I know it’s likely beyond the scope of this video but I wanted to mention that the difference in power output of the different cells is directly related to their technology. The amorphous silicon solar cells you get at the dollar store or in calculators are great at picking up low light but have a terrible power output, the opposite is true for crystalline silicon cells. I like how you did the price comparison, because that’s exactly what hacking is about sometimes. Finding that more affordable solution. But if form factor is a issue, check out Solarbotics as they have small scale crystalline solar cells. I learned the hard way, in my past, to stay miles away from amorphous cells due to their supremely low efficiency. Even though the low price makes them very tempting.
I thought about putting an explanation in my video about exactly that. but I decided it would be overly technical. Thank you, I'm sure other viewers will enjoy.
Yes and no. I have 9 of the 15 watt, 12 volt Harbor Freight solar panels. No, they don't put out much power but it doesn't take much light for them to begin putting it out. They are not nearly as good as mono or polycrystaline types. But they start producing power as soon as the sun hits em.
Hey Alan, your last video inspired me. I lack any knowledge of electrical things and have never soldered but I bought 17 similar lights from my dollar store and plan on using it as a chance to learn solder and make a basic model for my 3d printer. I will tag you in a few weeks when it's done. I know the output will suck but it's more a proof of concept for me. Perhaps something bigger next?
I'm happy to hear that! 😊 Definitely tag me and I'd love to see your progression. You can use @alansinventions on IG as well. Let me know if you need any tips or questions on some of the basics I had to figure out on my own.
Just picked up one of them. I'm going to see if I can use it to light up my back seat so I can see my kid in the mirror better at night inside of his rear facing car seat. Figure I all I need is to run a dim light anyway, then reworked linking a few up to bread board with a variable resistor and a cookie cutter charge controller can work well. Just worry about the cars heat in the Florida sun when parked.
I'm up in Canada.... I Bought A LED Solar Light Motion Detector.. $19.99 at Princess Auto .. Like Harbor Freight Type Place Anyway... I Bought 4 of Them After The First ONE... It's AWESOME.. I Have One on Right Now.. It's 11:30pm & I Put It on at 7pm.. Stilll Bright, I Use Them Inside... It Has Like A 12 Volt Plug.. It Fits My Cordless Drill Charger & I CAN Charge My Batteries With The Panel..I HIGHLY Recommend IT/THEM.... You'd Prolly Get'em In The States For About $12ish I'd Assume?... It Charges A Lithium 18650 Cell Inside The Light/Detector.. There's A Switch For Steady Operation Or Set It To Detect Motion... And It's 2 Parts.. The Light... & The Panel About 8"X10" and about And Inch Thick... With The 12V Wire About 20 Ft. I Bought another Type as well... With The Yellow Silicon LED's... It's MASSIVELY Bright & Has 3 Smaller Panels Built In.. I Use That One Outside Over My Side Door... Works Excellent.. Super Bright. Anyways... I'm A Long Typin' Sommagun..lol... Great Video.. Keep'em Comin' !!!
Ok, so i have some of these from one of my dad's projects -- he makes these garden chandlers from solar lamps and these ones he couldn't use due to form factor. I'm thinking about using some of these just to save them from the trash and I want to see what the limitations are. I'll let you know if anything comes of it, but I want to use the existing joule thief IC and inductor coil.
I did not test them this time around, however last time, eventhough they are labeled as 100 mah, I remember getting like 25% of that. Honestly the short answer IMO is No.
I know it’s likely beyond the scope of this video but I wanted to mention that the difference in power output of the different cells is directly related to their technology. The amorphous silicon solar cells you get at the dollar store or in calculators are great at picking up low light but have a terrible power output, the opposite is true for crystalline silicon cells. I like how you did the price comparison, because that’s exactly what hacking is about sometimes. Finding that more affordable solution. But if form factor is a issue, check out Solarbotics as they have small scale crystalline solar cells. I learned the hard way, in my past, to stay miles away from amorphous cells due to their supremely low efficiency. Even though the low price makes them very tempting.
I thought about putting an explanation in my video about exactly that. but I decided it would be overly technical. Thank you, I'm sure other viewers will enjoy.
Yes and no. I have 9 of the 15 watt, 12 volt Harbor Freight solar panels. No, they don't put out much power but it doesn't take much light for them to begin putting it out.
They are not nearly as good as mono or polycrystaline types.
But they start producing power as soon as the sun hits em.
Hey Alan, your last video inspired me. I lack any knowledge of electrical things and have never soldered but I bought 17 similar lights from my dollar store and plan on using it as a chance to learn solder and make a basic model for my 3d printer. I will tag you in a few weeks when it's done. I know the output will suck but it's more a proof of concept for me. Perhaps something bigger next?
I'm happy to hear that! 😊 Definitely tag me and I'd love to see your progression. You can use @alansinventions on IG as well. Let me know if you need any tips or questions on some of the basics I had to figure out on my own.
@@AlansInventions Thank you I expect to have some yes
Just picked up one of them. I'm going to see if I can use it to light up my back seat so I can see my kid in the mirror better at night inside of his rear facing car seat. Figure I all I need is to run a dim light anyway, then reworked linking a few up to bread board with a variable resistor and a cookie cutter charge controller can work well. Just worry about the cars heat in the Florida sun when parked.
I'm up in Canada.... I Bought A LED Solar Light Motion Detector.. $19.99 at Princess Auto .. Like Harbor Freight Type Place
Anyway... I Bought 4 of Them After The First ONE... It's AWESOME.. I Have One on Right Now.. It's 11:30pm & I Put It on at 7pm.. Stilll Bright, I Use Them Inside... It Has Like A 12 Volt Plug.. It Fits My Cordless Drill Charger & I CAN Charge My Batteries With The Panel..I HIGHLY Recommend IT/THEM.... You'd Prolly Get'em In The States For About $12ish I'd Assume?... It Charges A Lithium 18650 Cell Inside The Light/Detector.. There's A Switch For Steady Operation Or Set It To Detect Motion... And It's 2 Parts.. The Light... & The Panel About 8"X10" and about And Inch Thick... With The 12V Wire About 20 Ft.
I Bought another Type as well... With The Yellow Silicon LED's... It's MASSIVELY Bright & Has 3 Smaller Panels Built In.. I Use That One Outside Over My Side Door... Works Excellent.. Super Bright.
Anyways... I'm A Long Typin' Sommagun..lol... Great Video.. Keep'em Comin' !!!
Lots of good information!! Thank you, never heard of the store you mentioned but sounds awesome!! Glad you like my videos.
Lol. My arch nemesis, hot glue.
Ok, so i have some of these from one of my dad's projects -- he makes these garden chandlers from solar lamps and these ones he couldn't use due to form factor. I'm thinking about using some of these just to save them from the trash and I want to see what the limitations are. I'll let you know if anything comes of it, but I want to use the existing joule thief IC and inductor coil.
I like the 6 watt usb solar panels from Amazon they are only like 15 bucks and already have a USB port and everything
Is the rechargeable battery worth using?
I did not test them this time around, however last time, eventhough they are labeled as 100 mah, I remember getting like 25% of that. Honestly the short answer IMO is No.
@@AlansInventions thanks!
Kinda?
Define kinda?
@@AlansInventions They work okayish for low power electronics.
Could you tie three together to prevent self discharge of a small battery. You got enough no there's got to be a use for all those cells.
If you already have them yes