Solid state electrical device that converts the energy of light directly into electricity by the photovoltaic effect.
1
vote
1answer
75 views
Linear useage of excess power generation
A friend of mine is fortunate to have moved to a very warm and sunny country, and has installed a photovoltaic system on his property. This is grid tied and any excess that he generates flows into the ...
1
vote
2answers
65 views
Solar cell trickle charging lead-acid without charge controller
Can somebody comment on sizing a solar cell for trickle charging a lead-acid battery bank without a charge controller for several months?
I found a non-authoritative source that claimed that cells ...
0
votes
2answers
33 views
Cell phone battery with solar shield, arduino [closed]
I was looking for your opinion on this product: http://www.seeedstudio.com/wiki/Solar_Charger_Shield_v2.0b
Do you think I could use a cell phone battery (3.7v 1000mA) with this? I have a standard ...
2
votes
1answer
47 views
Charge LiPo battery with solar panel
I've a solar panel of 5.5 V and 100 mA. Could I use it to charge LiPo batteries using the MAX1555?
Of couse that the voltage will drop due to the the Schottky diode.
0
votes
0answers
42 views
What is a good Solar panel for a 12 volt 10 amp hour lead-acid battery
I want to be able to charge a 10 amp-hour lead-acid battery with a solar panel for when I am away from a power source (camping etc.) I don't want the battery to take longer than a daylights time to ...
3
votes
2answers
54 views
solar powered arduino USB link light blinks?
I have a OSEPP MEga 2560 R3 Plus. It's connected to a 7.2V200mA solar panel SC20072. I don't know fully what I'm doing, but the power light on the board lights up. However, the USB TX and RX lights ...
0
votes
0answers
57 views
Solar panel current/voltage sensing
My project involves designing an inverter (220V/50Hz AC output) for a 250W solar panel.
Main question: Is it better to use high-side or low-side sensing on the solar panel? I'm finding it a bit ...
1
vote
0answers
74 views
LTSpice Solar / photovoltaic simulation
I've been trying to simulate a solar cell with LTSpice to generate an I-V curve. The model I've been using is the simplified equivalent circuit model with a current source in parallel with a diode. ...
0
votes
1answer
80 views
How to power a remote control car using solar power
My daughter is trying to power a remote control car that currently uses 4 AA batteries as power. She is trying to convert it to solar. What does she need to do so?
0
votes
1answer
57 views
Increasing the Voltage Output of a Solar Cell
I'm working on a project where I'm going to charge a battery using a solar cell. The cell is capable of outputting a maximum of 4 A, but only 0.5 volts (2W).
My question is, how can I charge the ...
0
votes
1answer
59 views
How does the maximum current of solar cells combine in series?
Say I have one 4W PV cell and one 2W PV cell (both producing about .5V). I know enough to say that maximum current of the first cell is 8A (4 / .5) and the maximum current of the second cell is 4A (2 ...
2
votes
4answers
135 views
Large Active Area phototransistors? And can solar cells be a replacement
Me and my friends are trying to build a laserharp driven by arduino as a learning exercise. Currently we are using a phototransistor to interrupt the laser light and play music.
However the ...
1
vote
3answers
170 views
How to build simple 12v .5a regulator
I'm building a solar powered light. The idea of this light is that its output is proportional to the brightness of the sun. At night, no light. During daylight, full light. So it's basically as simple ...
1
vote
2answers
166 views
Can I connect a Solar Panel to augment my computer's power supply directly to a 12V line?
I use my computer to mine Bitcoins with a HD 7970 GHz Edition GPU. It currently draws a steady 465W.
I would like to offset the draw, if possible, with a reasonably priced solar panel (~240-500W). ...
2
votes
3answers
152 views
Checking materials (cheapest possible) to be used for a solar dark-detecting LED light bulb circuit
I want to make this circuit, which includes a joule thief:
It's for a solar dark-detecting LED light; and I'm trying to follow this guide: ...
0
votes
1answer
144 views
Charging iPhone via AAA battery [closed]
I have a trip in near future, I have a hub dynamo fit to my bicycle which has 6.0 V DC output of 3 Watts power. I have read few posts and realized that it is risky to charge my iPhone directly through ...
