How do I use this Solar Panel?

System
System Posts: 2,511 admin
in Solar Beginners Corner #1
Alright so I'm making a solar powered car for a project and I have no idea how to use a solar panel. I left it out in the sun for a couple hours but when I hooked it up to a motor it did noting..................BTW it's a 1.5V Solar panel. Here some pictures to describe what I'm talking about. Any help on what I'm doing wrong would be helpful!

http://i978.photobucket.com/albums/ae270/Fatboy42/100_0651.jpg

http://i978.photobucket.com/albums/ae270/Fatboy42/100_0654.jpg

http://i978.photobucket.com/albums/ae270/Fatboy42/100_0652.jpg
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Comments

  • niel
    niel Solar Expert Posts: 10,300 ✭✭✭✭
    #2
    Re: How do I use this Solar Panel?

    1> a solar panel does not store electricity, only batteries do.
    2> the pv will have to match the current and voltage required by the motor and be protected in some circumstances from over voltage if not using a battery.
    3> the polarity must be observed.
    4> realize that the power needed to move a ev is far greater than that little pv could ever hope to accrue in many months of charging a battery.

    maybe i am misreading you on this on point 4 if this is for small models only, but the rest applies in any case.
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  • Tumbleweeds
    Tumbleweeds Registered Users Posts: 6 ✭
    #3
    Re: How do I use this Solar Panel?

    Try this site for small solar powered models, lots of fun if you are into building your own circuits or learning about it.
    http://library.solarbotics.net/circuits/default.htm
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  • sepsolman411
    sepsolman411 Registered Users Posts: 16 ✭
    #4
    Re: How do I use this Solar Panel?

    I have (2) 30 watt panels and connected them in series to a dc motor from a 12 amp vacuum cleaner. The motor was running at 1/4 power in other words at 3amps because that is all my panels will produce. Even at 3 amps, the motor was spinning the spindle like a champ. The Chevy Volt has a lithium ion battery that is 1.5kw capacity and has gas generator-assisted charging. The company says it will go about 30 miles completely off the battery before needing the gas to charge the battery. I would think that all maximum use of solar technology can produce a completely clean vehicle without any fuel whatsoever. That truly would revolutionize the automobile market!
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  • solar_dave
    solar_dave Solar Expert Posts: 2,397 ✭✭✭✭
    #5
    Re: How do I use this Solar Panel?

    according to wikipedia:
    According to General Motors the Volt can travel 25 to 50 miles (40 to 80 km) on a 16 kW·h (10.4 kW·h usable) lithium-ion battery;

    16 kWh is a large amount of power, using a 220V 20 amp line the Volt takes 4 hours to recharge it fully. I have 72 solar panels covering most of the roof of my house and at noon on a good day it can product about 9 kw. Hardly a thing that could be placed as part of the auto.

    PS still trying to get my volt to home base! and yes the solar will charge it.
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  • niel
    niel Solar Expert Posts: 10,300 ✭✭✭✭
    #6
    Re: How do I use this Solar Panel?

    "I have (2) 30 watt panels and connected them in series to a dc motor from a 12 amp vacuum cleaner."

    i hope you just misspoke here as 2 12v pvs in series will give you 24v. if they were paralleled then that will do it fine..
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  • Photowhit
    Photowhit Solar Expert Posts: 6,006 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #7
    Re: How do I use this Solar Panel?

    There's some fun solar powered toys here;

    http://www.brilliantstore.com/solar-toys.html

    Including a <$2 car (including shipping)
    Home system 4000 watt (Evergreen) array standing, with 2 Midnite Classic Lites,  Midnite E-panel, Magnum MS4024, Prosine 1800(now backup) and Exeltech 1100(former backup...lol), 660 ah 24v Forklift battery(now 10 years old). Off grid for 20 years (if I include 8 months on a bicycle).
    - Assorted other systems, pieces and to many panels in the closet to not do more projects.
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