ER + pulse capacitor solutions for wireless and pulse-load devices
Hybrid power for devices with RF transmission or other short high-current pulses, sized against your load profile rather than a current rating.
Devices that transmit in short bursts draw far more current than their average consumption suggests. In those conditions a Li-SOCl₂ cell can show a voltage drop at the moment of the pulse. A hybrid configuration pairs an ER cell with an HPC or HLC pulse capacitor so that the capacitor supplies the pulse and the cell supplies the energy over time. Whether a hybrid configuration is the right answer — and how it should be sized — depends on the load profile, not on the current rating alone.
What we ask before proposing a configuration
| Parameter | Why it decides the configuration |
|---|---|
| Application / device | Sets the operating environment and the design direction |
| Working current | The baseline load the cell has to carry |
| Peak current | The current the device draws during transmission or start-up |
| Pulse duration | How long each pulse lasts — determines pulse energy |
| Pulse frequency | How often the pulse occurs — determines recovery time and repeat load |
| Cut-off voltage | The lowest voltage the device can still operate at |
Typical configurations
- Single ER cell + pulse capacitor — for compact devices where the RF transmission pulse has to be evaluated against cell and capacitor together.
- Multiple ER cells + pulse capacitor — where capacity, pulse demand and mechanical space all matter.
- Custom leads, tabs, connectors and mounting — the mechanical side of the same project, specified to your drawing.
What we do not claim
We do not state that a given cell supports a specific peak current, or that adding a capacitor resolves every voltage-drop case, until the configuration has been evaluated for your pulse duration, frequency, temperature and cut-off voltage. Evaluations are made against your values and, where relevant, supported by test results.
Questions
Why do I need to give pulse duration and frequency if I already gave the peak current?
Because the same peak current lasts for microseconds in one device and milliseconds in another, and the recovery time between pulses changes how much the cell is asked to deliver. Peak current alone does not determine whether a hybrid configuration is needed.
Why does the voltage drop during RF transmission?
A current pulse draws energy faster than the cell’s chemistry can deliver it at the terminals, so the terminal voltage falls during the pulse. The question is whether it falls below your device’s cut-off voltage — which is why we ask for that value.
Is a hybrid configuration always better?
No. For devices with modest pulses, a single cell may be sufficient. The configuration follows the load profile, not a default preference.