2
votes
2answers
88 views
Can a solar panel be used as a Light Dependent Resistor?
I have a small 1.5 volt useless solar panel. Is it possible to have the resistance change between two wires based on the amount of light? And what would the circuit look like?
1
vote
1answer
46 views
Values in a solar array
My dad had just bought a solar array of 4kW together with an inverter, a kaco powador 4400.
The array is now running and generating electricity. I am trying to understand how it all works, but ...
0
votes
1answer
143 views
Charging phones via solar battery chargers
For a school project, I want to make a solar iPhone charger (specifically for the iPhone 4) and I've spent about a week looking up stuff all over the Internet, and I'm stuck for the hundredth time. ...
-4
votes
1answer
48 views
On Electro-galvanic fuel cell [closed]
Hello for every one ,
my close friend is going to design some of Electro-galvanic fuel cells , and he seeks for more information about it ,
how does it work ?
what are the laws of physics which ...
1
vote
1answer
257 views
Can you damage an iPhone by charging it using a (homemade) solar panel?
I found a guide online that shows how to make a solar phone charger (in a bottle), and I thought I'd try it out, but I'm worried about damaging my iPhone 4 (for a school project).
(If anyone's ...
0
votes
1answer
75 views
Help building a small solar charging kit
I'm trying to build a cheap light system for an NGO in Kenya, that will allow a family to have light using solar panels. If you're familiar with the new m-kopa service offered by Safaricom the setup ...
1
vote
2answers
91 views
Logging the output from a solar cell
I am trying to create a small low cost circuit that will allow me to log the output of a solar cell over the course of a month as a student project.
Currently I have a 5V Silicon PV cell and am ...
0
votes
0answers
84 views
What Solenoid type should be used when attempting to power with a battery/solar power source?
I am building yet another home irrigation system driven by my raspberry pi. I am using a transistor switching circuit like one linked in Solenoid Electrical Characteristics to switch a 12VDC solenoid ...
0
votes
1answer
171 views
Which is the cheap and good MOSFET Driver? [closed]
I am implementing a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithm for 100W systems. Here I need good and reliable MOSFET's and MOSFET drivers. I think of using IRFZ44N as a MOSFET for buck-boost ...
-2
votes
1answer
77 views
Photovoltaics: maximum gain per square meter using current technology
As far as photovoltaic (as in solar panels) is concerned, there are monocrystal, polycrystal and concentrated panel devices available (as far as i know). There may be some more detailed nuances and/or ...
2
votes
1answer
124 views
Why do solar cells have very low efficiency?
Recently I came across a news posting about solar cells (the link is given below).
http://cleantechnica.com/2013/01/22/new-thin-film-solar-cell-efficiency-record-set-20-4/
It says that "A new ...
0
votes
0answers
96 views
Rechargeable battery bank with a photovoltaic switch
I'm working on a project where I'll be providing between 9 and 12 volts of power from a bank of rechargeable AA 1.5v batteries. They will be powering a series of LED lights. My question revolves ...
3
votes
4answers
240 views
Is it practically possible to transfer electrical power around the World by wires?
Assume that we installed plenty of solar cells in all continents; mainly in Asia, Africa and America. Can we transfer the electrical power harvested from them around the World through wires? So that ...
4
votes
3answers
3k views
Battery Backup: C10 vs C20
I am installing a home UPS system of 1400 VA. The UPS is a 24 volt system and, based on the batteries available on the market for the UPS segment here, will need 2 x 12 volt batteries for it.
Based ...
1
vote
1answer
242 views
DIY schematic for solar lamp
I read about this article about solar lamp. Obviously I can bought the whole thing online by spending $30 something but I want to make it by myself.
I hope this is the right place to look for. I am ...
0
votes
1answer
176 views
Help on MPPT for solar panels
I am studying maximum power point tracking (MPPT), and I have found many setups using buck converter. Since buck converters step down the voltage, how can you have the maximum power at load if you ...
0
votes
0answers
182 views
How can I build a simple solar charger for a Raspberry Pi? [closed]
I want to power my Raspberry Pi from a battery pack (four rechargeable AA batteries) and I want to charge the batteries from a solar cell. The power system should refuse to be turned on unless there’s ...
