FM Radio Station Housing Part 20

The idea is to put the radio station electronics into the smallest tiny enclosure possible and have remaining space for expansions. The yellow project box is perfect for this application, at 2 3/8" high x 1 1/8" deep x 4 1/8" long. One key feature, not shown here, is the front panel design label, that notates various controls and functions. Notations on the front will line up with actual controls at the top and the sides.

Cabinet, board, battery, antenna, controls

FM RADIO STATION TINY HOUSING PART 20
Perhaps the smallest radio station on the air today, tiny "Whisper Radio FM 102" is  housed in a miniature cabinet with space for expansion.

Whisper Radio -
"To hear a whisper you need to shut out the noise of the world…"

The radio station housing is an insulated rectangular yellow polymer cabinet. Components on the inside include the main board on the left with protruding microphone at top and antenna on the left, plus a 9VDC battery over on the right side.

At the top left is the mic, and at the top right is the on/off toggle switch and a red LED power-on monitor light. The best feature of mounting the microphone this way is the shortness of the leads which are kept at only one fourth inch long, thus minimizing interference. The push through microphone, without extending the leads, creates the highest quality, best signal, and minimizes distortion.

The cabinet is "drilled" with a soldering iron that easily melts holes into the plastic. Keep the internal board to the left, close enough to the side wall but keeping clearance mounting space to include the antenna jack.

The cabinet is large enough for installing many added features described in previous posts, like the mute switch, on-the-air monitor, tone control, etc. Refer to the controls post and the index link for more details.

FM Radio Station Controls Part 9
http://humanoidolabs.blogspot.tw/2013/12/fm-radio-station-controls.html

FM Radio Station Part 5 Index
http://humanoidolabs.blogspot.tw/2013/12/fm-radio-station-part-5-index.html 

FM Radio Station Part 2 Assembly

Flipped reverse side photo to match component side

MINI FM RADIO STATION  Note top side component placement. Top two holes are for the 9-volt battery clip leads with ground on the left side. The left bottom hole and the bottom right hole are for the antenna connection.

Connections are easily seen when the printed circuit board is back lit, showing the circuit board traces on the reverse side. This makes it easier to match component locations to the schematic diagram.

Schematic diagram for a two stage transistor FM transmitter. Features microphone driven audio input, with tunable frequency range with L1. Operates on a 9-volt battery. Range tests are yet to be determined but the frequency appears to be around 100MHz on the FM band.

BUILD YOUR OWN FM RADIO STATION TRANSMITTER
IN-HOUSE DIY RADIO STATION PART 2

Rotated left to right view for component placement

Work is progressing on the electronic construction of the Lab's two stage exampling FM radio station. Stay tuned to this series of blogs as we supply the details of going on the air, as well as technical info so you can roll your own in-house radio station for fun.

The test transmitter printed circuit board has 17 components mounted and ready for soldering. This blog details the component placement and the circuit traces on the printed circuit board and includes transistor placement guides and a schematic for assembly. Note the two transistor identifications in the illustration showing keyed emitter, base and collector locations. 

The power board uses two transistors, a C1675 K6YC at the right side of the board (see photo above) and a C9013 H049 nearest the microphone. The circuit has one electret microphone input for voice operations and includes one coil, two transistors, two electrolytic capacitors, five ceramic disc capacitors, and five resistors. Not shown is a 9-volt battery clip and the antenna.

Verified leg identification ok

The antenna is only a few inches of wire which minimizes the range for initial testing, and limits use and range of reception to inside the lab room. The electronic project goal is an exampling in-house educational fully functional radio station. More tests will determine the range characteristics more precisely.
Note that some countries and municipalities allow short range transmitters of this type and some do not. Be sure to first check local laws and regulations before proceeding with the project.

The copper printed circuit side of the board with through hole leads ready for hot soldering

Ok to Use: MICRO Data/Japan data

The coil in combination with the parallel capacitor tunes the circuit to a frequency within the FM band.

Frequency trimming is accomplished by stretching or compressing the coil or modifying the value of the ceramic parallel 10 pF capacitor.

Initially the frequency should be in the range of 88 to 108 mHz on the FM band.

Warning - do NOT use USHA India/LGE leg positions

The radio station will have an identical twin backup system for service or parts to remain up and running as necessary.

