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Step 7Build the Solar Panel
The solar panel provides enough power to charge the digital picture frame in bright sunlight. The digital picture frame will think it's plugged into USB power all the time!
Connecting the panel is easy. Start by cutting two pieces of wire about 8 inches long. Strip about half a centimeter off the ends, and solder them to the back of the solar panel. On my solar panel, two bare pieces of copper were exposed on the back of the panel for me to solder onto. You may want to stick with convention and make the positive side red, and the negative side black - it will make connecting them easier later on.
Use a drinking straw similar (or ideally identical) to the one you used to make the stem for the flower. This one will be shorter; just long enough to elevate the solar panel above the lip of the flower pot. Measure carefully, holding the solar panel in approximately the position you'd like above the pot. The straw should extend down below the lip of the pot about 1.5 to two inches. Cut the straw with a saw or knife.
Thread the wires into the straw, and as with the flower squeeze a bend into the wires. Hold the straw against the back of the solar panel with the end in the very center. It should be at an angle, so that when the solar panel is installed it points to the sky somewhat. Glue the wires and the straw in place with hot glue, and be sure to hold the straw in place until the glue has hardened.
Lastly, cut a piece of craft foam to fit the back of the solar panel and hide the wires. Glue it in place with hot glue, and press down firmly until the glue is hard.
Connecting the panel is easy. Start by cutting two pieces of wire about 8 inches long. Strip about half a centimeter off the ends, and solder them to the back of the solar panel. On my solar panel, two bare pieces of copper were exposed on the back of the panel for me to solder onto. You may want to stick with convention and make the positive side red, and the negative side black - it will make connecting them easier later on.
Use a drinking straw similar (or ideally identical) to the one you used to make the stem for the flower. This one will be shorter; just long enough to elevate the solar panel above the lip of the flower pot. Measure carefully, holding the solar panel in approximately the position you'd like above the pot. The straw should extend down below the lip of the pot about 1.5 to two inches. Cut the straw with a saw or knife.
Thread the wires into the straw, and as with the flower squeeze a bend into the wires. Hold the straw against the back of the solar panel with the end in the very center. It should be at an angle, so that when the solar panel is installed it points to the sky somewhat. Glue the wires and the straw in place with hot glue, and be sure to hold the straw in place until the glue has hardened.
Lastly, cut a piece of craft foam to fit the back of the solar panel and hide the wires. Glue it in place with hot glue, and press down firmly until the glue is hard.
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