Asked by: Jeremy
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Q:
Hi, which of your diodes would be appropriate to use as a blocking diode when trickle charging a battery?
A:
Thank you for your question, the main Dioide we use as a blocking diode is the one on the link below which we use in our solar garden light kit for precisely that purpose. The cell on the solar garden light is less powerful than the solar cell you are looking at but the dioide should still be suitable.
https://www.kitronik.co.uk/c2950-bat41-signal-diode.html
https://www.kitronik.co.uk/c2950-bat41-signal-diode.html
Answered by: Cullen Lewis
11-Jun-18
Q:
Hi,
Are the 5V solar cells fairly powerful enough for a basic solar panel messenger bag project to perhaps slow charge up a mobile?
Thanks,
Jenna
Are the 5V solar cells fairly powerful enough for a basic solar panel messenger bag project to perhaps slow charge up a mobile?
Thanks,
Jenna
Asked by: Jenna
A:
Jenna,
To get the most out of a solar cell it needs to be angled towards the sun, then on a cloud free summers day it is possible to get the power out of the solar cell that matches the specification. If the cell is not directed at the sun or it is cloudy then you will only get a fraction of the power out of the cell, maybe only 10% of the full rating. It is also worth noting that whilst the cell in this case is rated at 5V that is a nominal 5V, if it is sunny it may well be a volt or so higher and if it is cloudy it might only reach half the target 5V if you have something hooked up to it.
To charge a mobile from the USB connector you would need a stable 5V supply and are likely to need at least an amp. Whilst you can trickle charge some cells such as NiMh batteries the LiPo batteries in mobiles need to be charged in a different way using constant current and constant voltage phases. The phone deals with this but it doesn’t work if there isn’t enough current. As mad as it might sound the easiest way to get around this would be to trickle charge 4 AA NiMh which have 1.2V across them slowly and then once charged use that to rapid charge the phone. The alternative is a big and expensive solar cell with a 5V regulator circuit.
Best regards
Michael
Answered by: Rob Haywood
30-Jun-16
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