SuperCapacitors (500F x 6) and Solar Panel (15W)

More solar panel and supercapacitor play - but today was a bit too cold.

[@allenbarrow4904]

Glad to see someone knows how to connect solar system to capacitors for storage. An idea to put into practice was long overdue.

[@OmarAlvi]

Best voice and the greatest English accent. I want to listen, each word you pronounce. Very informative video. Thanks for uploading.

[@deangreenhough3479]

Good call on the time lapse Julian 👍

[@desertdave]

Great to see this video, I have one on order and am waiting for it to arrive, I was just thinking the way those pads were once you cleaned them up that a small blue SM LED would fit perfect on those pads and would make nice low profile indicator, I will send you a pic once my PCB arrives, Dave from BMUK

[@Anvilshock]

Total bitch to solder, as Julian has been demonstrating on occasion ...

[@akarshagarwal4516]

Oh my god Jullian here's where your 50 uploads an hour can be exceeded. Double video bonanza. love it.

[@mikegyver3193]

Love this guys work. 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽

[@MCNPROD]

I can see where I can use that! In a battery backup system for my studio combined with lithium ion batteries !!! Love it Thanks !!

[@ChaitanyaDhareshwar]

+1 for covering everything including the weather

[@maicod]

thanks for uploading this on the same day as the postbag. I just couldn't bare to wait any longer :)

[@JulianIlett]

I didn't want to wait either - we all think alike!

[@misfitthemad276]

+Maico Bare or bear?

[@maicod]

Misfit the mad I'm not an english native speaker and this is the first time someone pointed me at this mistake. I must've used it wrongly alot of times :D I always assumed it could not be spelled like the animal :-)

[@misfitthemad276]

+Maico English is a strange language my friend. In this case it is spelled like the animal. If you spell it the other way you're talking about exposing yourself! ;-)

[@maicod]

Misfit the mad my language is Dutch and i'm sure it has weird quirks too :-)

[@aiboffin295]

Thumbs up for the time lapse.

[@starrmyres7841]

I bought instruction from inplix and I build it very very cheap.

[@BillyNoMates1974]

interesting video. Amazon used to sell those capacitor banks but when I last looked I couldn't find them any more. It's a cheap way of getting a lot of 500F caps

[@gizzymoee]

Great video as usual, also can we have more bike videos this year :?. Really interested in how those massive cells are doing :).

[@cedricproper5256]

This makes good sense. If you're going to buy a 500F capacitor bank, it should have a safety feature for overcharging.

[@DavidALovingMPF102]

I bought some small super caps. I will have to clean off the work bench and experiment! thanks!

[@enriquesalgadoaceves9017]

Great job, from sunny Cancun

[@robviolin1]

Very helpful, thanks 👍

[@ExStaticBass]

How well do you suppose super caps would perform in an impulse generator? I've often thought about using them for something like that. I just don't know how well they would tolerate a sudden short circuit discharge. I've known other more standard caps to bulge or even pop under conditions like that.

[@focusfrenzy9759]

only a matter of time before Julian builds a death ray! LOL

[@2010craggy]

focus frenzy Yeah a Tesla coil, Microwave transformer, supercap, unobtainium flux capacitor based ray gun would be a fun build :)

[@birnodin]

We should be carefull if he puts on his black mask and claims to be our father!

[@blackseabrew]

Thanks for reminding me. I completely forgot about the unobtainium. How was purchased? Collusion with Russian oligarchs?

[@joeyshaw9774]

focus frenzy Fu

[@jerryguerra348]

2010craggy sounds good. I want one. Do you have the plans?

