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Step 2Background
My original goal was to use several small 1"x3" solar cells I'd purchased a year ago to charge my cell phone. For my first panel I connected nine cells in series and very simply mounted them on a board with no cover. That generated enough electricity to directly charge my cell phone.
However, it had several shortcomings. First, I found that I needed to charge the phone when the sun wasn't shining. Second, when I wanted to receive calls the phone was often outside charging while I was inside. Third, the cells got dirty and one broke. Finally, because the circuit could run in either direction (no blocking diode), the cell phone battery would discharge to the panel when the was no light.
My solution to these problems was increase flexibility by charging two AA batteries instead of the cell phone and to put the charged batteries into the Minty Boost to charge the phone. To better protect the cells I glued them to the backing board and covered them with a clear plastic sheet. A blocking diode prevents battery discharge.
The inspiration for mounting the cells comes from otherpower.com
I couldn't find any other resources on the internet with details for creating your own solar panels, but there must be something out there.
However, it had several shortcomings. First, I found that I needed to charge the phone when the sun wasn't shining. Second, when I wanted to receive calls the phone was often outside charging while I was inside. Third, the cells got dirty and one broke. Finally, because the circuit could run in either direction (no blocking diode), the cell phone battery would discharge to the panel when the was no light.
My solution to these problems was increase flexibility by charging two AA batteries instead of the cell phone and to put the charged batteries into the Minty Boost to charge the phone. To better protect the cells I glued them to the backing board and covered them with a clear plastic sheet. A blocking diode prevents battery discharge.
The inspiration for mounting the cells comes from otherpower.com
I couldn't find any other resources on the internet with details for creating your own solar panels, but there must be something out there.
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Sep 16, 2009. 10:01 AMdinesh007
says:
it's nice to improve the science knowledge
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Feb 1, 2012. 1:24 PMthe dashing hero
says:
dude, how did you do that!
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