Solar Power
 

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

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

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

thats what i did but the bit doesnt have enough space to make the need speed:mad: 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

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

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

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

cool idea
 

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

cool idea
 

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

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.

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.

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

the pastics link doesnt work!:mad:

ok maybe it does

hey guys, check out what i found. I got one for 50cents. I'm gonna go to my science store and get some more on tuesday. They produce .5 volts and if i hook em up in series it just mite work. I'll let ya know.

thats about how large mine is cept its not that thick
tell me how it works out

very cool, but will they fit ? On the top maybe ? how do u plan on using it, like with the battery(s) still in the car and just use the solar power as a charger for the battery or just completely run it through solar ? In very excited, i have an idea to use the layman's cell mod on a bit plan w/ solar power or just power it solarly ( is solarly even a werd ?:p ) but anyways sounds great, but as soon as anyone gets a bit goin solar powered i wana see some pics vids or anythign ASAFP ( AS SOON A !@#$ING POSSIBLE)

Glad hes banned :) I want to do this too. Can't you just solder the wires to the battery contacts?

not enough current
 

i hooked 8 of these solar cells up in many ways and tested whether or not they would spin a bit motor. but so far the only way it worked was if i hooked them all in parallel. the parallel only generates .5 volts. so i'm gonna experiment some more if i have time. school sux. :D

The test I ran on Motor mA usage might help...
http://tinyrc.com/forums/showthread....&threadid=7994

Basically, unless you always give the cars a little push to get them started, they'll need considerable mA to build up the torque to move the wheels at a dead stop.

Even the feeble Tomy 1.0 motor needs up to 86mA to get going

Namuna, I'm about ready to build a working solar micro. I have Zips to use as guinea pigs, but was wondering if a Bit would be more suited to your website for promotional purposes.