Efficient Battery Implementation for Extended Computer Use: Tips and Materials

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the implementation of a custom battery system to power a computer monitor and CPU for an extended duration, specifically aiming for 12 hours of operation with minimal power leakage. Participants also touch on related topics such as microcontroller programming for a separate project involving motorized table legs.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant seeks guidance on creating a battery that can power a computer monitor and CPU for 12 hours, emphasizing a power leakage limit of 300 micro watts.
  • Another participant questions the feasibility of the 300 micro watt power leakage condition, suggesting that it may not be realistic given typical monitor power consumption.
  • Some participants mention the availability of commercial solutions like Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS) and suggest researching their specifications for battery size and performance.
  • In a separate thread, a participant discusses using microcontrollers to control motorized table legs, asking for advice on suitable controllers and implementation methods, particularly regarding initial prototyping on a breadboard.
  • Another reply suggests using familiar microcontrollers and directs the participant to resources on motor controller applications, specifically mentioning PIC microcontrollers.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

There is no consensus on the feasibility of the 300 micro watt power leakage requirement, with some participants expressing skepticism. The discussion on microcontroller usage appears to be more straightforward, with participants sharing suggestions without significant disagreement.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes assumptions about power consumption and the definitions of terms like "power leakage," which remain unresolved. The technical details regarding battery construction and microcontroller implementation are also not fully explored.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in DIY electronics, battery design, power management, and microcontroller applications may find this discussion relevant.

zapper
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I would like to implement my own battery to power a computer monitor and a CPU for 12 hours before being recharged. The condition is that the power leakage must be less than 300 micro watts. I would like to know the steps involved in making my own battery to perform this task? I would also appreciate it if I could get material on this subject as well as the power conversion like converting from AC to DC etc involved in making this battery.
 
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Microcontroller Programming

Hi I am planing on using controllers to enable the legs of a table to move up and down. I know I will have to drive the legs using a motor, I am using a optical encoder to give the position of the legs as it moves up and down. I would like to know the controller to use as well as the method to go about in implementing this project. I am only familiar with bread board connections, hence is it possible to implement this using a bread board first and then switching over to something else. Any suggestions on this would be greatly welcome.
 
zapper said:
I would like to implement my own battery to power a computer monitor and a CPU for 12 hours before being recharged. The condition is that the power leakage must be less than 300 micro watts. I would like to know the steps involved in making my own battery to perform this task? I would also appreciate it if I could get material on this subject as well as the power conversion like converting from AC to DC etc involved in making this battery.

Commercial units are available for this task -- they are called Uninterruptible Power Supplies (or UPS units). Here is some basic info:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uninterruptible_power_supply

You can google to get some hits on units where you can download their datasheets to see what size batteries they use, and how long they last for your monitor output load when there is no AC Mains power.

zapper said:
The condition is that the power leakage must be less than 300 micro watts.

This makes no sense to me. Your monitor obviously consumes more than 300uW. What do you mean by this term "power leakage"?
 
zapper said:
Hi I am planing on using controllers to enable the legs of a table to move up and down. I know I will have to drive the legs using a motor, I am using a optical encoder to give the position of the legs as it moves up and down. I would like to know the controller to use as well as the method to go about in implementing this project. I am only familiar with bread board connections, hence is it possible to implement this using a bread board first and then switching over to something else. Any suggestions on this would be greatly welcome.

What class is this for? You would use a microcontroller (uC) that you are familiar with, and have the development tools and demo board for, so that you can write your code and load it into the demo board. PIC uCs are commonly used for this type of project, but there are others available. Go to the Microchip PIC website and look for application notes about motor controller applications.
 

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