmly together once the contact cement is dry enough.
Step 23: Attach the Motor
Solder
the motor's wires to the appropriate rectifiers on the circuit board.
If you have forgotten where this is, reference the schematic.
Also, make sure you get the wire pairs correct. In my case red and blue were attached to one coil, and black and green were attached to the other coil. If you mix it up and take one wire from each coil - let's say, black and red - then not much will happen.
Also, make sure you get the wire pairs correct. In my case red and blue were attached to one coil, and black and green were attached to the other coil. If you mix it up and take one wire from each coil - let's say, black and red - then not much will happen.
Step 24: Solder the LED
Solder the LED in series with the resistor on the circuit, and the switch in series with the power supply.
Step 25: Solder the Switch and LED
Solder
the switch and LED together to complete the circuit. Now, when the
switch is pressed the LED is either connected or disconnected from the
supercapacitor, enabling you to turn it on and off.
Step 26: Apply Velcro
Cut
two small adhesive-back velcro tabs and mount the circuit board neatly
on the inside of the enclosure in a spot that will be out of the way of
the servo motor.
Step 27: Case Closed
Put the lid back on the case, and fasten it shut with the enclosure's mounting screws.
Step 28: Attach the Rubber Cover (optional)
Attach the rubber lens cover gasket with contact cement over the edge of the lens to seal it up.
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