Solar cell: more voltage please!!!!!

System
System Posts: 2,511 admin
in General Solar Power Topics #1
Hi! well, I live in Argentina and I am relatively new in this subject of converting electricity to the voltage needed. I have got a solar cells of about 0.5V@4Amps. Is there a way of converting those 0.5V to 3V or more??? I know that current will drop, but it doesn't mind. I will appreciate your answers. Thanx and bye :confused:
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  • Cariboocoot
    Cariboocoot Banned Posts: 17,615 ✭✭✭
    #2
    Re: Solar cell: more voltage please!!!!!

    Series connecting multiple cells will up the Voltage.

    Sounds like you're trying to build your own panels. Maybe you should read through this thread for starters:

    http://forum.solar-electric.com/showthread.php?t=5290
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  • niel
    niel Solar Expert Posts: 10,300 ✭✭✭✭
    #3
    Re: Solar cell: more voltage please!!!!!

    for 3 volts you need 6 cells and the current will stay the same at 4a. if there is a blocking diode involved then another cell or 2 may be needed to get it back to 3v. if that 3v needs a regulated circuit on it then you may need to operate enough cells to bring the voltage up to another 2 or possibly 3v depending on the regulator circuit employed.
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  • Skyko
    Skyko Solar Expert Posts: 121 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #4
    Re: Solar cell: more voltage please!!!!!

    If you get up to about 1 volt (so 2 cells in series) there are plenty of little circuits to boost the voltage to 5V or whatever. A lot of the little single AA cell devices (like flashlights) use such circuits.
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  • niel
    niel Solar Expert Posts: 10,300 ✭✭✭✭
    #5
    Re: Solar cell: more voltage please!!!!!

    skyko,
    if you know of some then please provide a link for him that he may know what you are referring to and the prices he will incur.
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  • Skyko
    Skyko Solar Expert Posts: 121 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #6
    Re: Solar cell: more voltage please!!!!!
    niel wrote: »
    skyko,
    if you know of some then please provide a link for him that he may know what you are referring to and the prices he will incur.


    For example this 8 pin chip from digikey with a few external components will turn 1V into as much as 20V:

    http://www.diodes.com/datasheets/ZXSC100.pdf

    $1.97 in single quantity, maybe about $1 for the other components needed. Would help if you had the ability to prototype surface mount circuits like I do ;)

    I bet there are other sources for ready made circuits online but I do not have the time right now to search. google is your friend. Try searching for "single cell boost"
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  • System2
    System2 Posts: 6,290 admin
    #7
    Re: Solar cell: more voltage please!!!!!

    Thanks for your answers! I think I should tell you that those chips which boost up voltage can manage only 1 Amp. and my cell is 0.5V@4Amps. So, that chip will not manahe that current.
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  • Skyko
    Skyko Solar Expert Posts: 121 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #8
    Re: Solar cell: more voltage please!!!!!
    Winton wrote: »
    Thanks for your answers! I think I should tell you that those chips which boost up voltage can manage only 1 Amp. and my cell is 0.5V@4Amps. So, that chip will not manahe that current.

    You wrote originally " I know that current will drop, but it doesn't mind."

    So what you really want is a device which boosts the voltage and maintains the same current?

    Wrong forum...go over to the free energy forums or do a search for perpetual motion. Good luck!
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  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,613 admin
    #9
    Re: Solar cell: more voltage please!!!!!

    What is your end requirements? Up converter from 0.5 volts to 3-5 volts is possible, but not very efficient and is sort of difficult to design around (most converters assume stable voltage and a minimum required amount of current--neither of which solar cells are known for).

    Normally, the answer is to simply put the cells in series until you get the voltage you need (note, Voltage Maximum Power, Vmp, falls as the cell temperature increases--so generally, you design for a higher Vmp to account for voltage drop on hot days from the solar cells).

    If you are size limited, or some special need (low power remote sensing, etc.), or other other limitations (1x 0.5 volt / 4 amp cell)--let us know that too...

    There are various "flying capacitor", Capacitor based Charge Pumps, etc.., that are used for low power voltage step up circuits.

    The problem is that 0.5 volts is not very much in the electronics world... About the best diode you can get has 0.2 volts drop, so you are losing 0.2/0.5 = 40% of your power through the first diode.

    A flying capacitor type charge pump may be more efficient, but it is more complex too.

    At least with a charge pump, you can set it to collect the available power from the solar cell in variable light relatively simply.

    -Bill
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
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