Topic: Solar Panels for FARS

[wxtech]

Today, I received some 12" x 4" solar panels from Electronic Goldmine.  The voltage output is >15 volts in full sun and should provide .1 Amp for charging a 12 volt lead acid battery.  
I bought 4 panels.  The pictures show soldering two alloy tabs on the bottom side of the panels.  Goldmine furnished special solder, two tabs, and a 1N4007 diode for each panel.
I modified Goldmines instructions by using stained glass copper foil adhesive backed tape on two edges of the glass.  The copper foil will give me a more rugged contact area for the wires.
http://www.lexingtonwx.com/solar/
I bought 1" PVC pipe and brackets for mounting the panel.  I will continue this topic as I build the 24 hour solar powered FARS on my Davis VP2 Plus with daytime aspirated shield.  
As installed now, the fan is powered during daylight only.  I think the fan runs on 3 to 12 volts.  
One panel would be sufficient to power the fan and charge the battery.  I bought 4 panels because I do everything to the excessive.

[port1]

I'll be following you along on this one...cool! 

[sam2004gp]

How much was your cost on the panels?

[Anthony]

Looks like some nice pannels. Wouldn't mind building something like that my self. I want to clarify the current output. It's it 1/10 of an amp per pannel? If so, thats not much current for charging a battery.

[sam2004gp]

That was what I was thinking, but it's about right for a trickle charger.  So if he can a good initial charge on his battery, and then some sun for about 10+ hours each day, he may just have him a working setup.  The cost of the panels is what may break this.

[Anthony]

If he uses a 4 pannels he would actually have 4/10 of a amp at 12+ volts.

[wxtech]

They're on sale @ $8.95 each.
http://www.goldmine-elec-products.com/prodinfo.asp?number=G16391
Bare bones glass panel, no frame, no hardware.  Included 2 pieces of solder, 2 connect tabs, and a 1N4007 diode.
They have a big assortment of solar panels.

[sam2004gp]

If he uses a 4 pannels he would actually have 4/10 of a amp at 12+ volts.

Yes I was also thinking of that as well. 

That price on the panels is awesome.  Are you happy with the quality of the panels and their ease of getting a secure electrical wire anchored to them?, or have you had any issues with that?  How do you plan on weather sealing your panel setup when done?

[sam2004gp]

I was nosing around the site and also found this.

http://www.goldmine-elec-products.com/prodinfo.asp?number=G17171

[wxtech]

If he uses a 4 pannels he would actually have 4/10 of a amp at 12+ volts.

Yes I was also thinking of that as well. 

That price on the panels is awesome.  Are you happy with the quality of the panels and their ease of getting a secure electrical wire anchored to them?, or have you had any issues with that?  How do you plan on weather sealing your panel setup when done?

More pictures added here: http://www.lexingtonwx.com/solar/
The initial quality if good.  There are no chips, they were double boxed and marked glass on the outside of the box.  I have no experience with long term reliability of solar devices.
I'm building with whatever I can find.  I looked for a picture frame with glass, no luck.  There's no plan for sealing it.  I'll buy a piece of clear glass and solder it in place.  Stained glass is a hobby, so I have assets there.
Getting the electrical connection is an issue.  The back of the solar panel probably is a deposited layer of aluminum.  The solder supplied is not a mechanical connection, only electrical contact. 

[Anthony]

I was nosing around the site and also found this.

http://www.goldmine-elec-products.com/prodinfo.asp?number=G17171

I wonder what the current out put is? I assume it puts out 12+ volts in full sun?

[wxtech]

I was nosing around the site and also found this.

http://www.goldmine-elec-products.com/prodinfo.asp?number=G17171

I wonder what the current out put is? I assume it puts out 12+ volts in full sun?

Testing G163191 panel and Davis panel with Davis fan.
G163191    18v full sun no load
G163191   15v partial sun no load  
G163191  1.3v at fan @ 60 ma  motor runs
G163191  .05v cloudy 30 ma motor won't run
___________________________________________
Davis solar panel 2.0v full sun no load
Davis solar panel 1.3v full sun @ 60 ma motor runs
___________________________________________
With one panel in full sun, the motor will run.  This is no better than using the Davis panel.  
With one G163191 panel on a cloudy day, the motor won't run.
To make the motor runn full speed, I want a more voltage to drive 100 ma through the fan.  
I'll try two panels in parallel, then all 4 in parallel.

