Solar Power

[Auto-bot]

Hi all -
I've been theorizing about powering a micro-rc (zz in my case) entirely off a solar cell mounted on top of the car. I'm trying to figure out what the minimum voltage/amperage would be to run the car. It sounds like a standard battery provides 1.2V at 100uA, and that voltage effects motor power and amperage effects run time. It kinda makes sense since total wattage in battery would be V*A. I've found several sites on the web that have indoor and outdoor cells that might do the job. But do I have to reach the volts more importantly that the amps, since it's a continuous powers source? ie would 1.5V at 30uA do it? As part of the solution a capacitor could be used to offset high power usages such as accelerating. I've found a couple cadidate cells here:
http://www.solar-world.com/SolarPanels.htm Although I've forgotten if you can convert some of the high Amp, low Volt cells to high Volt, low Amp using resistors. V=I*R right? Any feedback from someone with electric engineering expirence would be helpful.
Thanks - Auto-bot

[hogjowlz]

you gota remember that all that extra weight is gona require even more voltage to move your jalopy.

[bherrin]

I got a better idea. Start ripping apart solar calculators and see what you can rig up for free.

[strakka]

thats what i did but the bit doesnt have enough space to make the need speed though if you got a really thin on like one from www.photontek.com you could mount it onto your bit body. then you just smolder the panel directly on the pcb and you dont need to do the 3 batt mod if it has enough volts

[strakka]

i think the 1 near the bottom the 6.0v 50ma 3-3/4" x 2-1/2" would be great for a bit just mold it onto the body not the chasiss
ill probably get that one
good luck

[frizzen]

Why am I picturing some really cool 1/70 scale versions of the "Solar Racers"

[Tim__x]

I hate to be nit-picky but I think you mean mA not µA.

Edit: just to clear things up mA means Mili-Amp where as µA mean Micro-Amp

2 things

tim x tim,timmy,timothy are gay names
second solar power sucks read the measurements of those solar panels
way to big to fit anyway

[MadMicroDoc]

I was thinking the exact same thing while browsing the allelectronics.com store for my layman's mod, if it doesn't work on the car why not use solar for a battery charger instead ? anyways cool idea id like to see sum pics

[MadMicroDoc]

I was thinking the exact same thing while browsing the allelectronics.com store for my layman's mod, if it doesn't work on the car why not use solar for a battery charger instead ? anyways cool idea id like to see sum pics

[Tim__x]

Originally posted by met-sb
2 things

tim x tim,timmy,timothy are gay names
second solar power sucks read the measurements of those solar panels
way to big to fit anyway

Hmm... a jerk and an idiot at the same time, wow.
First of all I didn't start the thread, second it's pretty pathetic if the only way you can insult me is my name, and finally, there are solar panels that would work for Mini/Micro-RC, I'll find a link for you in a second.

[Tim__x]

Both of these sites have cells and panels that could easily power a Bit

http://www.scientificsonline.com/EC/...egoryid=193066

http://www.plastecs.com/solar_panels.htm

Paticularly the "Plastecs" one rated at 2.4-3.3 V (Open circuit) 300 mA (Short circuit)
And the "Scientifics online" one at http://www.scientificsonline.com/EC/...egoryid=193070 of course for that one you'd need to wire 3 in series, but with that you'd have a whopping 500 mA's of current.

[strakka]

thanks, but would a 3v-20 ma work for a bit?

[strakka]

the pastics link doesnt work!

[strakka]

ok maybe it does