Week  3-- Big Progress



In lab hours

We first tested that the toggle switches are working properly.  Then as mentioned in previous blogs, one of our biggest challenges is to boost the output voltage given by the battery pack from around 3.6/3.7V to theoretically over 8V.  Giles has looked into multiple ways to amplify the voltage using various chips. We have given up an original method since it is only able to function with a voltage that exceeds 7V. While our solar panels could only provide us with a constant 5V as mentioned previously. 

After doing some research and comparing several amplifier circuits. We later decided to include an LM2577 into the circuit and build another amplifier circuit as shown below:


 Figure 1


Giles has spent time calculating the value of the components we need within this circuit over the last week. As expected, we were to obtain an approximate 8V output with an input voltage of no less than 3.5V. 

After several attempts connecting the circuit on a breadboard and parachute several connection mistakes. We successfully obtained an 8.11V constant voltage output from the circuit



Figure 2

                                                                          
Figure 3


Next 

What we plan to do next is to combine all the parts each of us is responsible for together and test whether the whole circuit would work.

Additionally, we shall try to deduce the volume of the entire system to make it possible to carry around as a real power bank. We could start by reducing the length of the wires included in the circuit. Optimizing the design of the circuit can not be ignored. Our final thought is to make it a box that contains all the components with only a switch and solar panels outside the box.

 



















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