Solar powered bit?

Sporttracguy · Post by **Sporttracguy** » Sun Mar 19, 2006 11:58 pm

What do you guys think about making a solar powered bit? As an industrial design student ive been working on a calculator design for a final project and ive collected quite a collection of solar cells in the process of research and so on. These cheap calculator solar cells give off 1.5 volts each and a few combined with a good sized capacitor would give plenty of power at a fraction of the weight of a normal cell. Im thinking of desiging one,, anyone had any experience with this or any opinions?

STG

SuperFly · Post by **SuperFly** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 12:51 am

I looked into this a little while ago, and the surface area of typical photovoltaic cells was too large to be practical. I was basing this on using the rest of the bit as stock (steering, battery and motor).

I think it could be done by building a much lighter chassis, eliminating the battery, and figuring out a clever way to maximize energy-producing surface area and compact, driveable design.

There's a science museum here that has a shop, and they sell an erector-like kit to build a solar-powered car. It lookes like a crude futuristic dragster. Here it is:

I say go for it. I think it would be totally cool.

betty.k · Post by **betty.k** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 2:32 am

tamiya make some toys that should do a good job as a base

http://www.tamiyausa.com/product/catego ... b-id=42000

frizzen · Post by **frizzen** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 4:38 am

Really guys, NOTHING is new...

http://www.tinyrc.com/forums/showthread ... ight=solar
http://www.tinyrc.com/forums/showthread ... ight=solar
http://www.tinyrc.com/forums/showthread ... ight=solar

Ok, that should give you some ideas. Now, go out there and do it with a pimpness.

crazydave · Post by **crazydave** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 7:32 am

Yeah, this has been discussed numerous times before. I had said before, and I still believe that the most pratical method of using solar power would be as a battery charger, though what asimov was doing with the super caps sounds like a pretty good plan.

Maxximum Attack · Post by **Maxximum Attack** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 9:49 am

I haven't clicked any of the links posted, so with that being said...

You could use the cells off those solar powered calculators and run them in series. maybe mount them on a truck bed. Not sure how many volts one of those micro panels puts out, but you guys can rig it up on one of your electrical doo-dads and find out

I wonder if I can go into town and find some of these calculators cheap.

crazydave · Post by **crazydave** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 9:59 am

Maxximum Attack wrote:I haven't clicked any of the links posted, so with that being said...

You could use the cells off those solar powered calculators and run them in series. maybe mount them on a truck bed. Not sure how many volts one of those micro panels puts out, but you guys can rig it up on one of your electrical doo-dads and find out

I wonder if I can go into town and find some of these calculators cheap.

Those solar panels don't put out the amps an electric motor needs to run. Calculators require very little amps. So in order for it to work, you need to store the juice up in something like a battery or a capacitor.

The advantage to using a battery would be, you only use the solar panel as a charger, and you'd run the car as normal. The advantage of using the capacitor as asimov did, would be no charge time, and dual cell like speed. The disadvantage would be having to mount the panels on the car, and keep the car near sunlight. If you look at his attached pictures, his cars look like full size solar cars, which is to say, one big solar panel.

Sporttracguy · Post by **Sporttracguy** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 12:00 am

Cool stuff,, When finals are over ill have to give it a try.

STG