The cost of the first set of parts is NT$132 (US$4.42) and the backup duplicate parts are NT$120 (US$4.00). Thus far, combined cost is US$8.42 for the hardware.

The transistor leg identification does not agree from one data sheet to the next. See diagrams.

Careful with data sheets for the 2sc1675 transistor as there are discrepancies between the TO92 and TO92b case versions. For example, the equivalent Panasonic 2sc 829 equal to 2sc 1675 as a substitute is in agreement with the transistor placement of emitter, collector, base, therefore this is the arrangement to use.

FM Radio Station Part 5 Index
http://humanoidolabs.blogspot.tw/2013/12/fm-radio-station-part-5-index.html

Brain Cortex Spirit Thermometer Install Part 47

Thermometer locates between two power units

BRAIN CORTEX SPIRIT THER- MOMETER INSTALL 

PART 47

Position black and red wires behind the thermometer

It's important to monitor the jar's core battery temperature status when recharging. This inexpensive and simple solution will do just that!

At the moment batteries become warm during the charging process, it's an indication the charging process is complete.

It may also indicate that the trickle charger is trickling too much and adjustment to the charging power grid is required.

Unit is next to the solar panel grid

This blog details the installation of a low cost small spirit thermometer inside the Brain Cortex jar. The thermometer is placed in a position, opposite the electric thermometer and lower in between two twin power units to read their heat signature.

The position of the single spirit thermometer is a drop down in between the corners of two twin power units.

The spirit filled traditional small thermometer has ~ -30 to +50 degree Centigrade scale, intended for food freezer use. The unit is part number G-590. The glass tube is the same length as a 1.5-volt D-size battery. 

It has a scale in one degree increments. The goal is to attach or place this thermometer to the proximity of a battery and monitor the charging temperature during the charging process, and continuously monitor the battery temperature to assure everything is nominal.

Accurate reading of the tiny scale may need a magnifier

The thermometer can stay mounted inside the jar, remaining with close contact with a single battery for continuous monitoring and inspections.

The analog temperature will be read through the transparent jar by visual inspection, as the unit is placed in contact with the interior transparent jar wall.

Early tests show the higher mounted electric thermometer reading 73 degrees Fahrenheit and the spirit thermometer, which contacts the jar floor, reading 72 degrees Fahrenheit, a nominal temperature difference of 1 degree due to the strata positioning.

Like other traditional thermometers of this type, there is no maintenance. Purchaed from a dollar store, at more than a dollar, the cost was NT$85. The thermometer may be purchased at this source: http://www.double-sun.com.tw

The spirit thermometer can be used in tandem with the electric thermometer, obtaining a cross gradient and cross section of battery and jar room temperature, for better assessment of the jar's Eco-environment.

Principle concern is for the electronics, especially the Parallax Propeller chip which is rated at a median temperature of 50 C during tests according the to specification sheet.

There is a meltdown jar temperature and this limit may be reached long before the Propeller chip upper limit is reached.

LINKS
Index to the Brain Cortex
http://humanoidolabs.blogspot.tw/2013/11/brain-cortex-index-part-16.html
Thermometers
http://humanoidolabs.blogspot.tw/2013/10/brain-cortex-thermometers-part-9.html
Electric Thermometer Source
http://www.double-sun.com.tw

Brain Cortex Power Wiring Part 45

BRAIN CORTEX POWER WIRING PART 45
ELECTRIC JUICE  It's time to attack the brain cortex wiring and complete this phase of the project. Let's get some electric juice going! The jar is home to the brain cortex. Every home needs electrical wiring and the brain's jar is no different. The electric juice will power the brain, lighting, speaker, and sensors.

Wire each twin power unit like this

The next step is wiring the power unit. In this procedure, the battery holders are removed and the ends (+ and -) black and red wires are connected together with yellow twists. Be consistent by connecting the wires on the right sides of the twin holders.

Snap in a size D battery into each battery holder.

Insert batteries outside of the jar

Initially we're using Zinc Carbon batteries (Philips LongLife R20).

Now cut four black wires and four green wires, each 5-inches long, and strip the ends. Connect these with yellow twists to the left side wires on the battery holders. Attach a small piece of Scotch tape to insulate

Taped ends prevents shorts

one end of each wire to prevent a short during the installation.

