LED-uPower-leaded-V2
author: Renew-Magazine-1-year-flashlight
2 layer board of 1.72 x 0.52 inches (43.8 x 13.3 mm)
Uploaded:
December 12, 2023
Shared:
December 12, 2023
Total Price:
$4.50
This is the PCB for a flashlight that runs continuously for one year, when powered by three rechargeable 2400mAh NiMH batteries.
Note that the batteries must be of the low-self-discharge type, or the batteries will go flat faster.
The PCB is designed to fit into a 4xAA battery holder, in place of one of the batteries.
The description of this circuit is published in Renew magazine, issue 166, available from January 2024. https://renew.org.au/renew-magazine/
Note that there is a typo in the above magazine article: in some places in the text, the capacitor has been described as “10mF”. This should have said “10uF”, as it did in the pre-prints of the article that I received.
Tools needed for assembly:
Soldering iron and solder.
Wire cutter.
Fine-point pliers, often called “needle nose” pliers.
A coat hanger made from wire, and two wooden spring-type pegs.
a file or some fine-grit sandpaper.
Parts list:
the PCB, ordered from Osh Park.
a paperclip made of wire, approximately 25mm (1-inch) long.
one battery holder that takes four AA batteries. Jaycar PH9200 is suitable.
one 100-ohm resistor, 1/4W rating.
one 3.3k resistor, 1/4W rating.
two 10k resistors, 1/4W rating.
five 220k resistors, 1/4W rating.
one BC546 transistor (BC547, BC548 and BC549 are suitable alternatives).
three BC557 transistors (BC556, BC558 and BC559 are suitable alternatives).
one 10uF electrolytic capacitor with 6.3mm diameter or smaller, and 6V or higher rating.
one superbright 5mm LED. Jaycar’s ZD0196 is suitable, and it appears to be a Cree C512A-WNN.
There is a PDF of the assembly instructions, with pictures, on GitHub.
To download the instructions, go to https://github.com/Renew-Magazine-1-year-flashlight/Assembly-Instructions
Click on the green “<> Code” button, and then click on “Download ZIP”.
This is the PCB for a flashlight that runs continuously for one year, when powered by three rechargeable 2400mAh NiMH batteries.
Note that the batteries must be of the low-self-discharge type, or the batteries will go flat faster.
The PCB is designed to fit into a 4xAA battery holder, in place of one of the batteries.
The description of this circuit is published in Renew magazine, issue 166, available from January 2024. https://renew.org.au/renew-magazine/
Note that there is a typo in the above magazine article: in some places in the text, the capacitor has been described as “10mF”. This should have said “10uF”, as it did in the pre-prints of the article that I received.
Tools needed for assembly:
Soldering iron and solder.
Wire cutter.
Fine-point pliers, often called “needle nose” pliers.
A coat hanger made from wire, and two wooden spring-type pegs.
a file or some fine-grit sandpaper.
Parts list:
the PCB, ordered from Osh Park.
a paperclip made of wire, approximately 25mm (1-inch) long.
one battery holder that takes four AA batteries. Jaycar PH9200 is suitable.
one 100-ohm resistor, 1/4W rating.
one 3.3k resistor, 1/4W rating.
two 10k resistors, 1/4W rating.
five 220k resistors, 1/4W rating.
one BC546 transistor (BC547, BC548 and BC549 are suitable alternatives).
three BC557 transistors (BC556, BC558 and BC559 are suitable alternatives).
one 10uF electrolytic capacitor with 6.3mm diameter or smaller, and 6V or higher rating.
one superbright 5mm LED. Jaycar’s ZD0196 is suitable, and it appears to be a Cree C512A-WNN.
There is a PDF of the assembly instructions, with pictures, on GitHub.
To download the instructions, go to https://github.com/Renew-Magazine-1-year-flashlight/Assembly-Instructions
Click on the green “<> Code” button, and then click on “Download ZIP”.
