How smart is this thing likely to be?

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zbaird
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Location: Bellingham, WA - USA
#1
Posted by zbaird: Wed. Jan 25, 2012 - 10:42 PM
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I was in the grocery store yesterday and they had some closeout Christmas stuff, so I bought a toy light and charger for $1. Taking it apart it has two or so square inches of solar panel, a 1.2v NiCad battery, an LED, a resistor (I can't read the color bands, and I'm too lazy to take it out of circuit to measure it), and a potted 4 lead IC. A poor schematic (well, diagram) is below.

When the solar cell receives enough light, the battery charges and the LED is off. When there is insufficient light, the LED turns on.

Knowing nothing about charging NiCad batteries, I was wondering how clever the potted IC is likely to be. Not that it matters, and I don't plan on doing anything with it - I'm just curious.

Thanks in advance.

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Chuck Baird

"I wish I were dumber so I could be more certain about my opinions. It looks fun." -- Scott Adams

http://www.cbaird.org

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Learning and Information, General Electronics
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david.prentice
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Posted by david.prentice: Wed. Jan 25, 2012 - 10:55 PM
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At a guess it will be like those solar powered garden lights that can indicate where a path lies.

I guess the chip will be a buck/boost to produce some usable voltage from the solar cell. It can read the NiCad terminal voltage to stop charging.

Do you get sunshine in Bellingham ?

David.

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zbaird
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Posted by zbaird: Wed. Jan 25, 2012 - 11:02 PM
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Quote:
Do you get sunshine in Bellingham ?

Only a dollar's worth, so the price was right.

That's exactly what it is - a path light, with a Christmas theme.

Chuck Baird

"I wish I were dumber so I could be more certain about my opinions. It looks fun." -- Scott Adams

http://www.cbaird.org

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valusoft
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Posted by valusoft: Thu. Jan 26, 2012 - 01:23 AM
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david.prentice wrote:
Do you get sunshine in Bellingham ?

David.

That's rich; an Englishman questioning levels of sunshine :lol:

Ross McKenzie ValuSoft Melbourne Australia

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W4GNS.
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Posted by W4GNS.: Thu. Jan 26, 2012 - 01:30 AM
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valusoft wrote:
[That's rich; an Englishman questioning levels of sunshine :lol:

You'll never find on TV the level of humor that this forum produces. :D

Gary - W4GNS
Tel: BR549

In my many years I have come to a conclusion that one useless man is a shame, two is a law firm and three or more is a congress. -- John Adams

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DocJC
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Posted by DocJC: Thu. Jan 26, 2012 - 04:46 AM
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Obviously you didn't Wiki the " Black Box" to see what it contains.

JC

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zbaird
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Posted by zbaird: Thu. Jan 26, 2012 - 04:55 AM
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Sorry. I was still thinking about black helicopters and the end of the world from the Obama thread. Just point me to stu san and I'll be on my way. :(

Chuck Baird

"I wish I were dumber so I could be more certain about my opinions. It looks fun." -- Scott Adams

http://www.cbaird.org

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