[Voyage-linux] Battery Backup for ALIX and other embedded boards

[Meftah Tayeb]

+1.
would definitly buy at least 100 if they are stable and strong enough.
specification?

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <jfh at greenhousepc.com>
To: <voyage-linux at voyage.hk>
Sent: Monday, March 26, 2012 1:30 AM
Subject: [Voyage-linux] Battery Backup for ALIX and other embedded boards


Greets,


Not sure what the policy is on doing what I'm getting ready to do, but I 
figure I'll be told I made a mistake, or I'll get a mailbox filled with 
orders.


My company (I own it, I don't just work here ;) ) designs and manufactures a 
number of products, mostly geared towards the solar energy business.  I'm 
about to release a new product -- a zener-diode based trickle charger for 
NiMH batteries.  It's not rocket science or anything, but when I tested it 
on an ALIX.3D2, I got two hours of run time from a pack of 8 AA NiMH 
batteries.  The design is fool-proof and I selected the charging voltage I 
did to give the batteries the longest operating life possible.  I'm going to 
do more tests, etc, and things may change.



Right now I don't have a price, but that's part of why I'm posting here.  In 
the quantities I can sell to my customers, my costs are not all that low --  
I'm looking at something in the $30 to $35 range.  Which is a bit spendy. 
But if I can get that mailbox full of orders, I can probably cut my costs in 
half, which means I can cut my price in half.  The part is 32mm wide by 65mm 
high and is designed to mount on DIN rail, with two 4mm (or so) holes spaced 
25mm apart for Phoenix Contacts DIN rail clips (not included, but I buy them 
in bulk, so I could if there is demand).  There are three screw terminals --  
one for "in", two for "out".  The board has a 750ma polyfuse to protect from 
short circuits, because the batteries =will= make more than 750ma if 
shorted.


Batteries are not included -- mailing batteries runs into all sorts of 
rules, so the board has a standard 9 volt battery clip.  The recommendation 
is to use an 8 pack of 2500mAh NiMH batteries.  If there is interest, I'll 
change the zener diode and current limiting resistor to support 7-cell 9v 
NiMH batteries.  They aren't good for long-term backup, but can survive a 
few minute power outage.



One of the regulars here asked about them, and I'm hoping to sample him one. 
I have half a dozen boards sitting around and will sample one to a limited 
number of people who can convince me they'd be willing and able to order 
them in quantity 25 and above.


Thoughts?  Orders?  Feedback?  Slap on the wrist?

--
Julie Haugh
Senior Design Engineer
greenHouse Computers, LLC // jfh at greenhousepc.com // greenHousePC on 
Skype


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