We've churned out another Bicore Experimenter's PCB project: The "Bare Bones PhotoVore". This is an elegant little circuit, which offers the functionality of a basic photovore (with tactiles) all on a very simple circuit. Ours is solar-powered by a Miller Solarengine, but if you wanted to build one with a battery, your parts count would […]
2001 Solar Cell Analysis Data - Direct S...
Dave Hrynkiw
July 12, 2007
| Overview | ||
| At Solarbotics, we've been getting quite a few questions regarding the "real-world" performance of our solarcells. Although we do have the official Panasonic Sunceram datasheets, it is written in a quite technical manner and does not include practical design data. With that in mind, we have generated the following - the first of three sets of data for use by the BEAM community. This first set of data is taken with direct-sunlight performance in mind. The second and third sets will be measured under halogen and incandescent lighting (stay tuned...). | ||
| Data Acquisition Procedure | ||
| Solarcell voltage across resistance values recorded on June 20 between 13:07 and 13:25. Solarcell capacitor charging values for capacitors between 1000uF and 4700uF recorded on June 22 Between 13:30 and 14:00.Solarcell capacitor charging values for capacitors between .047F and 1.0F recorded on June 25 between 13:25 and 14:10.Summer solstice on June 21, maximum sunlight at 13:37 (located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada).Testing apparatus consists of a basic stamp 2 for data logging and a ADC0831 chip for analog to digital conversion, 8 bit accuracy (0.02 volt resolution). When testing multiple resistive loads, relays were used to switch the load across the solarcell with a 200ms settle time. The basic stamp controlled sequencing and data logging by measuring the voltage across each switched load.When testing the charge rate of multiple capacitors, the capacitor was shorted by a relay for a period of five seconds, then released to charge by the solarcell. Voltage readings were taken between .2 and 5 seconds, depending on estimated total charge time. An 80% open voltage line is also indicated on the graphs. |
||
| Charge Times sorted by Solar Cell | ||
|
||
| Charge Times sorted by Capacitor | ||
| Solar Cell output under Resistance | ||
| Complete Data Sheet Download | ||
| For those of you who would rather have access to the complete data sheets and charts for the 2001 Solar Cell Analysis, we provide this information in the Microsoft Excel format.Solarcell Data Sheet A - 88KB Solarcell Data Sheet B - 388KB |
||
| Disclaimer: | ||
| Although the information is provided freely, we request that any reproduction or reference to the above data be included with proper accreditation to Solarbotics Ltd. Additionally, although we have performed these tests in good faith, we do not and cannot warrantee this data in any way. | ||
MORE POSTS
ScoutWalker III - limited stock!
We've managed to dig up enough parts to get six ScoutWalker III's together in time for Christmas. We'll have them ready by the end of the week for shipping, so if you don't mind waiting for your order to go until then, feel free to pre-order now!
New Product!
We've been shopping again, but the accountant won't let us hoard all the goodies for ourselves. SOOO, we're announcing the following goodies! RBFB: The Book "Robot Building for Beginners" by David Cook, which is an excellent reference for a newcomer to robotics. It's an ideal companion for our own book "Junkbots, Bugbots, and Bots on […]
Interesting video...
We're big fans of "Scientific American Frontiers" around here. We were quite surprised to trip over this link of a program called "Games Machines Play". Well worth a view, if you can spare better part of an hour!
Solarbotics has been operating for more than 25 years, bringing electronics know-how and supplies to both the electronics professional and hobbyist. We'll be happy to help you too!
Solarbotics, Ltd. is not responsible for misprints or errors on product prices or information. For more information, please see our Terms and Conditions.
Warning: This product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.
Please visit www.P65Warnings.ca.gov for more information. This item was manufactured prior to August 31, 2018.