Hi guys just to introduce myself first. I’m Chris I’m an instrument technician by trade and please go steady with me, it’s been about 6 years since I’ve done any kind of circuit design at university. I also have no experience with super capacitors or circuits of this design.
I’m sure most of you have seen this video of a guy using a bank of super capacitors to start his car.
Using these capacitors
http://www.digikey.com/product-search/en?x=19&y=16&lang=en&site=us&KeyWords=1182-1016-ND
Now I can appreciate that this isn’t really a practical alternative to a conventional battery in a daily driver, however this is not what I want to use it for. I’d like to use this for my classic mini track car due to its huge weight savings over even a light weight race battery. The idea would be to isolate the capacitors and jump start the engine using a conventional battery pack at the beginning of the day (I’ve read somewhere that it’s probably not a good idea to jump it, not sure why?). The capacitors would then be able to start the car between track sessions or if I end up spinning it and stalling out on track.
My questions are really firstly is it feasible? If so would there be any issues with using two of these in parallel for the extra capacity? I think this would be wise due to it being an older engine, even though its usual pretty good it is very highly tuned and can spit its dummy out now and again. Also does it need a voltage balancing circuit to prevent over charging one of the capacitors or can I get away without this? What are the consequences of overcharging one? And finally is there any safety concerns to take into account i.e. will it get hot and what is likely to happen if it fails, bearing in mind it will be located close to the fuel tank. I wouldn’t be keen on putting a small bomb next to my fuel tank.
I appreciate I have a hell of a lot to research to do before building this but I’d like to know if it’s feasible before committing to hours of reading
Thanks for any help, even if it is to totally destroy my hopes and dreams of a super light battery alternative.
I’m sure most of you have seen this video of a guy using a bank of super capacitors to start his car.
Using these capacitors
http://www.digikey.com/product-search/en?x=19&y=16&lang=en&site=us&KeyWords=1182-1016-ND
Now I can appreciate that this isn’t really a practical alternative to a conventional battery in a daily driver, however this is not what I want to use it for. I’d like to use this for my classic mini track car due to its huge weight savings over even a light weight race battery. The idea would be to isolate the capacitors and jump start the engine using a conventional battery pack at the beginning of the day (I’ve read somewhere that it’s probably not a good idea to jump it, not sure why?). The capacitors would then be able to start the car between track sessions or if I end up spinning it and stalling out on track.
My questions are really firstly is it feasible? If so would there be any issues with using two of these in parallel for the extra capacity? I think this would be wise due to it being an older engine, even though its usual pretty good it is very highly tuned and can spit its dummy out now and again. Also does it need a voltage balancing circuit to prevent over charging one of the capacitors or can I get away without this? What are the consequences of overcharging one? And finally is there any safety concerns to take into account i.e. will it get hot and what is likely to happen if it fails, bearing in mind it will be located close to the fuel tank. I wouldn’t be keen on putting a small bomb next to my fuel tank.
I appreciate I have a hell of a lot to research to do before building this but I’d like to know if it’s feasible before committing to hours of reading
Thanks for any help, even if it is to totally destroy my hopes and dreams of a super light battery alternative.
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