i have 4 supercapacitor rated at 3v 50F each and connected in series.. i used 1n4148 diode for voltage balancing supercapacitor bank. i use 12v 1A as a power supply to charge the supercapacitor bank and the diode get very hot.. any solution?

 

Hello,

Can you draw a schematic of your set-up?
The 1N4148 is a small signal diode capable of 100 mA.
An 1N4001 would be more capable.

Bertus

 

i have 4 supercapacitor rated at 3v 50F each and connected in series.. i used 1n4148 diode for voltage balancing supercapacitor bank. i use 12v 1A as a power supply to charge the supercapacitor bank and the diode get very hot.. any solution?

Yes use a 1N54007 instead. ..

 

show the circuit... supply may only be capable of 1A but capacitors store energy and much higher currents could be possible. 1N4148 is a signal diode for low current. 1N4007 is a generic rectifier for up to 1A and may be underrated as well.

 

show the circuit... supply may only be capable of 1A but capacitors store energy and much higher currents could be possible. 1N4148 is a signal diode for low current. 1N4007 is a generic rectifier for up to 1A and may be underrated as well.

All the comments are correct.You are passing way too much current through that diode. and a 1N400x diode would be running toward it's max limit as well. Besides that, with the diode across the cap you are putting too much voltage across it as well. Several companies make voltage balancing IC devices that will do the task correctly, a simple diode will not.