- #1
Pooty
- 32
- 0
So I was wondering if I could get some help and advice on a project I am working on. I have next to no experience or knowledge of electrical circuits so I appreciate your patience.
I am trying to power a structural health monitoring system "accelerometer" unit on a bridge using thermoelectric energy. The unit is typically powered by 3 AAA batteries. I was wanting to use the thermo generators to charge a lithium ion battery pack that would then provide the power to the accelerometer day and night. The user guide says that the nominal voltage for the accelerometer is 4.5 volts and has a cutoff limit of 4.7 volts. I have ordered 1 thermo generator from TEG Power so I can test its voltage and power ouput under typical outdoor temperatures. I will probably have to be wiring a whole series of these things together...
So, I guess I have some questions on what I should be doing. First, how do I regulate the amount of voltage that the lithium ion battery pack will supply to the accelerometer? If I somehow string enough generators together to charge the battery pack at say 5 volts... how do I regulate the output voltage from the batteries to the sensing unit to 4.5 volts? Should I be concerned with the amperage output? Do lithium ion batteries come in specific ratings? For instance, 3.7 volts or 4.3 volts? Any other advice you can provide would be great. I'm sure I will have plenty of questions.
I am trying to power a structural health monitoring system "accelerometer" unit on a bridge using thermoelectric energy. The unit is typically powered by 3 AAA batteries. I was wanting to use the thermo generators to charge a lithium ion battery pack that would then provide the power to the accelerometer day and night. The user guide says that the nominal voltage for the accelerometer is 4.5 volts and has a cutoff limit of 4.7 volts. I have ordered 1 thermo generator from TEG Power so I can test its voltage and power ouput under typical outdoor temperatures. I will probably have to be wiring a whole series of these things together...
So, I guess I have some questions on what I should be doing. First, how do I regulate the amount of voltage that the lithium ion battery pack will supply to the accelerometer? If I somehow string enough generators together to charge the battery pack at say 5 volts... how do I regulate the output voltage from the batteries to the sensing unit to 4.5 volts? Should I be concerned with the amperage output? Do lithium ion batteries come in specific ratings? For instance, 3.7 volts or 4.3 volts? Any other advice you can provide would be great. I'm sure I will have plenty of questions.