Learn how to harness the energy of the sun in your Electronics and Design and Technology projects with our new Solar Power Starter Kit. With this kit, it is possible to build a simple solar charging and power supply system for a variety of useful low-power devices.
As of 2017, renewable energy accounted for more than 25% of energy produced in the UK for the year. Environmental targets are such that this is set to increase year on year. Solar power is already a key player in the renewable energy market, and there is the potential for it to grow much larger still. It has been estimated that covering just a fraction of the Sahara Desert in solar panels would provide enough electricity to power the energy needs of the whole world!
The Solar Power Starter kit itself is a simple kit to build and understand. Once the kit has been set up and placed in direct sunlight, the batteries will begin to charge. If the light level is insufficient to facilitate charging, the diode prevents any of the charge held in the batteries from discharging back through the solar cell. The supplied switch enables you cut power to the kit that you are powering for greater recharging efficiency.
If used with the included Kitronik LED Desk Lamp Kit, for example, fully charged batteries will provide light for up to 17 hours, more than enough for a little light reading.
Note:
- This kit requires assembly and some soldering.
Features:
- Harness the energy of the sun and add simple solar charging and power supply to your low-power devices.
- Learn about renewable energy and how simple it can be incorporated into your designs.
- A Small Signal Schottky Diode is supplied to protect against accidental discharging of the batteries through the solar cell.
- Examples of Kitronik kits that can be used in conjunction with the Solar Power kit are;
- 2155 5V LED Desk Lamp Kit– Included with the Solar Power Starter Kit.
- 2157 FM Radio Kit V2.0.
- 2165 Mono Amplifier Version 3.0.
- 2162 USB Fan Kit.
Contents:
- 1 x 5.0V 130mA Polycrystalline Solar Cell.
- 1 x BAT41 Signal Diode.
- 1 x SPST Toggle Switch.
- 1 x 5V LED Desk Lamp Kit.
- 1 x 3x AA Battery Holder with Flying Leads.
- 3 x Rechargeable AA Battery (1300mA/h).
- Length of red connecting wire.
- Length of black connecting wire.
Solar Cell Dimensions:
- Length: 58mm.
- Width: 110mm.
- Height: 3mm.
Video:
Daniel Dickinson –
I had basic knowledge of up to 9v dc circuits as I remember as a boy me and Dad would regularly go in Tandy (the UK branch of US giant Radio Shack) back in the 80’s before they all disappeared. I always came out with a bag of supplies, The mini dc bulb holders, bulbs, switches, battery cages and I had most battery sizes in the old nicd rechargeable batteries and a universal charger!
I had no experience at all with solar anything, but this kit has taught me the basics.
Infact, I wondered if it would work if I add extra batteries and solar panels in parallel matching the originals exactly? Would it add more storage making the batteries last longer? Would it charge the batteries faster with more panels in parallel, but keep the voltage the same? Or would the higher current burn things out? I will add more if I’m correct and would work…