|
Posted by Kris Krieger on May 14, 2008, 6:45 pm
>
>>
>>> "Kris Krieger"> wrote
>>>> Hi, All, I don't know where to ask this; also tried Google but
>>>> dunno how to phrase the Q. so as to get fewer than 50,000+ hits...
>>>>
>>>> What i'm wondering is wherer tehre is a basic/beginner's/'how to"
>>>> book that
>>>> will tell me how to build simple solar-powered items. The thing is
>>>> that I am *not* an electrician, never studied electronics, don't
>>>> want to rewire a whole house, etc. - I just want to find out (1)
>>>> how to match the power output of cells and the power requirements
>>>> of simple things (lights, mostly), and (2) how to put them together
>>>> - not "how to solder", as I know that; but how to connect the
>>>> above-mentioned and matched components.
>>>>
>>>> Basically, does anyone know whether is there a sort of "solar
>>>> cookbook" that will bypass the things I don't want and tell me how
>>>> to build or wire- together a variety of simple lights (or maybe
>>>> clocks and other *simple* items) - or, alternately, a source for
>>>> this sort of basic information?
>>>>
>>>> Most of my hits were retailers of completed units, OR components
>>>> retailers (but no instructional material that I could see).
>>>> Thank You!!
>>>> - Kris
>>>
>>> First off, there's been a terrible misconception thrown around for a
>>> long time which has lead to alot of confusion on this subject.
>>> Let me get this part out of the way first: the book.
>>> There is no book that I am aware of that dispells the popular myths
>>> about solar.
>>> There are books that will *teach* you how solar stuff works, but why
>>> pay money when you can get the info for free on the web?
>>> Here's the deal, are you sitting down?
>>> Solar doesn't *power* stuff.
>>> Photovoltaic solar cells simply recharge batteries.
>>> And then the solar recharged batteries can then power stuff.
>>
>> Right. Same tends to be true of wind (and I say "tends" only because
>> I'm not absolutely cwertain that wind turbines "never" work any other
>> way...)
>>
>> But what's the rule for balancing solar cell output, to battery
>> capacity...?
>>
>>> Thats the simplest explanation you'll find anywhere.
>>> From that point on it gets exponentially more complex.
>>> Everything I've read, or was told, says the same thing: first find
>>> out how much power you require for any given task.
>>> Say for example you just want a simple *solar powered* lamp over
>>> your desk, sounds easy right?
>>> When you run the numbers of the costs of whats involved you'll be
>>> flabbergasted.
>>> Take it from me, its far, far cheaper to just get a $10 lamp at
>>> Walmart and plug it in the wall.
>>
>> The whole point, tho', for me personally at this time is to see
>> whetehr I could do stained glass garden lights. Yeah, you can buy
>> all sorts fo solar lights (from cheap black plastic things, to
>> stainelss steel and otehr emtal units, to silly/cutie glowing resin
>> animal charicatures), but what I'm interested in doing is "stepping
>> it up a notch" and dong a hand- crafted thingy that's unusual - for
>> example, a design using variously- textured clear glass the way one
>> uses lines and whatnot in doing pen'n'ink drawings, larger than
>> typical path lights (i.e., more LEDs) and acting as a sculpture that
>> attractively catches sunlight by day, and just happens to have lights
>> in it for nighttime viewing.
>>
>> I'm certainly no stranger to WalMart, but I want to *make* something
>> (if I can figure out the lighting part), and specifically, try to
>> make something beautiful, or at least unusual, that people might be
>> interested in buying.
>>
>>
>>> On one end of the string you have your PV panel and on the other end
>>> you have your desk lamp and in between there are a whole buncha
>>> dollar signs to make it happen.
>>> Unless you just go out and buy a $50 solar lamp thingy at Lowes or
>>> wherever that you sit in the yard you're going to find solar stuff
>>> in general is hugely expensive.
>>> None of it is cheap.
>>
>> Neither are hand-crafted stained glass objets d'art - "cheap" isn't
>> my point in this. I can estimate how long it'd take me to do the
>> glass parts, but I also need to know what sorts fo parts I'd need,
>> and how toassemple them, before I can make any sort of estimate
>> regarding my costs (and therefore, reasonable profit margin) for that
>> part.
>>
>> What it is, is that I'd like to at least try to see whether I could
>> make some things that would harmonize with a given house style, IOW,
>> somehting that's more stylistically individualized - the target
>> audience being people who care about that sort of thing.
>>
>>
>>
>>>
>>> Here in my office I have a computer and a lamp that I wanted to put
>>> on an *entry level* solar system that I could expand at a later
>>> date. No way.
>>> It would cost me over $2,000 right up front just to get the thing
>>> started. If I reverse engineer the power grid costs of running my
>>> computer and lamp it would take me 20 years to recognize any benefit
>>> and unfortunately the solar products won't last that long.
>>>
>>> From what I've seen the real solar users in the US fall into 2
>>> categories and both have lots of money.
>>> Well, maybe 3 categories.
>>> 1) The Ed Begleys that have zillions of dollars and no brain power,
>>> so he throws wheelbarrow loads of coins at the thing to assuage his
>>> media purchased guilty ass conscience.
>>> 2) Wealthy people that live in isolated areas where a power grid is
>>> not an option.
>>> 3) Less than wealthy people can live off the grid too but they have
>>> greatly modified their lifestyle so that electricity is not a major
>>> necessity to them, sort of like living 200 years ago, candles,
>>> fires, going to bed when the sun goes down, no TV, library computer
>>> usage, etc.
