Boards automatically balance leakage current in supercapacitor series stacks

Advanced Linear Devices of universal PCBs are designed to automatically balance leakage currents and manage over-voltage, enabling ultra-low power usage in supercapacitors used in a series stack. Digi-Key has immediate availability for these boards. The board uses ALD's SAB MOSFETs to balance the leakage current in each individual supercapacitor cell, even for cells of 3000 Farad (F) or more. The PCB is designed to allow system engineers to test, evaluate, prototype, or use in production products. Supercapacitor balancing is required by cell manufacturers when used in stacks of two or more. Balancing manages over-voltage limits, a main cause of product failures. Additionally, the SAB MOSFET's PCB balancing technology reduces leakage current, enabling ultra-low power operation. Each device in the family provides a superior circuit design alternative to passive or active balancing methods by offering automatic active leakage current regulation and a space and cost-saving alternative to op-amp based balancing schemes. Engineering testing shows the ALD method of cell balancing extends the product life of stacked caps. Industries such as energy harvesting, transportation, back-up power and automation applications are beginning to include supercapacitors.