EnerChip Solar Energy Harvesting Demo Kit
Frequently Asked Questions
Q:
A:
I am not sure if I have enough light to charge the EnerChip storage devices?
Probe right side of the tantalum capacitor (brown bar side) on the CBC5300 module. Voltage should
be between 4.5V and 9V depending on ambient light and state-of-charge. This test verifies operation of
the boost converter.
Q:
A:
What if I short-circuit the output?
The disconnect circuit will disconnect the EnerChip devices from the output after the capacitor is
discharged below about 3.0V. This prevents the EnerChip storage cells from being discharged
too deeply. The EnerChip cells will automatically be reconnected after the capacitor is recharged.
Q:
A:
What happens if I want to run a larger pulse current application?
See application note AN-1025. The output capacitor can be sized to drive almost any load as long as
the duration is not too long. AN-1025 describes how to calculate the capacitor size.
Q:
A:
Are the EnerChip storage devices on the board safe and ‘green’?
Yes; there are no safety issues with the Cymbet EnerChips storage devices or solar energy harvesting
board. All of the components are ‘green.’
Q:
A:
What happens if the cell is short-circuited? Will it explode or leak harmful chemicals?
No. There are no harmful chemicals to leak and the energy storage cells will not explode.
Q:
A:
I want to remove the CBC5300 module from the solar board. May I do this?
Yes; however, you MUST use a DIP chip-type extraction tool to pull the DIP module from the board or
you might break the pins off of the CBC5300 board.
Q:
A:
The VBAT line and the VOUT2 line are at different potentials. Why?
The VBAT line is the raw EnerChip cell output. The VOUT2 line is down-regulated to provide a lower
voltage for 3.3V +/- 10% applications.
Q:
A:
How long will the CBC5300 module operate with no ambient light?
This depends on many factors, including power consumption, EnerChip state-of-charge, operating
temperature, etc. The on-board EnerChips provide 100µAh of discharge capacity when fully charged.
Q:
A:
How long will the CBC5300 module last if I use it every day and it is in the light most of the time?
The CBC5300 module should last at least 10 years.
Q:
A:
How long will the two cells on the CBC5300 module hold a charge, assuming no light?
The self-discharge of the cell is a function of several parameters, including temperature. For the self-
discharge specifications, see the product data sheets at http://www.cymbet.com/content/products.
asp .
Q:
A:
What happens if the cell is left in a discharged state for a long period of time?
Leaving the cell in a discharged state is not detrimental to the cell performance.
©2009 Cymbet Corporation • Tel: +1-763-633-1780 • www.cymbet.com
DS-72-08 Rev18
Page 10 of 11
CYMBET [ CYMBET CORPORATION ]