1
vote
1answer
95 views
Does performance of PV inverters degrade over time?
Does anyone know if the performance of solar inverters degrades over time? If so what is the mechanism?
0
votes
3answers
192 views
My Solar PV system correctly shuts off power during a blackout - I want to safely override that
For obvious safety reasons my residential PV system disconnects from the grid if it notes the grid is down. The thing is it also shuts itself off so that during a grid blackout rather than providing ...
2
votes
2answers
221 views
Series and Parallel together for 3 Solar Panels?
I don't know who to ask about this. I know it works, but don't know if it's a good idea or a safe idea.
I have 3 solar panels, 240W each.
I have a need for 720W max and 60V.
I thought. hmmmmm, put ...
1
vote
1answer
155 views
AC / DC Backup Power Supply For Solar Irrigation Pump
I think this technology exists but I don't know what the device is that I need to do the job.
I need a DC Power supply that will pull input 110V - 220V AC (for here or international) and will output ...
0
votes
0answers
47 views
Parts List to Replace Battery Packs?
I've purchased and installed some relatively cheap motorized blinds for my apartment. After having them for about a month, the batteries are dead on 2 out of 3 sets. Each blind has a pack of 7 AA ...
1
vote
2answers
1k views
What type of DC-DC converter should I use for solar MPPT?
I am currently doing a project that involves Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) for Solar Panels. I plan to do this by using the Arduino as a controller to a DC-DC converter. I am going to use the ...
2
votes
1answer
210 views
Cheap wireless module for M2M communication
We're designing a street light control & monitoring system, which has: solar + induction lamp. Each street light has a wireless communication modules to send/receive data to a central module, ...
1
vote
1answer
213 views
Bypass diode on solar panel
We have a Solec 70W 12V mono-crystal solar panel. The junction box has one positive and one negative lead to connect to other panels or charge controller. It does not appear to have a bypass diode ...
0
votes
2answers
129 views
Total Voc and Vmp with charge controller
I currently have Blue Sky 2512i charge controller. Great unit! We have three 75W panels in parallel. Blue Sky limits the Voc and Vmp to 28V and 16.5V-18.5V. We would like to get a fourth panel to get ...
-6
votes
1answer
225 views
RC Plane Solar Panel [closed]
could someone please tell me how to hook up LIGHT WEIGHT solar panels to my RC plane's wing and hook it up to the planes battery? Thanks.
2
votes
1answer
192 views
Voltage/Amperage load rating
I'm a newbie when it comes to electricity, and this has been bugging me since like 9th grade when I first learned about V/I/R/P combinations, and to this day I still can't wrap my head around the ...
3
votes
1answer
197 views
How to feed laptop + bulb with solar energy?
I reside in Kathmandu where the current power supply is so weak one has to face between 8 to 18 h power cut per day. In order to work, I need to have continuous supply of energy for my laptop and a ...
4
votes
2answers
225 views
How to choose a Solar Panel
As per the title - How do i choose a Solar Panel?
What are the criteria (Watt, Voltage, Technology etc) that I need to take into considerations when I choose a suitable solar panel for my project?
4
votes
1answer
131 views
Does anybody recognize this connector?
Does anybody recognize this connector? This is Power terminal used on Solar Inverter. Rated for 150A/35V.
5
votes
1answer
206 views
Practical efficiencies of available solar cells
I had a completed answer to this but when I went to post it it was closed, so :
I understand that "multijunction" cells, particular those made from Copper Indium Gallium diSelenide, are the most ...
0
votes
0answers
174 views
Most efficient solar cells for sale [closed]
Based on some scant knowledge of photovoltaic technology, I understand that "multijunction" cells, particular those made from Copper Indium Gallium diSelenide, are the most efficient kind today. But ...
5
votes
3answers
547 views
How do I calculate how much solar power I need for a system?
I'm prototyping an autonomous remote system which is composed of the following components:
Arduino Leonardo
Solar Charger Shield V2
3W Solar Panel
Lithium Ion polymer Battery pack - 6A
The system ...