Measure the voltage of each twin power unit. Remember, a twin power unit equals two batteries and two battery holders connected together in series to obtain 3 volts. (The voltage of new batteries not under load

Finished wiring - test shows 3.13 volts

will be slightly higher than 3 volts.)

Reinstall all battery holders, remembering their correct positions to fit into the jar holes.

Gather up all the green wires, insert one 5" length of green solid wire, and twist the ends together with the  yellow twist. Repeat for the red wires. The two lengths of solid wire will connect to the solderless breadboard. Use a plastic clothes pin to hold all the ends together. Test again for voltage. In the test, the meter shows 3.13 volts for new Zinc-Carbon D cell batteries connected together. Note: during this procedure, the Solar Panel red and black wires are left floating. These may connect later to the solderless breadboard.

The Chinese yellow wire twists are sold in Taiwan, in a package of 20 for NT$20 obtained from the dollar store. The brand is manufactured under authority of Sellery Inc. California USA, and the DIY item number is TE-18. http://www.sellerytools.com  886-2-26103915

Note: The battery holders each have a red and black connection wire. Supply a 5-inch length of wire and connect it to the lowest wire nearest to the jar floor. This enables it to reach the top where similar colored wires connect together. 

Index to the Brain Cortex
http://humanoidolabs.blogspot.tw/2013/11/brain-cortex-index-part-16.html 

Brain Cortex Update Part 43

Brain Cortex is shaping up very nicely in November

BRAIN CORTEX UPDATE PART 43 

NOVEMBER 2013
The machine brain in a jar now is beginning to take shape, and includes the power mounts and the power solar panel ready for wiring. The new design uses a twin stacking of battery holders mounted directly onto the interior jar wall. Each series stack delivers 3 volts to the Propeller chip circuit.

It's time to wire the twin holders series connections

The next step is more testing and wiring phase I. It's uncertain as the extent of the control panel, or will the brain be entirely on auto pilot, managing itself.

The route of the control panel may include the voltage monitor, the temperature and humidity monitor, and various switchable modes between battery and solar panel operations, the status of charging, no charging, and various energy modes. Positioning the thermometer is critical to determine the battery supply heat level at all times inclusive of charging. Humidity will be monitored as part of the Desiccator which removes moisture from the air inside the jar.

A next step is wiring all right hand sides of the battery holders, joining black to white with a yellow twist. This produces the twin pack's series connection, creating three volts to operate the propeller chip. The space in the corners of the holders is available for additional battery holders. This could supply the digital meter that reads the power level.

ABOUT THE CORTEX
The cerebral cortex is the outermost layered structure of neural tissue of the cerebrum (brain), in humans and some other vertebrates. It covers the cerebrum, and is divided into two cortices, covering the left and right cerebral hemispheres. The medial longitudinal fissure is a deep groove that separates these two hemispheres. The cerebral cortex plays a key role in memory, attention, perceptual awareness, thought, language, and consciousness. It consists of up to six horizontal layers, each with a different composition in terms of neurons and connectivity. The human cerebral cortex is 2 to 4 millimetres (0.079 to 0.16 in) thick.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES
The project objective is to develop a cortex machine brain, demonstrate human-to-machine brain transfer, in particular to take some relatively simple human characteristics and transfer portions to the machine brain, whereby human traits could be given greater life longevity, leading towards immortality. 

LINKS & CREDITS
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerebral_cortex
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vertebrate
http://biology.about.com/od/anatomy/a/aa032505a.htm

BRAIN CORTEX INDEX
http://humanoidolabs.blogspot.tw/2013/11/brain-cortex-index-part-16.html

Brain Cortex Power Mounts Part 42

CORTEX BRAIN POWER MOUNTS PART 42
THE BRAIN IS POWER HUNGRY
The brain cortex in a jar power mounts consist of eight battery holders mounted directly on the inside jar. The mounts are four hardware assemblies to a single battery holder and include a half inch spacer, nut, bolt and three sealing washers to each. Thus far, the single battery holders are stacked twins. The jar has four geometrically mounted twins.

