Snip, Snip

> One of the interesting things that shows up in the article is that there
> seem to be quite a few different technologies in use.  The AVX "BestCaps"
> apparently have a solid electrolyte, for instance.  The Powerstore cells
are
> based on carbon aerogels (while most of the others are based on
"activated"
> carbon?)  Tadarian already offers a lithium battery with integrated
supercap
> for 'pulsed' power applications.
>
> I guess it's been about 20 years since the very-high capacitance
capacitors
> started to appear, but it looks like significant progress is still being
> made.  I'll bet the capabilities continue to improve for some time, and
the
> line between batteries and capacitors continues to blur...
>
> BillW
>
Since this string started I have been looking for a recent article in one of
the
tech mags....with no success. I believe it was "Electronics Weekly",
however, in an over-enthusiastic cleanout I find they have been consigned to
File 13.

Anyway the thing that stuck in my braincell was the remark that supercaps
were now being developed for use in alternative car technologies instead of
conventional batteries due to the superior characteristics of the new
devices.

Previously I had considered these devices as only capable of providing their
stored energy at low currents. This delusion was recently (and rapidly)
revised when I was recovering useful components from a terminally defective
VCR. I accidentally placed the soldering iron across the leads of a 1.2 volt
1F capacitor, the BANG and spark was sufficient to cause a very robust
reaction.

After that painful experience (I threw myself off the stool I was sitting
on - backwards) I now treat these devices with respect. And these can be
over 10 years old.

Chris

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