Questions tagged [solar-cell]

Solid state electrical device that converts the energy of light directly into electricity by the photovoltaic effect.

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MPPT Boost Converter - Output Voltage

I am working on design of a MPPT for charging batteries via solar panels. After doing some reasearch, I am a little confused as to how the boost converter can output a constant voltage, as well as ...
Reid's user avatar
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Charging lithium batteries with solar panels

Let's say I have a battery pack made from 3 lithium-ion cells connected in a series (making a battery with around 12 volts). That battery pack has a PCB with balancing function and also protects the ...
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2 votes
2 answers
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Building a low-power solar/wind buck-boost converter

Using a 18V(max) solar panel, I'd like to charge a 12V lead-acid battery. I'm working from the basic inverting buck-boost circuit. My main question is, being a relatively low-power circuit, can I ...
Boloar's user avatar
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3 answers
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How to tell monocrystalline from polycrystalline solar panels

This is a very simple question, but I haven't found the answer yet. It seems to me that monocrystalline panels are always black (though I have seen some dark blue ones), and polycrystalline panels are ...
Antonio Azuara's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
2k views

Solar with dual battery setup - keeping both charged?

My setup in my motorhome is 240W solar panels connected to 200Amp Hour house battery through an MPPT solar controller. The starting battery in the cab has a constant current draw around 200mA, ...
user71573's user avatar
3 votes
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310 views

Reasonable CPU power usage for solar panel powered system with battery

I am building a system using an embedded board that appears to use about 1/4 to 1/3 AMP according to my bench power supply. Is this low enough power consumption for this system to be run off of some ...
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Is electricity wasted when energy generated by power plant is not in immediate demand?

After my second series physics course I have begin to wonder how power plants control energy production to match the usage of a city. There are several possible answers in my mind listed below: Does ...
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1 vote
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How to convert a 10-Watt solar panel into 3v & 3 amp?

The device I use requires about 3V and 3 amps. Based on my Google research, I found out that in order to get 3V and 3 amps from a solar panel, the solar panel needs to be at least 9 watts. So let's ...
ALLAH AKBAR's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
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How to use a solar panel that has 'watts' to power a battery charger that requires: 3v & 2.8 amps?

I have a battery charger that charges small batteries ( AAA & AA ). It uses an adapter that gives it 3V and 2.8 amps. I want to remove the adapter and give it solar energy instead. There are ...
ALLAH AKBAR's user avatar
2 votes
3 answers
3k views

Different voltage solar panels in parallel

I'm using a solar panel to power an Arduino + a LiPo battery charger. I'd like to increase the amount of current at the same voltage, so would like to wire up a second solar panel in parallel to the ...
kolosy's user avatar
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9 votes
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Charging 12v batteries with direct connection to 20v solar panels

I want to charge a 12v Sealed Lead Acid car battery off of a solar panel (20v) and then draw about 10-20W of power from it via an inverter (the load). I'm wondering if its okay to connect it ...
NULLZ's user avatar
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Using a solar panel for laser light detection

I've been planning on putting together a laser tag system and one of the big concerns I have is that photoresistors/phototransistors have relatively small surface areas w/r/t a human body. On the ...
Huckle's user avatar
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2 answers
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Solar panel not charging battery [closed]

I posted a similar question a while ago and got the answer I thought I was looking for but I now have a new multimeter so I'm able to get readings that should be of some use. I have a solar panel, ...
user2329585's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
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Why isn't the solar panel charging the battery?

I have a solar panel, a battery and a charge controller. I didn't pay for any of it so I thought I would just wire them up and see how it goes. The battery won't charge. The charge controller has a ...
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4 votes
1 answer
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Charging batteries - what should I know

So I want to learn about batteries and the process of charging them. As a project, I'm going to create a solar powered charger to charge a 9v NiMh battery with 175mah capacity. I have a 15v solar ...
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3 answers
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How can I charge 3 12V batteries with 2 24V solar panels?

