Solid state electrical device that converts the energy of light directly into electricity by the photovoltaic effect.
8
votes
5answers
1k views
How to have arduino only turn on when enough power has been collected?
There was recently an article in the Christian Science Monitor about the launch of a cracker-size satellite. The article says that the satellite has, "power storage in capacitors, and switching ...
7
votes
2answers
1k views
Powering a 30 watt computer in the middle of the desert
I'd like to power a small, headless, linux box in the desert for 10+ hours a day. It draws the lower end of 30-40 watts. I'd like to not use a generator and go the battery + solar route. Can you tell ...
6
votes
3answers
528 views
DC Boost for low voltage?
I have a project where I'd like to convert a .5V, 800mA supply (a solar cell) to at least 3V with as much efficiency as possible. I've seen DC boost converters, but all the ones I've seen are designed ...
6
votes
6answers
703 views
Tracking Sun with Solar Panel - Need Photosensor
I'm trying to build a structure onto which I can mount a solar panel where the structure will be able to turn and track the sun - to maximize solar energy input.
Can anyone suggest a photosensor that ...
6
votes
3answers
455 views
Solar Powered Trash Compactor (Chicago Big Belly)
I live in Chicago and I walk past these trash cans every day that have a large solar cell on the top of them. These trash cans are supposed to collect energy which runs a trash compactor inside. This ...
6
votes
3answers
2k views
How do I charge a commercial lithium battery with solar cells?
I have a digital camera (Panasonic DMC-FT1) and will be going multi-day hiking with it soon. I'm looking to build a solar charger for it using something like this and strap it to my pack. Does anyone ...
6
votes
4answers
556 views
Lightning/surge protection for a Arduino monitored thermistor circuit
I am considering whether to replace the commercial differential temperature controller on my solar water heater with a Arduino based controller of my own design. I know just enough to be dangerous ...
5
votes
3answers
3k views
Powering laptop from 12V sources without inverter
This question has two parts:
1) How inefficient is it to boost 12V to 120V and then back to 12V as in using a traditional car power inverter to power a laptop (i.e. the 12V car battery power is ...
5
votes
3answers
616 views
How to measure the maximum power of a solar panel
What is the best way to measure the maximum power generated by a solar panel?
5
votes
1answer
207 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 ...
5
votes
3answers
552 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 ...
5
votes
4answers
352 views
Solar cells & Batteries
I was planning on having a couple of solar cells recharging a battery!
My question for this is:
How can I recharge a battery through solar cells and at the same time let the battery do some ...
5
votes
1answer
355 views
Charging two lead-acid batteries connected in series, separately (with two solar panels)
I have two lead-acid batteries connected in series to produce 24V. They are powering an audio amplifier.
I'd like to be able to charge them while they are powering the amplifier, with solar panels.
...
5
votes
1answer
300 views
How can I invert a solar-powered oscillator's frequency?
I have a hobby project that's been on the backburner for about 3 years now. It's very simple - just a solar-powered oscillator hooked up to a speaker, that changes frequency in response to the level ...
4
votes
3answers
191 views
Simple voltage drop question
I am working on an antenna and ATMEGA-based reader. It is powered off of 2 6v deep-cycle marine batteries, and the reader/antenna draws 1 amp at 6 volts. I'm not sure about the amp-hours in the ...
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.
4
votes
2answers
1k views
powering arduino via solar cells
suppose I want to keep an Arduino powered during the night, and recharge it during the day with a solar cell. What kind of circuit do I have to make, how many and which type of batteries, and what ...
4
votes
2answers
297 views
Solar powered water fountain
I am planning of building a solar water fountain which would serve as a bird bath in my backyard this summer.
My requirements are simple:
The fountain should be powered by solar energy, a small ...
4
votes
1answer
352 views
Parallel charger circuits
I'm constructing a power supply based on solar cells backed by batteries. The solar cells deliver between 0 and 4 A, depending on the time of day, while the charger I plan on using, the LT3652, has a ...
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 ...
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?
3
votes
2answers
1k views
Can I safely trickle charge a 24v garage actuator battery with a pair of 12v solar panels?
I have a Hormann Promatic Akku Garage door actuator, since my garage doesn't have mains electricity. Generally speaking I'm very impressed with how well it works. Unfortunately while it lasts around ...
3
votes
3answers
1k views
Solar panel short circuit
In trying to measure the current output from a solar panel I've inadvertently short circuit the panel.
Did I damaged the panel? How can I test if everything is ok?