[@schubi128]

The protection board I bought had a Led already. The balancing of the Supercaps is usually quite off until they are all up to 2,7V. Interesting is that this only happens when I charge them with my powersupply set to 13,5V for a 5s configuration. When I charge them with a 5W Solar panel (18V) The individual capacitors are charging much more evenly right from the start. Surely the Caps are charged much slower but I have no idea how the can allign their voltage other then "burning" energy when the protection kicks in (which happens rarely with the 5W Panel)

[@copyandpastification]

Thank you, excellent video

[@skyoreece9805]

there will be a slight capacitance difference in most electrolyte types. there's nothing to worry about. if never shore use a cap tester to test them individually. good video keep up the good work

[@FourSeasonsHD]

Thanks for the video. What do you suggest to slow down current while discharging the capacitor bank? For example, If you wanted to charge battery from the super cap bank but not just at any rate but perhaps twice the current of the solar panel?

[@N0body247]

They each have a 10 percent variable for voltage. so 2.7 can go up to 2.97 if they are Legit 500 F capacitors.

[@jnb756]

so... basically I just watched someone fail to charge their super capacitors, with a solar panel and then charge them via another source and then.... nothing. I could also go outside and watch the grass grow for the same entertainment value

[@djemdjam5099]

Thanks Julian.

[@pwnmeisterage]

I imagine that stubborn 2nd cap is somewhere closer towards the outside values allowed within tolerance. If so, then it seems a little odd to me that the module manufacturer wouldn't test, bin, and match the components more closely. Otherwise it seems to be a magnificent little board. What is the part number, where can I buy one?

[@ericcaira7338]

This panel can put out close to 100 watts kzbin.infoUgkxOqI2yqX0XVrhR2BMJciTWrHJpG8FhJyg when positioned in the appropriate southernly direction, tilted to the optimal angle for your latitude/date, and connected to a higher capacity device than a 500. The built in kickstand angle is a fixed at 50 degrees. Up to 20% more power can be output by selecting the actual date and latitude optimal angle.The 500 will only input 3.5A maximum at 18 volts for 63 watts. Some of the excess power from the panel can be fed into a USB battery bank, charged directly from the panel while also charging a 500. This will allow you to harvest as much as 63 + 15 = 78 watts.If this panel is used to charge a larger device, such as the power station, then its full output potential can be realized.

I have been playing with similar setup for years now. But I have not think of leds as indicator, good one I tell you. Thanks!

[@simonmasters3295]

Go the whole distance and put volts, amps and time sequence logging onto the capacitor bank?

I only had cheap 10W solar in parallel to capacitor bank. Great thing for inline solar for 12V usage without batteries. I even did some spot welding with it this stores amazing amount of amps.

[@barbaras711]

my experience with fuses to a 6 set of 500F connected to a 45W solar panel is that it blew the 30A fuse upon connection. I have decided that the LEDs will indicate over charging and if i want to slow charge, I will use a small resistor inline with 2 LED in series. It seems to work. 1 V per 30 min charge at slow charge and 8 V TO 14V in less than 1 hour with 1 LED lit in 1ess than 1 hour.

[@mark8664]

You Brits turn out some awesome Electrical Engineers!

[@simonruszczak5563]

And other types of engineer.

[@georgeorralljr.3664]

thank you Julian

[@FireSwordl]

Yeah, "Mad Electron Engineering" recently posted a video about those cheap crappy supercapacitors. But I guess the are good for experiments. I have some too. Thanks for the video!

[@malgailany]

It would be interesting if you measure the total capacity of the bank using your static DC load after it is fully charged and see how close the total capacity meet their specs. Thanks.

[@chrislp8293]

83,3 F

[@YodaWhat]

@@chrislp8293 At the rated specs, the capacitor bank will hold 10,935 joules, or 3 watt-hours, at 16.2 volts... not kilowatt-hours, just 3 watts for 1 hour. With realistic loads, perhaps 1/2 or 2/3 of the stored energy will be available, as the voltage will drop too low for most loads.

[@Roy_Tellason]

That's where the joule thief comes in handy...!

[@YodaWhat]

@@Roy_Tellason True. With bipolar transistors, a Joule Thief will continue to carry load until the input is down to about 7/10th of a volt.