I use three 65Ah/12V VRLA batteries connected in series to a 36V UPS to power my computer. I will soon have two 200W/24V solar panels. What do I need to charge the UPS batteries with these panels? It'...
Crocodylus porosus's user avatar
19 votes
3 answers
114k views

Using a 12V battery while simultaneously charging via solar panel

I have a couple of 12v batteries that I'd like to use to power a cooling apparatus while camping for several days. I also have a 15W solar panel I'd like to use to top-off the battery. Can I use the ...
nimble's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
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Using super capacitor alternative to battery as a backup power for laptops

I'm interested building my own battery pack using a series of super capacitor, something like this : http://youtu.be/z3x_kYq3mHM I plan to use it as a power backup solution for my laptop. Based on ...
Pennf0lio's user avatar
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6 votes
5 answers
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Micro-scale solar thermal power

Are there any practical methods of converting solar thermal energy into electrical power on very small scales, eg: using a 300mm diameter paraboloid reflector with temperatures of approximately 800-...
Edan's user avatar
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2 votes
2 answers
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Time to charge a capacitor with a power limiting supply and ideally no resistance

So I have a capacitor being charged by a solar cell which has a varying (but readable) power output. This is being fed directly into a 10 farad cap with a solar panel voltage of about \$2.8V\$. For ...
Lindenk's user avatar
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1 vote
2 answers
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Performance of solar panel vs. DC power supply

I am building a solar swamp cooler for burning man (hot dry desert environment). Purchased a 15w solar panel that outputs 0.9a at 20V in full sun (verified as true with my voltmeter). The solar panel ...
nimble's user avatar
  • 201
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1 answer
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Are there any ATxmega chips with bi-directional SPi ports?

I searched the datasheets shown for the ATxmega chips in the Microcontroller Selector, shown on the left side of http://www.atmel.com/products/microcontrollers/default.aspx, for any ATxmega chips with ...
Everlight's user avatar
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20v solar panel powering two 12v fans and a 6v pump (swamp cooler for burning man)

Building a solar swamp cooler for burning man, how can I use a 20v 0.8a (in full sun) 15watt solar panel to power TWO 12v 0.4a fans, AND a 6v 0.1a water pump? One of the fans and the water pump have ...
nimble's user avatar
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2 votes
3 answers
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Convert 320VDC to 220VAC or 48VDC voltage using 220VAC (UK) UPS?

I've got access to 12 flexible Solar Panels - 320VDC each Main voltage is 220VAC (here in the UK) and also might buy an electric engine running at 48VDC. Would a 220VAC Uninterruptable Power Supply ...
Meggy's user avatar
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4 votes
1 answer
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Solar Powered MintyBoost

I've decided to try and make a Solar Powered MintyBoost. I've drawn up a very rough version of a schematic: As you can see, I plan to use a solar cell to charge a set of 2 D batteries (in series), ...
dar2162's user avatar
  • 163
2 votes
2 answers
396 views

Make a Solar Powered USB Charger

I'd like to make a solar powered USB charger, to charge my phone. I'd ideally like to use (a) solar panel(s) that I can 'mount' onto a canvas messenger bag, and use a pocket to hold my phone. ...
dar2162's user avatar
  • 163
-1 votes
1 answer
253 views

Adding AC adapter to solar powered device

I have a solar-powered LED number display whose rechargeable batteries have apparently died. I'd like to hook it up to AC power using a 3V adapter (i.e., cutting the leads from the batteries and ...
kurkevan's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
859 views

charge extraction from solar cells in low light conditions

This is probably not that deep a question, but how can one extract power from panels in low light? A 6V panel would dip to ~2V or so, and power output would sink lower. In conventional systems, how is ...
Dhruv's user avatar
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1 answer
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Minimal electronics to interface a solar cell to a battery powered system

