SJRC - Super Joule Ringer Charger. A new breed is born

[Peanutbutter29]

First, I want to again thank Lasersaber and his Super Joule Ringer 2.0 design.  This would not be possible without that design being offered. 

Introducing the SJRC!!  Super Joule Ringer Charger!
I have uploaded a video of a 1.0 version of the SJRC I'm happy with.  I'm separating this in terms of a different circuit, as it bares little resemblance and function to the original LS design. 

This circuit, will drive 7 - 7.5w 120v LED's at a measured 85% brightness AND charge batteries at the same time!!!  All the aspects are shown in the video and I've included  a current schematic with all the values.  I must point out that the shown values are totally "tuned" for 7 bulbs and this will not work "exactly" the same otherwise.  Caps across the Pri and Sec are Required and L3 must be a certain value based on load.  I mention cap values for 1 bulb and no L3 is needed. 

I only had batteries to charge 3.7 and 9v currently so I'll get more cells to find the optimal charge Voltage for batteries (guessing 48v range). 

I'm happy with this circuit as it runs very efficiently, near full output, dual function of charging and all for 18.2w!? So, 7 x 400 (-25 for error) Lumens = 2800 total lumens for 18.2w ---153 lumens per watt!!  That's even with Cree's newest and world's most efficient LED.  But we can charge batteries too!?!?
Hope this helps someone replicate or find more improvements to this.

Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCfeuzMyfdI&feature=youtu.be

Thanks, PB

[e2matrix]

That's not quite current and correct on Cree's highest efficiency as they have up around 254 Lumen's per watt.    At least that's what they've had roughly in the lab for over a year.  In production units the last I checked are around 180 Lumens per watt.  I haven't checked all their models but that was the last I heard a few months ago on the XM-L.  I've got one of those in a U-bin (their highest BIN) and it is extremely bright when running around 9 or 10 watts.  It's easily like a 60 watt bulb equivalent. 

And a comment about efficiency of this latest overall circuit Lasersaber has.  The actual LED's in these units are likely XM-L models unless they are using multiple LED's.  Nearly all high power LED's like these run on roughly 3.5 to 4 volts.   The circuitry inside those bulbs needs to take 120 VAC down to that much lower DC voltage and so in that process you lose some efficiency.  Which is to say when you take that into account this is even more amazing to see that much light out of this setup. 

I think this latest circuit from LS is definitely worth looking more at.   Have you put a scope on the output to the batteries being charged?  Just curious what that output looks like.  Apologize if this is shown in your vid and as I didn't have time to watch it all right now. 

[e2matrix]

BTW how much are they getting for those LED bulbs?  From Lowe's?

[Peanutbutter29]

@E2matrix, ty for your comments.

I hadn't seen that Cree's R@D is up to 250Lm/W in the lab.  You are off a bit on Cree though.  The XM-L are 100Lumens per watt and the highest currently available for purchase.  http://ledsupply.com/creexml.php
Their next improvement, which got the US Govt. award for exceeding 150 Lumens per watt.  The MG-T is just above this, but is NOT available for purchase.  This was listed on their site, first, in June of 2011. 
  This newest claim they have for 256 lumens per watt was added to their site, appx, 19 days ago.  I apologize for not seeing this most recent news.  However, since we still can't buy the MG-T, it will be a couple years before the SC technology hits the market. 

I fully understand that these bulbs have an internal circuit and am using that to an ADVANTAGE;  rather than a loss.  This is similar for the Choke, L3.  As for the LED's in the buld, I would HIGHLY doubt they are XM-L's;   as Cree bulbs are a little salty and not as reliable as Philips  (walmart of LEDS).   This is why they are not preferred where spectrum, Lux and PAR are most important;  Marine SPS corals.


Last here, I wanted to note, that I separated this circuit design from LS as it bears NO similarity;  in operation or functionality.  The only remaining item is a single connection.  LS, circuit is designed to run without ANY other parts and only self-oscillate.   Adding a base bias, as I'd first done,  is NOT a new circuit;  so still LS design (this is like a paint job for the circuit).  However, at this point, Requiring the caps, L3, charge circuit, bias, and NOT ever being "self-oscillative" (no base resistor);  this cannot be considered the same. 
 
IDK, I just wanted to put this out for others to possibly utilize.  I had to fight with my friends to even list this;  being patentable and marketable n' such.  I've stated before I'm not a business man and don't care about making money, so I'm just offering this up.

Hope this helps,
Thanks

Oh, the bulbs were 10% off at lowes, so 17.99 ea.  Walmart 7.5w LED's are cheaper (around 15) but I haven't tried "tuning" with those.


EDIT: the LED's in these bulbs are around 65 Lumens per watt, another confirmation of NOT being Cree's.  7.5w@490Lu = 65 Lumens per watt.  Adding in circuit loss the LED's are probably 70 Lumens per watt.  So, this circuit is getting 2x rated LED efficiency.  IF the LED circuit was a LOSS then it would be less than 70lpw.

  If we apply the same assumption as current and assuming I can "tune" to the new bulbs;  A bulb of 250 Lumens per watt, should provide 500 Lumens per watt;  if added to this circuit.   I'll be anxious when they get these better bulbs out in a year or two for sure!

[e2matrix]

Thanks for the additional info.  I didn't realize this was that different the LS's latest.  I haven't looked that closely at LS's.  It's really not that important compared to what you are doing here but my sources say the Cree XM-L T6 has a max. efficacy (I may have used the word efficiency which was wrong initially) of 160 lumens per watt and was released in April 2010.  They also say Cree had 231 Lumens per watt in the lab since the middle of last year and like you said more recently up to a bit over 250 lumens / watt.  I've been following Cree between about 2006 when they first broke on the scene to outstrip Luxeon and until about a year ago when I didn't follow them so closely any more but it seems about every 6 months we will be looking at higher efficacy LED's and more power.  Some are saying the efficacy may top out around 300 Lumens per watt though (at least until something entirely new comes along) so we still have a lot to look forward to in terms of getting more light for our pennies

If I had read your first post a bit more carefully I would have seen it was different.  I was flying by so fast this AM I didn't even catch that it was a charger vs. a self oscillating light setup.  I actually built one of Lasersaber's early Joule Ringers and had a lot of fun with that.  I was getting several minutes run off of just the cap.   Thanks again for sharing this interesting setup!