[@alanpowell328]

Hi Julian, Obviously we can't actually see the PCB tracks but I was thinking that you had soldered the LEDs to two ground points! That would be a magical change in laws of physics. Kind Regards Alan

[@pixels303at-odysee9]

One thing about capacitors, static charge volume is based on the distance between layers. When you put them in series, it may increase the maximum voltage, but it will exponentially decrease capacity. Batteries do not suffer from this aspect.

[@jovmars4716]

Nice Piece of Work.. Trying Help the Community Again The Power Hoarding Capitalist Keep it Up...

[@ecobob101]

I enjoyed that thanks.

[@MegaJames888]

I read in my instructions on the ones I purchased you are suppose to charge and discharge these several times before using...

[@eliotmansfield]

I wonder if these are the same caps that are used in the sealey super-cap car battery booster pack?

[@jasonharrison25]

I have a bank of 6 Maxwell 3000F caps in series as my "battery" in my TDI. Starts strong but doesn't have much reserve capacity. Have a 20 watt solar panel on the roof to keep it charged when not used for some time

[@catothecensor]

Jason Harrison capacitor should be summed in parallel, not in series

[@johnarmstrong3782]

I bought one of these. Weirdly exactly the same capacitor (in the same place on the board) took an age to come up to voltage.

[@CrazyCoupleDIY]

Nice one brother

[@erikschiegg68]

Without a diode, current will flow back to the solar panel, heating it, when a cloud passes. Ever thought using a joule thieve to get optimal charging voltage? Would be loading quite faster.

[@blieuroi3377]

excelent sir, thank you share vidio

[@milenedejong1400]

hi julian , can you tell me what dc dc regulator you are using here. it seems to have a battery protection circuit. perfect for my project. greetz

[@LateNightHacks]

Is it me or that cap looks a bit lighter shade of blue than the others? perhaps a different production batch? and hence the difference in capacity?

[@TheDutyPaid]

I think where the caps came from quality control was not much of a factor.

[@realflow100]

its samwha brand I have one and its 100 farads. same color as these ones. These are just bigger!!!

[@Shit_I_Missed.]

the mis-colored cap is likely to be counterfeit.

[@TheDutyPaid]

Seen photos of fake large capacity capacitors where they are have a smaller value cap and therefore cheaper cap hiding inside the can.

[@realflow100]

Check the weight of the capacitor. tap it with a pencil or pen or small metal object. If its hollow you will hear it. My 100F samwha brand cap is for sure 100 farads. Lasts as long as two 200mAh NICD's in series when i'd test both of them in my battery powered drink mixing cup. Has even more power too! MAYBE even longer. Impressive and for sure it's 100 farads AT LEAST. And when its charged up to 3.5v like i've done a few times. It lasts for ageeeees I had a 2 farad 16v capacitor and it could barely power a motor for longer than a few seconds. It you could hear and see the motor slowing down quite noticably.. Now this 100 farad capacitor running the same motor. Just kept chugging along and the voltage barely dropped at all. If they feel excessively light or feel/sound hollow. they might be fake. if not. they could be the real thing. You could test by trying to crank a car engine with these. It should give at least 1 good second of full cranking power and start the car successfully..

[@morpher44]

for fall/winter, be thinking Thermal Electric Generator (TEG).

[@Electronicview]

very good. thank you

[@jcramond73]

This is why I laugh when government idiots think that renewable energy is the only way to power a country, give me a break, the sun doesn't always shine and the wind doesn't always blow. But a great vid none the less Julian, very educational.

[@natealexander3721]

where did you purchase the boards, capacitors and leds that were used in this video?

[@armanflint]

Do you know of any gizmo or another way to wire that would distribute the current equally to each capacitor?

[@CollinBaillie]

I feel a new Super Capacitor PCB design coming on!

[@blaegme]

Wouldn't the leds change the resistance across that circuit?

[@magicer83]

Maby you can build a small wind turbine? It seems the sun is not in your favour hehe. Keep up the good work and maby oneday you will rule the world!

[@petti78]

Or just continue using the mains outlets available in his house.. :)

[@alexoja2918]

Any diodes in series with the solar panel for reverse current protection?

