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DiscoverCircuits.com -- Hobby Corner
Last Updated on:
Tuesday, June 01, 2021 03:06 PM
Hobby Circuits List
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LINK to Dave's circuit, but DO NOT COPY any files to your WEB
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Solar Cells |
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Solar Panels Using Broken Cells
designed
by David Johnson, P.E. (10/9/2013) |
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As illustrated below, one
way to salvage a large number of broken solar cells is to wire them in parallel, not
in the more conventional series connection. Broken cells of various sizes and shapes
are grouped together into panels of about one quarter to one full square foot in
area. Those panels are then wired in series with other similar panels. The result is
a low voltage, high current electrical power source. A commercial or custom DC
to DC converter can then be used to boost the voltage, so the panel can charge a 12v
or 24v battery.
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A typical 10% efficient solar cell will produce about
0.07 watts per square inch. An active area of about 140 square inches will produce
about 10 watts of power. With some careful shopping, you can sometimes buy a
batch of broken solar cells at about $0.5 per watt. A 40 watt panel could therefore
be made using about $20 worth of cells. |
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| Broken photovoltaic
cells |
Optional layout for
the broken solar cells |
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Solar Cells
Hobby Circuits List
eMail David A.
Johnson, P.E. about this circuit |