The 32 holes in the transparent polymer jar are not drilled but rather made with a hot soldering iron to do the melting. This is the best approach considered as hot glue would damage the jar, a mechanical drill is prone to scratching the jar, there's no easy method of scoring the surface for drilling, and a punch can easily tear the substrate.

Each assembled power unit is held in position inside the jar and from the outside, a hot soldering iron melts a tiny dot over the spacer end. The power unit is removed and the four holes are melted into the jar. Then, the power unit is mounted on the jar and process is repeated for seven others. (see illustration)

JAR CAVEAT
Be careful when handing the jar so as not to scratch the surface. As the jar is made of soft flexible plastic, it can easily scratch. 

BRAIN CORTEX INDEX
http://humanoidolabs.blogspot.tw/2013/11/brain-cortex-index-part-16.html

Brain Cortex Power Unit Part 40

Looking into the Brain Cortex Power Unit - eight times the energy in the new design can power not only the Cortex but could maintain a new instrument control panel and measuring devices. The Power Unit allows the brain to continue to stay alive, even when the solar panel trickle charger cuts out at night time.

BRAIN CORTEX POWER UNIT PART 40

One of four brain power distribution packs

MASSIVE POWER RIPS THROUGH THE CORTEX JAR

The powerful Brain Cortex Power Unit is now installed. This is modified to include four power distribution energy packs, each pack made up of two 1.5 volt D size cells in series to provide three volts. The four packs connect together in parallel to increase amperage by four

Single Philips 1.5 volt D battery ZnC

times and maintain a delivery of three volts to the electrics. The power unit takes up half the space of the larger 3 liter Taiwan pet jar.

Power holders are stacked with the opposite polarity ends mounted closest together for wiring. With four sets of twin stacking, enough space is available (after mounting the solar panel) to add another one pack. With a custom mount behind the solar panel, perhaps two packs could be added.

Keeping the packs limited to four gives maximum space for the electric brain cortex board and could allow a two or more board stacked design in the future.

Index to the Brain Cortex
http://humanoidolabs.blogspot.tw/2013/11/brain-cortex-index-part-16.html

Brain Cortex Prepare Battery Holders Part 35

BRAIN CORTEX PREPARE BATTERY HOLDERS PART 35

STEP 1
To prepare each of the ten D-size battery holders, obtain phenolic washers, 3/16th-inch long brass spacers, and bolts. The spacers are the shortest size that will allow a bolt to fit with 2 washers. Each holder has four holes. The project will need 40 spacers, 80 phenolic washers and 40 bolts. Insert a bolt, washer into each mounting hole, then add a washer and screw, on the spacer. Repeat for all forty holes in the ten battery holders. Loosely tighten.

STEP 2
Loosen each spacer and bolt, and move it up as high as possible, farthest to the edge of the battery holder, then tighten. This will ensure all battery holders have spacers in the same symmetrical place. Now tighten each bolt into the spacer but not too tight or the plastic holder could break over time. You want it snug but not too tight to cause undue stress.

The next step is for the next part installment, mounting the holders inside the jar.

NEW DESIGN
The holders will now rest at the bottom of the jar to provide stability. It was decided that mounting heavy D size batteries solely on the side of the thin plastic jar without any additional weight support would unduly stress the jar wall and possibly cause damage (flexing, warping, cracking, tearing, stressing). With part of the bottom of each battery holder resting on the jar floor, a portion of the weight is distributed and wall stress is reduced significantly. This causation will result in a desiccator redesign.

BACKGROUND
The circuit is designed to run on 3 volts. Each holder will hold one 1.5-volt battery. There are ten holders which will series connect in twos to provide 3 volts. Batteries are 1.5-volts each. The 5 series connected sets of batteries will connect together in parallel.

LINKS
Brain Cortex Solar Panel Part 3http://humanoidolabs.blogspot.tw/2013/10/brain-cortex-part-2-solar-panel.html
 
Brain Cortex Machine Batteries Part 4 
http://humanoidolabs.blogspot.tw/2013/10/brain-cortex-machine-part-4-batteries.html

Brain Cortex Index Part 16 
http://humanoidolabs.blogspot.tw/2013/11/brain-cortex-index-part-16.html

ABOUT THE MACHINE CORTEX BRAIN PROJECT
The project objective is to develop a cortex machine brain, demonstrating human-to-machine brain transfer, in particular to take some relatively simple human characteristics and transfer portions to the machine brain, whereby human traits could be given greater life longevity, leading towards immortality.