[@howardescoffery4950]

Respect brother not lying your video postings are top a top very detailed neatly explain I bet if I had a wife even she would understand the way you explain things though. Now brother my question can this be added to a solar battery bank? to ease the load draw off the batteries?

[@JunPTechnician]

Thank you for sharing sir new supporters here

[@TKomoski]

You might want to swap some components around on the board. That might give you a better understanding of the component limits or charge value. Cheers

[@sighpocket5]

Nice!!!!!

[@Blakehx]

Where's the best place to get decent quality supercapacitors at a good price? Thanks!

[@jimmartin7899]

Graphite airogel formed in strips then compressed and constructed like how ultra capacitors are made. The size of a 30 gal propane tank with a rewired drum motor generator with magnetic bearings and a vacuum spark gap at the core of the ultra graphite airogel power cell. Do you think you could make one?

[@mobitronicsolarmobitronics6052]

super👍👍👍👍👍

[@iPelaaja1]

Has the weather been any nicer during the last couple of days? Been very sunny today and yesterday in Wales

[@FilipeDGuedes]

actually, that's 500F divided by 6. these capacitors are in series, the voltage is multiplied and the capacitance is divided by 6.

[@okan3644]

Multiplied, or added?

[@chrislp8293]

83,3 F is the hole capacity

[@carlmarshall4577]

I believe Filipe you got it right!

[@demef758]

Series capacitors are the equivalent of parallel resistors, so you DIVIDE by 6. This is EE1A.

[@jackevans2386]

@@chrislp8293 That's correct ! Total Capacitance = 1/ ( 1/C1+1/C2+1/C3 etc.)

[@willproctor7301]

Would love to SMD leds to make it neat, It's a shame that these boards don't come with them as standard. (edited, I really need to watch these to the end before commenting :))

[@usuariu1024]

I wonder how impressive a catastrophic failure would look like with one of this capacitors.

[@6F6G]

The best tool for solder resist removal is a fibreglass bristle pencil such as part number 0514868 from RS Components.

[@faded.0913]

A note of reference capacitors do not retain their values when placed in series. All the caps in series. What you have there is 16.2V @83.333F. Not 500F

[@JulianIlett]

Farads go down, but Joules go up :)

[@faded.0913]

You should play around using less in series and using buck converters. That's what I used to do on my solar panels. Instead of wasting 36 cells in series I did 10 in series. Paralleled 2x 10 cells with it so I effectively had 10s 30p and boosted up the output to charge my 12v appliances. Re arranging around a 100w solar panel instead of the 5.29A I usually get on a 100w panel with the new arrangement and a buck converter I was getting the same voltage but instead I had about 15A. So same cell amount. Different arrangement. Better output. I don't know why all major companies don't do this

[@JulianIlett]

Coulombs stay the same :)

[@simonmasters3295]

Hi Julian Nice Video Your style encourages me I think, heeding the safety warnings in comments here, you do need to push the volts. Stored Coulombs go up with the SQUARE of voltage, so overcharging the capacitor pays dividends provided it can be demonstrated to take the charge "safely". Everyone is quick to jump to a conclusion that this cap is faulty, but in fact it might just be that this is perhaps a cap that is from a superior rather than inferior batch. Where is this going? You are not explicit in this video about what your thinking is regarding storing solar PV energy, but I am thinking (a) that the conversion of low voltage at the panel array location, to a higher voltage for transmission to the grid or battery storage location makes a lot of sense when cable costs are considered and (b) RGHxFTW is on the right track...

[@35matinee]

What does that mean?? The title, mistakenly was "500Farads". It is not!

[@jarkkoaitti287]

Am I right that this pack has a total 3Wh capacity (about 1 AA-battery), so for example you could run a europe legal e-bike (250W) "full throttle" for 43 seconds? that could be a nice help for 1-2 short uphills. Of course one would need to efficiently convert voltage for example to 48V(/5A) for a typical motor (just a guess) and be able to do so even when voltage drops from that 6*2.7 (16.2) towards zero as i think it does with capacitors.

