Energy Harvester (Buck-Boost)
Contents
Energy Harvester
The Energy Harvester is a kit designed to allow you to use harvest power from any power sources including lemons and thermal energy to power useful things, cell phones, USB chargers, etc.
The Design
The design originally started as a lab to teach engineering freshmen about DC-DC converters. Eventually the requirements lead it to be a full buck boost regulator.
Requirements:
Simulations:
Schematic and PCB Layout:
Ordering Parts:
Testing:
Assembling the Circuit
The circuit assembles easily. For those without soldering equipment it can also be purchased fully assembled.
Using it
Acceptable Power Sources:
Boost:
-dead batteries
-under voltage batteries (AA)
-chemistry cell
-thermal electric
-solar cell (single cell or multiple cells in parallel)
-organic mold
Buck:
-6V lantern battery
-12V SLA (motorcycle, car battery)
-solar cell (3+ cells in series)
-18V cordless tool battery
Buck Boost:
-dynamo Lego hand crank
-Wind turbine, 9v dc motor, and propeller
-steam generator
