Getting started with solar

[toozie21]

Hello all,

I am attempting to get started with solar and want to do some simple, silly hobby projects, but I am having issues finding sites to help get me spun up. I am looking for solar panel suppliers (preferably exterior friendly) that hobbiest can use that put out ~3V and I guess something in the 50-100mA range (not sure yet).

I basically want to charge a battery during the day and run off of it at night. It is going to power a PIC (which will be sleeping 99% of the time) some discretes and some LEDs (blinking).

Looking around I cannot find a good cheap source of solar panels, nor easy to ramp up info on how best to charge a small battery (trying to find panels so I can work backwords on power budget, batteries, etc.).

Can anyone point me in a good direction to get started?

Thanks.

 

[tytower]

Oatley Electronics

But only in Aus They will post but it would be cheaper from there VA being Vancouver?


Edit Sorry I see they are at Jaycar and a bit more expensive now

**broken link removed**

 

[cr0sh]

Check out Electronic Goldmine's solar offerings:

Solar Products-The Electronic Goldmine

They may have something you can use...

 

[toozie21]

Thanks, that is a little more costly that I was hoping for. I will have to keep looking around some.

[edit]
Sorry cr0sh, I didn't see your post yet when I hit reply, I will have to look into them now.
[/edit]

Jason
P.S. The VA was for Virginia, USA

 

[toozie21]

So is it safe to say that "solar panels" are the "solar cells" in a housing with leads?

 

[cr0sh]

So is it safe to say that "solar panels" are the "solar cells" in a housing with leads?

Generally speaking, yes. A solar panel is generally made of discrete solar cells, just like a battery is made of individual voltaic cells. The cells will be connected in a series and/or parallel configuration (depending on the size and usage of the panel).

Sometimes you will see a "panel" that looks (is?) like a large "cell" - I am not sure what this construction is called (monolithic?) - but for the most part, a panel is constructed from individual smaller cells...

 

[toozie]

Thank you, I am thinking of going with something like this: https://schematicwiring.com/simple-electronic-applications/solar-charger-control-circuit-schematic-diagram/ as a starting point to figure this all out.

I am still having a problem understanding the short circuit current and open circuit voltage (etc) specs.

Thanks,
~Jason
P.S. I found my normal login, so I switched back to it.