[@EnergySeeker]

how did you charge the battery without a resistro in series ?

[@TheAwesomeHomestead]

What would you need to use one of these with 2Kw solar?

[@jimthvac100]

I bought this same solar capacitor module on Ebay. I tested the capacitance and it ended up being about 67 Farad. meaning 400 Farad each. I looked up the date sheet on these green cap Supercapacitors and it said there is a 20% tolerance so 400 Farad is within that. They all held there charge for a good amount of time except for One. I told the seller about it and they agreed to refund me $8.00 for the one bad capacitor that self discharged rather quickly. There was another one that was not as good as the other four but decided to leave it. I ordered another brand capacitor to replace this bad one. I feel it is a crap shoot when ordering these. I know those small black 120 Farad caps you can buy in a module are all junk the one I bought self discharged to 1/2 voltage in less than an hour. Mr. Julian uses one in some other videos.

[@yourmama9674]

Try making your own

[@floydwallace3280]

This is a question, when replacing a bad-capacitor off a box fan is it necessary that I replace it with the exact same capacitor?

[@kevinjames5510]

Could just be the tolerance of the resistors in that particular protection circuit. Check them!

[@lordofthebeltsthereturnoft1127]

I have never thought to bother around with super capacitors, I never saw the point in them really. They have low capacities and very limited usages. My fav devices are lithium batteries, charge controllers, solar panels, LED's, buck/boost converters, mini relays, inverters etc. It is fun to mess around with components and make your own circuits for various purposes, but I have found that it's mostly a waste of time because you can always buy a far more efficient and smaller premade device from China that will be better than anything you can make yourself.

[@howardescoffery4950]

My brother my batteries in my solar setup in getting old currently I can not afford new ones and I am thinking of using some capacitors to combine with my batteries to help them with the load. My question is can this be attach to my battery bank and what would be your recommendation?

[@linksmith1057]

You should make yourself a small wind turbine to charge things up on cloudy days, you have plenty of wind if the buffeting against your mic is any indication. Also a solar charge controller works perfectly fine on a turbine.

[@SetchiPaunda]

Solar charge controllers input DC correct? Wind turbine charge controllers input AC 3 phase correct?

[@Pascal_Robert--Rc_Creations]

How much does 1 array weights?

[@MyBigThing2010]

Julian says, "I just want something thin to blow.." ....HAHAHA, I bet, lmao

[@SteveInScotland]

MyBigThing2010 I though I was watching Clive for a minute, lol

[@MyBigThing2010]

ahhhh HAHA he's definitely not qualified to be a naughty bear though lol

[@technirvana4199]

How could you think that? Clive is in another league of intelligence, bums harder too!

[@lordofthebeltsthereturnoft1127]

Clive is not intelligent actually, he tries to talk in a posh voice while pretty much calling things BS based on false premises. He called one product BS for a separation between both sides only being like 5mm, yet the whole thing was only for 240v max and it would actually require 15000v to jump a distance that great which would never be present, so there was no problem in the design. Clive just likes to invent problems in his head to call something BS, this is why he has never invented any circuit or isn't the designer of any products, because he doesn't actually know what he is talking about 90% of the time. You could give him the most advanced circuit from Japan and tell him it was from China and he would start thinking that it's shit and make up strange reasons for his belief. He is a joke, sorry. Anyone who calls themselves "big" before their name has a clear psychological complex.

[@audi3318]

Who is Clive?

[@offshoreman71]

Do you have the part number of the capacitor bank please.

[@nishiter]

amazing stuff are these Super Caps...but any use in practical life?

[@martinvollderpro]

Car battery alternative

[@bloodyl_uk]

Any reason why you soldered to the board rather across the last resistor as you did with the other supercap bank?

[@JulianIlett]

Because there was some accessible copper near the edge of the PCB - don't think there was last time.