Brain Cortex Solar Cells Part 21

BRAIN CORTEX SOLAR CELL POWER & CHARGING PART 21
Put together solar cells to match a battery pack for charging. The number of cells can determine voltage and supplied amperage. The acquisition of an additional panel for the cortex project enables more brains. Two panels, both 3-volt, have capacities of 60 and 120 mA. Series and parallel combinations are possible to drive a load at 3 or 6 volts and to charge batteries to balance battery pack mAh values. In particular, the 60 mA panel is useful for trickle charging. Although the estimated draw of the Cortex is around 30 mA, the actual value could run much higher depending on cog usage. More tests are in the works.

US$10.31 3v @ 120 mA   $.09 per mA
US$06.04 3v @ 060 mA   $.10 per mA

When using a solar panel for charging batteries, use a blocking Schottky 58117 diode to prevent the solar panel from drawing power from the batteries when there is no light.

Two panels will drive a low power 3 volt Propeller circuit and a 6 volt sensor circuit.

The small single solar panel will drive a smaller brain cortex with one Propeller chip.

Index to the Brain Cortex
http://humanoidolabs.blogspot.tw/2013/11/brain-cortex-index-part-16.html

Brain Cortex Time Travel Part 12

Can machine jar brains time travel?

HOW TO TIME TRAVEL
USING A BRAIN CORTEX

WHAT ABOUT THE CARE AND FEEDING OF THE CORTEX BRAIN IN A JAR?

The Lab has studied many techniques of time travel which encompass the construction of powerful gravity harmonic machines, traveling faster than one tenth the speed of light, working within the proximity of a black, and utilizing quantum effects to gain access to the future by dilating time at the subatomic level.

FOUR METHODS OF TIME TRAVEL
Yet, there is a another method to travel through time, often discounted and overlooked by scholars. If the traversing of time is at the rate of 1X, then any perceptible vessel or entity, living or not, will endure the ravishes of time travel.

PROPELLING INTO THE FUTURE Barring catastrophic devastation and dilapidation, an object, machine, or person can be propelled into the far distant future by simply taking and passing one day at a time. Nothing new you say? Not quite. With new machines that have greater longevity, and some on the verge of perpetual life or immortality, travel into the far distant future may become a reality a lot soon than we expect.

ADVANCES IN SCIENCE ALONG THE WAY
Don't discount increases in longevity due to advances in medical science and curing disease, repairing cells, and advancing medicine through nanotechnology. Additionally a greater understanding of AI and machine intelligence will enable longer living machines. Such may be the case with the Lab's current project, the Brain Cortex.

ENERGY
The cortex is designed to live longer by self sustaining battery technology, however, we are working on an energy source to replace the batteries to improve energy source longevity and reduce any schedule of maintenance. Currently the source is trickle charged automatically through the use of indoor solar cells. The cortex could, conceivably live much longer than average electronic devices.

INCREASING CHIP LONGEVITY
To increase chip longevity, we've installed an array of various capacitive circuits, including decouplers and filters, and wired crisscross power circuits. The distribution is smoothed and we've made it easy to replace batteries at the end of life cycle, perhaps one or two years. We also anticipate future technology upgrades, all of which contribute to greater longevity.

YOUR ROLE OF KNOWLEDGE IMPARTATION
As the project is designed to impart your knowledge and personality into the cortex, i.e. duplicating it, and induce an amount of longevity greater than a human life span that will cause a small part of you to live longer. When the machine achieves immortality, a small part of you will also. This cycle can time travel far into the distant future.

CAVEATS
The real caveat is when you die and someone throws away your cortex jar in the garbage. People around you will need the proper information so they know the value of the cortex and what to do with the jar when you are no longer around. One option is having it donated to a brain science institute where human brain research is being conducted by people and scientists with similar interests, though this is no guarantee. They'll need to know there is a small part of you saved in the jar, and your wish is to have the jar kept, maintained and preserved, and handed down from human generation to human generation.