>>
>> 4) people who are just interested,IOW, natural "tech-heads" ;)
>> 5) people who want to have some light in the yard without stringing
>> electrical wires all the heck over the place ;)
>>
>> I'm going for the arsty-fartsy subgrouping of #5 <g!>
>>
>>
>>>
>>> If you want to know anything else about this stuff you can ask me,
>>> I'm no expert but I have learned a few things, or lurk in
>>> alt.solar.photovoltaic or alt.solar.thermal or alt.energy.homepower.
>>> I've been hanging out in those groups for a couple years and there's
>>> a wealth of info to be found there.
>>>
>>
>> Oh! OK, good idea, for some reason (well OK, lack thereof!) I never
>> thought of checking the newsgroups...thanks!
>
> Here's an entry level solar kit with a motor, but small lamp(s) can be
> substituted for the motor, and in the process of checking it out you
> may be able learn how the stuff works.
> http://www.siliconsolar.com/beginner-level-solar-kit-p-109.php
>
> Here's a link to the instruction manual (pdf -300kb)
> http://www.siliconsolar.com/support/index.php?_m=downloads&_a=viewdownl
> oad&downloaditemid=85
>
> Here's the gist of the instruction manual, not too detailed:
>
> SS-Starter Kit
>
> MATERIAL:
>
> . 1 Low voltage electric motor
>
> . 1 Plastic propeller
>
> . 1 Rechargeable battery
>
> . 1 Battery Holder
>
> . 1 Diode
>
> . 3 Test leads
>
> . 1 Pushbutton switch
>
> . 1.5v @ 300mA Solar Panel
>
> . 1 Spare wire (6 inches)
>
> OPERATION:
>
> Before installation, it is recommended that a soldering iron is used.
> Though
>
> it is not required, soldering can ensure safe and secure connections.
> Also, you
>
> may use "alligator" clamps for easy on/off connection.
>
> 1. Take all components out of bag and check to make sure all
> components match your materials
>
> list above.
>
> 2. Insert rechargeable battery into battery holder.
>
> 3. Insert Propeller on to motor.
>
> 4. Take one end of the test lead and connect it to the negative
> terminal (-) of the battery holder
>
> and connect the other end to the negative terminal of motor (blue wire
> if motor has wires).
>
> 5. Take one end of another test lead and connect it to the positive
> terminal (+) of battery holder
>
> and connect the opposite end to the diode (grey/white band side).
>
> 6. Take the other end of the diode (black side opposite of grey/white
> band) and connect to positive
>
> (+) terminal of panel.
>
> 7. Take spare wire and fasten to the negative (-) end of the battery
> holder (side with the coil).
>
> Ensure proper connection .
>
> 8. Take spare wire and fasten remaining end to negative (-) terminal
> of panel.
>
> 9. Take push button switch and connect positive (+) end (black push
> button switch wire with
>
> numbers) to diode (grey band side) and positive wire (+) from the
> battery holder.
>
> 10. Connect remaining push button switch wire (black) to remaining
> terminal on motor
>
> (brown wire if motor has wires)
>
> 11. Place panel out in sun and use switch to turn on/off propeller.
>
> Congratulations! Enjoy your new Solar Energy System!
>
> If for any reason you have Technical questions or any other questions
> concerning your order,
>
> please fill out the form online including Invoice number and contact
> info at the below link. All
>
> educational Solar Kits are non-returnable.
>
> From ALL of us at Silicon Solar, Thank You for your order and hope we
> can meet your current
>
> future solar energy needs!
>
> ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>
> Here's a link for a $3.00 solar cell info packet:
> http://www.siliconsolar.com/solar-cell-information-packet-p-113.php
THanks! - that will give me a look at the basic "guts". I know that the
LEDs and other parts'n'bits can be bought separately and prob more
cheaply (even Fry's has a lot of the parts, ifnot all of them), but as
"overview" is good, esp. seeing th eparts intact. One of my concerns
with hacking apart an existing light was destrying potentially-important
subunits.
THis is a good site - I somehow missed it while Googluing things Solar.
I found the LED kit, too - that looks perfect ;)
> The CELLBOOK, or Solar Cell Information Packet is written by Silicon
> Solar in order to give our customers an affordable, easy to follow,
> and in-depth introduction into Solar Energy. The CELLBOOK covers many
> topics from the basics of Solar Energy, the History of Solar Cells and
> Panels, How to connect solar cells into panels, the processes involved
> that make solar energy work, and much, much more.
>
> This is a great first step into Solar Energy, and combined with our
> DIY Solar Panel Kits or Solar Cell Sample Kits, it is a great to
> experiement with solar energy in a safe, affordable way. Great for
> students, children's groups, and anyone interested in learning more
> about the benefits of solar energy.
Thanks!
Oh yeah, I finished my "bird panel" from teh Glass class, said I'd load
up a pic when I could get one - I haven't gotten one yet but I haven't
forgotten ;) It turned out a lot better than I'd expected and I've
gotten some good comments on it, which is a relief (after paying for ti
all and putting the time into it).
I'm not sure that stained glass anels directly relate to *architecture*,
and same for the solar stained glass garden light idea, but I suppose it
does relate at least indirectly ;)
Anyway, I'll see whetehr I can get some pics (I use film, not sure how
they photos will turn out) and scan 'em, mebbe it'll give me an excuse to
upload my website ;)
Meanwhile, I'm going to poke around that site mroe and look for that
booklet, thanks again!
| 
Yahoo! 
Google 
Windows Live 
del.icio.us 
digg 
Netscape 
XML Sitemap