Topic: 12 VDC solar panels, fans & piezo transducers at All Electronics

[SLOweather]

The All Electronics ad in the May Nuts and Volts has 3 watt 12 volt solar panels for $17.95. Operating current of 0.18 amp.



It might make a nice power source for a home made DFARS. There are several fans on their DC fan page that seem to be suitable for that panel as part of a home made DFARS.

They also have [urlhttp://www.allelectronics.com/make-a-store/item/PE-56/21MM-PIEZO-ELEMENT/1.html]21 mm Piezo Elements[/url] for a dollar which would be suitable for flat-plate rain sensors/disdrometers.

[WeatherHost]

The solar panel shows dimensions of 188MM x 195MM, or about 7-1/2" square.

I wonder how that would work for a remote IP camera?

[SLOweather]

That's the fun of engineering. Look at the camera specs for the dc power voltage and amperage required. Then you will know what to design to.

According to the specs, my old wireless D-Link DSS-1000W requires 5 volts at 1.3 amps or 6.5 watts. Clearly, this panel by itself won't run it. Too high volts, too low amps. 3 of them might, but it would require an efficient 12 v to 5 volt DC to DC converter. 8 panels would also work, wired in parallel, with a 5 volt linear regulator and a big heat sink.

Actually, if I were designing a system like this, I'd measure the camera's current draw myself, rather than relying on published specs.

[Old Tele man]

...I'd swamp that linear regulator to a more efficiency (but certainly more costly) modular switching regulator. The increase in operating efficiency would make it worthwhile in the long run.