[@bloodyl_uk]

Thanks for the reply. :)

[@yourmama9674]

I thought led placement was a great choice

[@childtvm-tvm-8371]

How can I set up an 80amper 24v battery. how many capacitors or how should the circuit be. I want to set up a warehouse system for my house. Is there any shape or project you can recommend?

[@mimic58]

any info on the 2 pcbs you're using?

[@ralfboecker3646]

i wonder what aplication is this good for ?

[@ralfboecker3646]

​@wu ming quite good for short time outage + granting time for safe system shutdown... However, super capacitor voltage is not constant, so need a wide range converter. Long term UPS will use lithium storage today, instead of lead acid battery no longer ➯ need compare prices & performance...

[@carlmarshall4577]

What are the board used for these caps?

[@slybunda]

how much milliamps was that solar panel outputting in the overcast day?

[@obversiveKen]

they are typically 1-3 amps depending on the age of the solar cell... average 2

[@MrMraza123]

Bring your solar panel in Qatar, lots of sun shine here.

[@Gersberms]

Hey Julian, I think technically, you can call that a battery.

[@emilianoperezyperez6171]

KooooooooLLL man..G.

[@alexermerson]

Other than the high discharge rate capabilities of super-caps, what is the benefit of using them over much higher energy density lithium ion cells?

[@user-cr4pz5yg7y]

None. The two should be used together. Caps are quick to balance voltage, but by themselves are quite limited. I think of them more like a workshop assistant. The battery is the ole man and the cap as the plucky assistant. Neither is great, together is exceptional.

[@davidbradley3074]

Julian: Please design a unit using the "Skeleton Ultra Capacitors" then post it on Amazon for purchase. Please!

[@TRS-Tech]

Hi Julian. A quick question for you..... Do you have a model number or link to that buck/boost module please. I have an idea inspired by your video I want to try and that module will be ideal. Many Thanks.

[@christiankulmann3325]

DC-DC 2V-24V to 3V-30V Step Up CVCC Boost Voltage Converter Power Module 80W www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=Step+Up+%22ZK-S4%22&_sacat=0&LH_TitleDesc=1&LH_TitleDesc=1&LH_BIN=1&LH_TitleDesc=1&_sop=15

[@atheron1776]

What's the self discharge on these like? Considered replacing the battery in my lawn tractor with supercaps but don't want to have to leave it on a charger or jump start it every week.

[@rocketman221projects]

Even with high quality super capacitors, you would need to keep it on a trickle charger. The self discharge rate is much higher than batteries.

[@lordofthebeltsthereturnoft1127]

It may not mean anything, but Julian do you notice how all of the other capacitors are all an equal blue colour and that second one is slightly lighter? Could this be a damaged one? I know when I damaged one of my NIMH cells that it's outer coating became paler than the others, I think it's caused by heating too much. I suspect the second one was damaged or has a design fault that lead it to overheat.

[@balthromaw6305]

Dear Julian, Could you possibly share where you purchased the DC to DC buck/boost converter from? I am needing one in the worst of ways for a tube amp project

[@yourmama9674]

Can't find for sale on the world wide web?

[@PhaQ2]

How about a 2.4 volt zener diode in reverse polarity, and a 3 volt led to burn off the excess power. As a cheap and easy capacitor balancing management system? I know any amount of real amperage being conducted through a simple system like this will burn it, but that is only on the charging portion. It should not effect the output side in any way.

[@paulsharpe9134]

hi a better way to get the varnish of the pads is a fiberglass pencil. it's also great for cleaning battery terminals and all sorts of things

[@HillsWorkbench]

Where do you get those from?

[@paulsharpe9134]

hi try eBay or maplin, thy last well but if you can get some replacement fiberglass tips. because ones you start to realise what thy can do to clean parts you'll keep it at the top of the tool box

[@sscoconut1265]

I'm planning for an ocean wave energy harvesting device for undergrad thesis.. Which is better storage for energy supercaps or batteries?

[@audi3318]

Seeing as wave power is constant, wouldn’t it make sense to forget storage?

[@NewMicroElectronics-yv1ek]

❤😊