HOW FAR INTO THE FUTURE? How far into the future will this technique allow a machine to travel? We don't know exactly. It's likely something will become obsolete, like batteries, or the polymer substance will degenerate in a couple hundred years, but with proper maintenance and replacements, the cortex could live on.

ELECTRONIC BRAIN CORTEX IN A JAR
THINGS TO INCREASE TRAVEL FARTHER INTO THE FUTURE

* Autonomous functioning
* Self renewing power souce
* Minimal maintenance
* Seldom requires maintenance
* Multiple backups of programming code
* Backups stored on multiple media sources including paper printouts
* Method to replace and upgrade batteries
* Methods to test the cortex over time to assess its health
* Sensors for temperature, humidity, battery condition, voltage
* Maintenance and proper use of recharging solar cells.
* Backup processors and hardware components kept with jar
* Instruction manual on use and maintenance
* Owners will and testimony to jar cortex keeping
* Safe keeping to prevent catastrophic events
* Periodic check periods
* Hardware backups to include the jar, board, holders, etc.

Brain Cortex Index Part 16

Brain Cortex Round Robin Part 8

Testing different battery holder designs

BRAIN CORTEX ROUND ROBIN PART 8  
More cells and a new design

1) A new design separates the twin battery cell holders. Each battery now has its own individually mountable cell which permits more centralized space in the 3-liter jar and takes advantage of the curvature space rather than wasting it behind the battery holder.

2) Each cell hold is mounted up off the floor to make space for the jar desiccator and its contents. The jar now holds a total of ten batteries. This is backed down from the previously reported 12 batteries to more effectively use space.

3) Ten D size cells make up the total pack of batteries. There are of five sets of two batteries to a set. Each set provides 3 volts. Five sets are wired in parallel. One alkaline battery is rated at 12,000 mAh. Two batteries in series have the same rating. Five sets (10 batteries) are rated at 60,000 mAh. At 30 mA drain, this gives 2,000 hours or 83.3 twenty four hour days of service (about 3.3 months).

4) Initially, rechargeable zinc carbon batteries are planned for use. One battery gives 8,000 mAh. Two batteries in series have the same rating. Five sets (10 batteries) are rated at 40,000 mAh. At 30 mA drain, this gives 1,333.3 hours or 55.6 twenty four hour days of service (about 1.9 months).

5) The above statistics do not include charging information, which keeps batteries in operation for a much longer period of time, usually the life of the battery, which could be a year or two with some battery types.

6) The value of 30 mA drain is currently an estimation of the Propeller circuit and program draw, and excludes the LED light and speaker. Further testing is needed to establish a more accurate current drain value for the chip's thinking and texting level. This will slightly vary depending on the program statements initiated.

7) Cost for a single cell battery holder from Taiwan is NT$10 and a two cell holder is NT$15.

— our project is to develop and demonstrate a machine brain transfer, in particular to accept some relatively simple characteristics of a human brain, such as limited personality or knowledge, and transfer portions to a machine brain, whereby those characteristics could be given life longevity far exceeding that of the original human, and perhaps establishing an idea of immortality —  

Identify Battery Type

IDENTIFY BATTERY TYPE
Go to the store and buy a handful of batteries. The strangest thing is that most of the batteries are not marked with the type or chemical composition. So how do we identify these batteries?

Check the number on the battery and web search it. Sometimes the name only will find it. Most shelf batteries fall into one of several types. The types are typically listed below along with some common examples.

1) Alkaline - Energizer E95 (1.5V), Duracell
2) Zinc Carbon - Philips R20 LongLife (1.5V)
3) Manganese - Panasonic NEO R20NT (1.5V)
4) NiCd
5) Lithium Ion
6) Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) - Energizer Rechargeable
7) Mercury (obsolete)
8) Lead Acid (discontinued)

Brain Cortex Update Part 6

BRAIN CORTEX
PROJECT
UPDATE
PART 6

SUNDAY OCTOBER 27 2013







IN THIS EDITION!
* BATTERY SIZE
* BATTERY COMPOSITION
* JAR SIZE
* MODULE ARRANGEMENT
* BATTERY CAPACITY CHART 
* BOE DECISION

JOIN US AS WE BUILD a real live electric brain cortex. The cortex lives in a tiny home inside a hermetically sealed jar, eating and dining on continuous power, and can talk to the outside world. You can make the cortex your friend and teach it about life. It will learn from you and maybe carry on some your knowledge from generation to generation.