[JOE]

What kind of battery are you planning to use?

Would something like a battery from a computer UPS work?

I was thinking about doing something like this, just don't have the 'lectrical smarts to do it.  I was thinking a 6 volt battery like they use in kid's powered ride on toys.  They seem to handle the charge, re-charge cycle fairly well. I used to use them to power some camera flashes that I had years ago.

[wxtech]

What kind of battery are you planning to use?

Would something like a battery from a computer UPS work?

I was thinking about doing something like this, just don't have the 'lectrical smarts to do it.  I was thinking a 6 volt battery like they use in kid's powered ride on toys.  They seem to handle the charge, re-charge cycle fairly well. I used to use them to power some camera flashes that I had years ago.

I found a UPS 12V, 12Ah battery.  I also have some 6V 12 Ah batteries but they are older and may not accept a charge.
I have some other devices at the mast that I wish to power by this source.

[JOE]

What I would like to do is just save (charge) enough to run my daytime FARS 3 or 4 hours after sundown.

Keep us posted on your progress.

Thanks.

[Garth Bock]

Don't forget about winter time. You might want to down the road, think about putting the batteries in an insulated box of some kind to keep them from freezing. Cool project.

[sam2004gp]

With the "freezing" in mind, I would just remove the battery from the mix during the winter months.  Radiation effects at night are going to be nil anyways.

[wxtech]

Don't forget about winter time. You might want to down the road, think about putting the batteries in an insulated box of some kind to keep them from freezing. Cool project.

I've never seen a frozen battery here or weak because of the cold.  I have outside batteries now.  I'm just going to do the minimum to get this working.  I'll add some refinements later.  Like water proofing.  The connection to the glass definately needs to be sealed because it's a delicate contact.

[sam2004gp]

....The connection to the glass definately needs to be sealed because it's a delicate contact.

I agree with that.  I am curious to see what you come up with.  I also have an idea myself.

[wxtech]

Four G16391 solar panels in parallel under cloudy skies, gives 1 volt at the motor @ 70 ma and the Davis fan motor runs.
I think the solder connections to the back side of the panels have too much resistance and power is lost there.  I'll try to improve the connections.
_________________________________________________
The Davis fan motor connected to a 10 volt source draws .25 Amp and the motor runs full speed.

[Garth Bock]

With the "freezing" in mind, I would just remove the battery from the mix during the winter months.  Radiation effects at night are going to be nil anyways.

Aaahh duh on my part....I forgot also where he was at....

[wxtech]

With the "freezing" in mind, I would just remove the battery from the mix during the winter months.  Radiation effects at night are going to be nil anyways.

Aaahh duh on my part....I forgot also where he was at....

I have seen blizzards when I lived in Rantoul and Champaign.  It was easier to walk than dig out the car.

Back to the solar panel.  This one, the G16391, isn't any better at driving the fan than the Davis panel.  This panel is great at charging a UPS 12v battery.  I have more solar panels on order.  The project will continue next week.

[sam2004gp]

Again, this motor works with it's panel, perhaps this a better product to get?
http://www.goldmine-elec-products.com/prodinfo.asp?number=G17171

[Jim]

have a Daytime FARS on my Davis VP2 and for some time I have been trying to get It to run like the 24 hour one Davis sells. I am getting real close to doing this. This Is what I have done. Connect the two solar panels up in Series(Plus to negative). Run the other Plus and minus wires to 2 AA rechargable batteries also hooked up in series. Now run the wires to the fan motor but ADD a 33 OHM resistor to the plus wire going to the fan. In direct sun the fan started at 10:00 A.M. and we lost sun to the panel at 4:00P.M. The fan kept running till after 1:00 A.M. when I went to sleep.So I figure For an investment of about $5:00 I have a 15 hour FARS. Not bad for an old IRISHMAN

1 Battery holder
2 AA Rechargable batteries
1 33 OHM resistor

[JOE]

That's what I'm talking about.

Sounds simple and cheap.