3
votes
2answers
939 views
Powering 10watt light bulb for 24 hours using solar power
I am a total noobi to solar power and even electricity so I appologies if I am asking a silly question.
Imagine I have a 10watt light bulb which I want to leave on for 24 hours a day. Will I just ...
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 ...
3
votes
3answers
236 views
Size to power trade off with solar panels
I'm looking to power a remote controlled car with a solar panel on its back.
What size to power am I going to get? Is there one light enough that it wont slow the car down?
3
votes
2answers
56 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 ...
3
votes
2answers
193 views
How do I make a small sample solar cell?
I want to know how to make a sample solar cell which can generate power of a very small magnitude. What material is required and how would I assemble it to make a simple solar cell?
3
votes
1answer
1k views
Smart charging circuit for NiMH battery pack
I want to build a solar powered charger for a niMh battery pack to run a microcontroller. What are the fundamentals of building a smart circuit that will not overcharge the battery and will also allow ...
3
votes
1answer
198 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 ...
3
votes
4answers
171 views
For a vehicle, what is the most efficient way to store energy from various inputs?
Background
For the past few years I have wanted to make some sort of recreational vehicle that runs on multiple-source renewable energy. For example, a kayak with a trolling motor that gets its ...
3
votes
2answers
609 views
What is the simplest method to simulate a solar panel on a current/ voltage regulated PSU?
Solar panels have a typical non-linear I/V relation. The figure below shows an example of such relation. What is the simplest method to simulate this relation with some current or voltage regulated ...
3
votes
1answer
284 views
How can I build a solar powered car charger?
I found 12 solar panels, but they are very thin and fragile. They put out approximately .5V under an incandescent bulb. What would be the best way to turn these 12 panels into a 12V car battery ...
3
votes
1answer
1k views
Chaining up two solar panels of different wattage?
I have a 30 watt solar panel and I'm looking to add a 80 watt solar panel to help power an 85AH battery. I know I need to connect them in parallel (positive to positive, negative to negative) but I ...
3
votes
1answer
108 views
Guidelines for sizing solar-powered electronics?
Does anyone know of sizing guidelines or calculators for solar powering electronics? i.e. given power consumption, latitude and allowing for bad weather, accumulated dust and bird poop etc, calculate ...
3
votes
2answers
216 views
Solar MPPT charger causing regular voltage spikes
I have a van which has two 12V solar panels on the roof. The charger is connected to the batteries and seems to constantly be outputting about 13v. I've had it installed for a couple of days and ...
2
votes
1answer
200 views
solar cell area to gain 12V 40amps?
I want to put some solar cells on the roof of my van to powerup some stuff while the van is off. I would like to know how much area of blue solar cells (they look like cracked blue glass) I need to ...
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 ...
2
votes
2answers
352 views
charging a lead acid battery
(n00b question) I have a small (6 cell regular bike) leadacid battery and want to charge it via solar sheet of 15V - 0.3A. the voltage solar sheet changes and in cloudy day goes below 10V. does the ...
2
votes
2answers
158 views
Can solar panels be wired serially?
I have several small solar panels. I would like to configure them in series to build up enough voltage for a project. But some panels are much smaller than others.
Is there a problem of connecting ...
2
votes
2answers
241 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 ...
2
votes
3answers
356 views
Why doesn't my solar charger work?
I did exactly as that picture showed, and I guess how it works is that it charges the AA batteries and then takes energy from them to charge something through the USB hole? Right? (I'm new to ...
2
votes
1answer
193 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 ...
2
votes
1answer
330 views
Difference between indoor and outdoor PV panels
I am building an energy harvesting sensor for building installation, and I have to choose between two panels:
Indoor, 5V, 47uA Isc @ 200 Lx
Outdoor, 6V, 15.9mA Isc @ 50 kLx (note the different light ...
2
votes
3answers
870 views
Solar Panels Series / Parallel Switching Circuit
I am an electronics know-not-much :) I do understand the basics of current/voltage/amps etc.
I have an array of 10 x 15watt x 12v (max 17.5v) amorphous solar panels here in the UK. I want to arrange ...
2
votes
2answers
965 views
Solar power egg incubator
I'm going to Africa this summer for a veterinary mission and need an egg incubator. Considering I will not have a steady supply of power I need to find an efficient way to power an incubator ...
2
votes
4answers
138 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 ...
2
votes
3answers
155 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: ...
2
votes
2answers
91 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?
2
votes
1answer
51 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.