To assure uninterrupted flow of energy to the hungry and continuously dining Cortex, the use of tiny and weak AA batteries was dropped. In place, a series of more massive supply energy capable D size cells are now in use. A single D cell provides 12,000 mAh while the AA cell is only 2,700. The use of four D size cells wired to give 3 volts to the Propeller powered Brain Cortex will supply a full 24,000 mAh.

2) As a result of switching to more massive D size cells, the one liter jar is no longer large enough. The project is examining a 3 liter jar for current use.

3) The use of super capacitors is currently dropped in the overall design due to their unavailability.

4) The arrangement of modules inside the brain is paramount. The solar cells must be at the front. Two sets of large batteries cling to 90 degree opposing sides. The back and bottom are being examined for non-obstructed attachment without battery insertion and removal interference. Switching to jars larger than one liter, such as the three liter jar, has opened up possibilities for other module arrangements.

5) It's noted that other composition batteries cells don't provide the full 1.5 volts and combining two batteries would be insufficient to operate the Propeller chip for the defined term. For this reason, and for the common availability, alkaline batteries were selected.

6) A decision is made to switch from BOE ON to BOE OFF. With the BOE Brown Out Enable switch off, the cortex will operate on lower power as the battery has less voltage during the night. With BOE ON, when the voltage supply approaches 2.7 volts, a Propeller reset will occur. If at all possible, a reset condition is exactly what we want to avoid. For wiring, see the link below.

http://humanoidolabs.blogspot.tw/2013/08/propeller-simple-spin-board-part-6.html 

http://humanoidolabs.blogspot.tw/2013/07/propeller-simple-spin-board-part-2.html

DISABLE THE BROWNOUT DETECTOR

In this first modification to the Propeller Simple Spin Board, the connection from BOEn to Ground is removed. Insert a new connection between BOEn and Vdd. This will disable the brownout detector by connecting it to high, and prevent the board from resetting at 2.7 volts or less. (not shown on schematic) 

I can't seem to disable brown out detection, if I connect BOEn to Vdd even at 3.3v the Prop won't do anything.
 
Put an external pullup on RST (a 220 ohm resistor from RST to VDD).

When BOE Brown Out Enable is grounded, the Propeller chip has an internal pullup activated. When BOE is held high, the internal pullup is not active, and an external pullup is required on RST to restore functioning.

TYPICAL CAPACITY OF BATTERIES (UNITS IN MAH)
 
AAA size, 1,200 alkaline, 540 carbon–zinc, 800–1,000 NiMH

AA, 2,700 alkaline, 1,100 carbon–zinc, 3,000 Li–FeS2, 1,700–2900 NiMH, 600–1000 NiCd

C BATTERY, 8,000 alkaline, 3,800 carbon–zinc, 4,500–6,000 NiMH

D BATTERY, 12,000 alkaline, 8,000 carbon–zinc, 2,200–12,000 NiMH

9 VOLT, 565 alkaline, 400 carbon‑zinc, 1,200 lithium, 175–300 NiMH

120 NiCd, 500 lithium polymer rechargeable, 580 mercury, obsolete

Brain Cortex Index Part 16

Brain Cortex Part 5 - Modules

Looking through the transparent jar, the beginning of the intelligent Brain Cortex life form is taking shape. Seen is the Propeller brain circuit prototyped on a solderless breadboard with a speaker and LED for testing. At top right is a 3 volt 120 mA solar panel that charges the batteries and possibly a super super cap energy system. At bottom is a package of desiccant silica gel to prevent moisture from forming in the jar. In the circuit, to compensate for the wide range of fluctuation voltages (over time), the Propeller chip's BOE (Brown Out Enable) must be disabled. Not shown, batteries, super super capacitor and solar panel switching circuits.

BRAIN CORTEX MODULES
PART 5

The LIVING Brain Cortex is now congealing together in the form of modules, which includes the cortex board, solar collector, desiccator system, battery supply, and a super super capacitor by design. The cortex board includes crystal regulation, long term EEPROM memory, a USB interface (Prop Plug), LED and speaker. The latter two are for preliminary testing.


