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PICAXE-08 ALARM PROJECT
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© copyright 2002 - AXE102 Alarm Student Project Notes Version 1.1
Revolution Education Ltd. Email: [email protected] Web: www.rev-ed.co.uk
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B
ATTERIES
What is a battery?
A battery is a self-contained source of electronic
energy. It is a portable power supply.
Batteries contain chemicals that store energy.
When connected into a circuit this chemical
energy is converted to electrical energy that can
then power the circuit.
Which battery size should I use?
Batteries come in all sorts of types and sizes. Most
battery packs are made up of a number of 'cells',
and each cell provides about 1.5V. Therefore 4 cells
will generate a 6V battery and 3 cells a 4.5V battery.
As a general rule, the larger the battery the longer it
will last (as it contains more chemicals and so will
be able to convert more energy). A higher voltage
battery does not last longer than a lower voltage
battery. Therefore a 6V battery pack made up of 4
AA cells will last much longer than a 9V PP3 battery, as it contains a larger total amount
of chemical energy as it is physically larger. Therefore items that require more power to
work (e.g. a CD walkman which contains a motor and laser to read the CD's) will always
use AA cells rather than PP3 batteries.
Microcontrollers generally require 3 to 6V to work, and so it is better to use a battery
pack made up of three or four AA size cells. Never use a 9V PP3 battery as the 9V supply
will damage the microcontroller.
Which battery type should I use?
Different batteries are made of different chemicals. Zinc-carbon batteries are the
cheapest, and are quite suitable for many microcontroller circuits. Alkaline batteries are
more expensive, but will last much longer when driving devices like motors that require
larger currents. Lithium batteries are much more expensive but have a long life, and so
are commonly used in computer circuits to provide a clock backup.
Rechargeable batteries can be recharged when they 'run-down'. They are generally made
up of nickel and cadmium (Ni-cad) or nickel metal hydroxide (NiMH) chemicals.
3V
