Supercapacitor Earrings

These earrings hold a hybrid supercapacitor instead of a battery. A quick charge over USB-C and they glow for hours. This page covers everything you need to get started and keep them happy for years.

Quick start

  1. Unlock. The button is locked during shipping. Connect the earrings to a USB-C charger and the button unlocks.
  2. Charge. Use a USB-C cable and any 5 V USB power supply. The green LEDs on the front show how full it is. When they are all lit, you are at about 90%.
  3. Press the button to pick a mode (see below).
Locking the button again. Before storing or shipping, hold the button down while you unplug the cable from the earrings (with the other end still in the charger). This stops them from switching on by accident.

Modes

A short click of the button moves to the next mode:

Mode selection diagram
  1. Single, clockwise
  2. Single, counterclockwise
  3. Single, both directions
  4. Single, split
  5. Double, clockwise
  6. Double, split
  7. Double, counterclockwise
  8. Triple, clockwise
  9. Triple, counterclockwise
  10. All the same color
  11. All mixing colors
  12. Demo mode

Charging and battery life

The earrings are very energy efficient. Most modes run for up to 30 hours on one charge. The two “all” modes (same color and mixing colors) run for up to 10 hours.

Once the earrings are 100% charged, the charging circuit switches itself off, and so does the red LED on the back. So you don’t have to worry about leaving them on the charger a little too long.

Storing your earrings

  • Charge them fully first, otherwise the voltage can drop too low and damage the capacitor.
  • Keep them somewhere dry and at room temperature. Never leave them in a hot place like a car.
  • Lock the button (see above) before you put them away.

About the power source

Your piece runs on a hybrid supercapacitor (a lithium-ion capacitor, or LIC) instead of a coin cell battery. It charges quickly, lasts for years, and is safer and more rugged than a rechargeable battery: it doesn’t catch fire or explode. If it is ever stressed too much, it simply vents a harmless puff of air through the top.

  • A built-in backup charging system keeps current and voltage within the safe limits of the capacitor.
  • Unlike regular supercapacitors, an LIC must stay above 2.5 V. Charge it fully before you store it for a long time.
  • Keep it away from liquids and metal (conductive) objects. A fast discharge shortens its life.
  • When you are done with it, recycle it with your normal household electronics. You do not need to take the capacitor out.

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