— the brain cortex is a living machine based on the Parallax Propeller chip, designed to think, converse, learn, remember, and ask questions. With maintenance, the cortex could outlive humans —

The modules are being arranged as some will set on the home jar floor, and some will attach to jar walls. The cortex board could attach behind the jar label with the solar panel on the opposite wall. The battery supply will attach on the jar floor due to its weight and the desiccator will set somewhere in between. Modules will mount on precut sections of green transparent board using spaces which in turn will mount on various sections of the internal sides of the jar.

BATTERY UPDATE
The 1.5 volt AA battery has been replaced with a more energy efficient 1.5 volt D size. Two of these will provide 3 volts to the Propeller chip.

Brain Cortex Machine Part 4 - Batteries

BRAIN CORTEX MACHINE
BATTERIES - PART 4
BOOT YOUR BATTERY OR GIVE IT THE BOOT?

A market survey of batteries in common stores will reveal the banning of lead acid batteries and the proliferation of alkaline batteries. Reading up on the care and feeding (recharging) of a variety of finicky batteries is complicated and sometimes confusing.

THE FINICKY BATTERY
How many times did a trusty rechargeable battery go dead in your lifetime? A battery is not a simple thing to maintain. It needs levels of charge, specific voltages, specific currents, and specific charging times. It requires a charging cycle involved with timing variants that cannot be too much or too little, too frequent or too infrequent. Plus, to add to the confusion, no two batteries are exactly alike.

UNENDING MISERY HAS COMPANY
It doesn't end there. Nickel metal hydride and nicad batteries have memory, so trying to trickle charge these is either impossible with simple charging or it becomes a complicated set of rules to follow with a smart programmed charger that can not only recharge batteries but sense their condition as well. Even more complicated is that devices drain batteries at different rates and different batteries may drain at different rates even with the same machine.

MAINTAINING BATTERIES
Batteries must also be maintained. Overcharge, undercharge, and the frequency of charging all effect the battery life. Charging may never reach the full capacity of the battery, depending on its age life cycle. Environment is also a factor as batteries can give up the ship when the temperature drops to freezing temps in winter.

NEW TECHNOLOGY SUPER CAP
The dream is to perhaps toss the battery altogether and use another technology like a super super capacitor that can hold a large enough amount of energy so that it can be drained over several days. However, these are often quoted as having the ability to last only minutes or seconds!

SUPER CAP LONGEVITY
We determined the longevity (time in which it can deliver useable power) of a massive super capacitor using calculus dv/dt = i/c. At .03 amps and rounding to 3 volts for the Propeller chip, a 100 F super capacitor can provide only 2.7 hours of drain, while a 500 F super capacitor is more practical at 13 hours. Two of these capacitors in tandem could indeed help the Cortex make it through the night without solar power, providing the caps are fully charged during the day and the batteries have full reserves.

CORTEX REQUIREMENTS
Our requirements are to supply some charging energy from a solar panel that may have periods of lessened energy during the day (as if the sun went behind clouds, or more realistically, a light was turned off inside a room.

During the night, the machine will draw energy and the solar panel will automatically disengage. The battery, or super super capacitor must have enough energy to survive the night. In this situation, we set the bar at 2 days reserve.

TRI LEVEL ENERGY SYSTEM
Now considered is a tri level energy system. The TRI POWER includes the solar cells, super super capacitor, and batteries. Room lighting will activate the solar panel and trickle charge the super capacitor which helps maintain the battery during the night.

CHARGING COMMON ALKALINE
A number of sources describe charging common alkaline batteries, but this is complicated too, as its important to sense the heat level of the battery to ascertain when the charge cycle should be completed. This does not fit into a simple charging scheme.

CONCLUSION
It's still up in the air as to which battery type will work the best with a simple charging system. Alkaline is most common, yet the availability of Nickel Metal Hydride is still a consideration. Lithium Ion has charging requirements that are not met by the solar panel. Lead acid batteries are not available in the size required. Yet, energy supplied to the Cortex must be constant, reliable, or the brain will die and cease to function. This is why the consideration is now from three electric sources - solar, capacitive, and battery. Solar is renewable energy and the capacitor can store it and release it over time. The challenge is now finding a suitable battery.

Brain Cortex Index Part 16