How do you use a supercap?

[technix]

I have a few supercaps lying in my parts bin, 0.47F 2.5V type. What can I do with them?

I know that for higher capacitances (2kF 2.5V or so) I can create a spot welder of my own using a bank of supercaps and a high current MOSFET or thyristor. But 0.47F is too wimpy for that.

What can I do with it? Can it be used in place of a coin cell battery for the 1.8V RTC power rail of a chip? If so, how?

[Zero999]

Yes, they can be used in back up applications but the amount of energy stored is tiny, compared to a battery of a comparable size.

[5321488]

Look up the joule thief circuit if you are in to the battery style applications of super-caps

[technix]

Look up the joule thief circuit if you are in to the battery style applications of super-caps

Hey I created the "regulated Joule Thief" shown in Wikipedia...

[kakabouras]

A couple of years ago I participated in a university/industry research project where supercapacitors are used in storing energy generated during the descent/braking phase of elevators. The stored energy is returned to the electrical network during the ascent phase.
The concept demonstrator had supercaps occupying a volume of more than half cubic meter.