I've got a bunch of solar cells whose maximum power point is at around 18V and a battery-powered system that uses 3S LiPo batteries (9-12.6V). I would like to interface these solar cells to the system ...
abey's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
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Solar battery charger based on LT3652

I realized a solar battery charger circuit based on LT3652. Actually it doesn't work well, but I think I made some project error. In fact it doesn't reach the end of charge status. But first of all I ...
Mark's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
781 views

efficiency problems connecting multiple solar panels

I cannot understand why doubling the amount of solar panels gives only a few percent increase in total amount of power. Here are the test results of a single 10-cell panel: Single solar panel ...
FlegmatoidZoid's user avatar
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1 answer
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Do you have to put a voltage across a PV cell for it to work?

I'm studying about PV cells and I'm slightly confused. Currently, I'm learning this very simple model. I'm trying to figure out how exactly it works. Am I correct in saying that; You apply a voltage ...
midnightBlue's user avatar
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4 votes
1 answer
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Is a solar panel clamped to a battery a drain on the battery at night time?

I noticed that in the night time (dark) the voltage measurement on the battery was lower than in the day time (sun), measured with my voltmeter. I'm new to electricity, but that made me assume it had ...
Jonathan's user avatar
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1 vote
2 answers
229 views

Efficiency of different solar panels

How can I work out the efficiency of two different solar panels (12V and 24V, and both of different makes i.e. different efficiency each one) connected in series?
Higuel's user avatar
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2 votes
3 answers
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Sizing a solar panel and battery for a simple solar application

I am a novice. I want to correctly size a solar panel and battery for the following application. I will be powering 2, 6 watt cfl lights and a 40 watt incandescent light. I am planning on using 400 ...
DAN's user avatar
  • 21
2 votes
3 answers
2k views

Multiple DC Input to Single DC Output

I want to connect solar panels in parallel, not sure whether connecting the terminals together will work. If one solar panel produces high voltage, it will block the voltage generated by second solar ...
Kannaiyan's user avatar
  • 145
2 votes
4 answers
4k views

Suggestions for solar / LiPo powered 3.3v supply for Arduino

I am building several slightly-differently-purposed Arduino + Xbee systems to monitor various things around my home and property. Some of these are line powered, while others must use solar. Many ...
Michael Graff's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
7k views

How to reduce VOC of solar panels to match the MPPT

My panels have VOC of 36VDC. I like to connect 5 panels in series. But in such case the total VOC would be as high as 180V, and damage my Charge Controller. Is there any dummy load, or shunt kind of ...
Omar S Chaudhry's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
184 views

Off-grid Solar with DC Backup

I would like advice on a potential new set up I am looking at installing in my home. I have a small water heating system that runs @ 150w 24v DC, I intend to use the solar to power the heating system ...
DVNT's user avatar
  • 11
4 votes
3 answers
12k views

Topology of solar PWM charger

I am looking into the design of the most simple (yet functional) PWM solar chargers for lead acid batteries. (Numerous examples can be found on Ebay for about 10 bucks.) I have a hunch that they ...
ARF's user avatar
  • 5,189
0 votes
1 answer
6k views

Two 6v batteries in series charged by two separate solar panels

I have two solar panels - first 30 watt 2 amps second 40 watts 2.3 amps, and two 6v deep cycle batteries in series on my RV. My question is: can I simply use two separate charge controllers (max 7 ...
Jake B's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
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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 ...
Hoppo's user avatar
  • 417
4 votes
2 answers
3k 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 ...
ARF's user avatar
  • 5,189
0 votes
2 answers
177 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 Li-...
Senica Gonzalez's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
1k 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.
dasbichona's user avatar
5 votes
2 answers
283 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 ...
EhevuTov's user avatar
  • 163
3 votes
0 answers
7k 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. ...
oeasand's user avatar
  • 31
1 vote
1 answer
10k 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?
LoriDeBoer's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
5k 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 ...
Malfunction's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
2k 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 /...
James Murdza's user avatar