Zap&Go first graphene supercapacitor charger - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: multifrag
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 21, 2015, 07:03:23 pm
content: Just wanted to know if this product can see the light of day into the productions or just one those too big of a challenge campaigns?campaignVideo:

author: 0xdeadbeef
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 21, 2015, 07:07:35 pm
content: As long as graphene capacitors are not commercially available, every crowd funding project claiming it would sell you one smells like a scam.Besides, in all the known campaigns (and this is no exception), it seems quesitonable that the shown design is able to deliver the current needed for a fast charge.

author: multifrag
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 21, 2015, 07:19:47 pm
content: With normal super capacitor rated at 3000f 2.7V it is possible to get one iphones charge but the size difference is huge from the video. Not to mention the charging circuit has to be fitted somewhere.

author: Delta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 21, 2015, 10:38:48 pm
content: Aaaaaarrrrggghhhh! "No more searching for a plug" It's called a fucking socket! A socket! A plug goes into a socket!

author: retrolefty
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 21, 2015, 10:52:21 pm
content: I'm pretty smart phone ignorant, but could such a typical phone even accept the current required for a 5 min recharge?

author: 0xdeadbeef
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 21, 2015, 10:59:44 pm
content: These things are supposed to act as power tanks so you can charge them in a few minutes and then use it to charge your phone as slow as usual.

author: retrolefty
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 21, 2015, 11:11:41 pm
content: Quote from: 0xdeadbeef on September 21, 2015, 10:59:44 pmAh so it is a possible concept. Never liked the idea of batteries to charge other batteries, but a super quick to refill portable 'super cap power tank' might be useful. However if the size is so large as to not fit in pockets or purses not sure it would be all that popular a product?

author: 0xdeadbeef
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 21, 2015, 11:25:45 pm
content: The problem is twofold: Firstly to compete with Lithium based powertanks, these things would need at least 2000mAh or so at 5V.This would need an immense capacity which is not yet available in a form factor that would be usable as portable power tank.Therefore the dubious project claims they'd use graphene supercapacitors which however are not commercially available yet.E.g. there are supercaps available with 350F and 2.7V, but this means a meager 945 As or 0.2625 Ah.Secondly, the currents needed to charge it quickly would be very high. E.g. with a traditional 1C approach, a 2000mAh Lithium based battery would be charged with 2A.So you'd need 1h to charge it. It's easy to see that to bring this down to e.g. 1 minute, you'd need 60 times the current. So 120A for a 1 minute charge and still 24A fora 5 minute charge time. These are current which are not so easily handled by small pocket size devices, especially if also the supercap should fit in there.

author: edy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 22, 2015, 12:01:26 am
content: Not mention, if you need a 24 A constant current supplied by your wall outlet, that is not going to happen without blowing a fuse. Most home outlets will deliver MAX of 15-20A on the entire set of outlets in parallel that are wired to the same breaker. And that is MAX instantaneous spike, but for a sustained current you are not going to get more than 12 A out of a 15 A breaker.And if there is anything else plugged on the same circuit to the breaker (like all your other appliances, lights, etc... that are on) you will have even less available before you break your circuit. You would have to set up an outlet especially in your home to charge this thing.

author: tom66
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 22, 2015, 12:10:38 am
content: The problem is they claim they can refill the "tank" cap in about 5 minutes. A phone battery is ~7Wh, so that means a 5 minute charge requires 84W plus losses from the wall. Certainly not impossible but in that form factor? Just look at the size of a 90W laptop power adapter. The thing, plus supercap, would be much bigger than the prototype shows.

author: AF6LJ
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 22, 2015, 12:16:23 am
content: Quote from: Delta on September 21, 2015, 10:38:48 pmThis is the modern world everyone is gender confused.

author: 0xdeadbeef
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 22, 2015, 10:30:25 am
content: Quote from: edy on September 22, 2015, 12:01:26 amErrm. Dunno about Canada, but over here there's 230V AC coming from the wall outlets and not 5V DC. So obviously with 16A at 230V AC, you can get quite some current at 5V.

author: edy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 24, 2015, 01:14:12 am
content: Quote from: 0xdeadbeef on September 22, 2015, 10:30:25 amMy calculations are all wrong.... I'll have to redo the math.

author: helius
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 24, 2015, 01:43:56 am
content: Quote from: Delta on September 21, 2015, 10:38:48 pmYou don't hear that one in the US, but I gather that some people in the UK call it a plug or "plugsocket". Language is always being warped and abused, sometimes misuses of words are so hilariously bad that they get repeated more and more for laughs. Today 90 years after Harding's gaffe, "normalcy" is even more common than normality.

author: AF6LJ
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 24, 2015, 03:22:05 pm
content: Quote from: helius on September 24, 2015, 01:43:56 amActually in this part of the US we call that thing on the wall an "electrical outlet".

author: sunnyhighway
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 24, 2015, 06:18:01 pm
content: Quote from: AF6LJ on September 24, 2015, 03:22:05 pmThat name doesn't make sense to me because the same number of electrons coming out of it... are going back in...

author: ConKbot
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 26, 2015, 12:01:38 pm
content: Quote from: sunnyhighway on September 24, 2015, 06:18:01 pmWhich way does the real power flow :p

author: retrolefty
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 26, 2015, 12:48:27 pm
content: Quote from: ConKbot on September 26, 2015, 12:01:38 pmFrom your wallet out.

author: Aerobyrd93
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 17, 2015, 11:00:23 am
content: you're saying we should start calling it an electrical inlet? an out-inlet? an in-outlet? Maybe if you mounted one and it wasn't straight up and down, you'd let out the electrons.