This project develops a precise method to measure battery pack longevity when powering electroluminescent (EL) panels of varying sizes. A photodiode connected to an analog input monitors panel brightness, while a custom-built timer tracks the duration of illumination. The system features buttons for pausing, starting, and resetting the clock, which measures hours, minutes, and seconds of battery life. This setup enables accurate assessment of how different EL panel surface areas affect battery performance, providing crucial data for optimizing power management in EL applications.
The research was specifically conducted to gather data for the Crowd Supply Tinko project. The EL panels used are VynEL, which are iron-on and water-resistant. The combination of VynEL panels and Tinko technology facilitates easy and seamless integration into wearable designs. https://www.crowdsupply.com/daedal-technologies-llc/tinko-hush (btw, I need subscribers!)

For build details and programming files: https://hackaday.io/project/198180-el-panel-battery-duration-test-device