What would you build?

[Moleman]

I'm just here to learn dude. Sorry if I went a little overboard but the thread is about ideas for a simple little solar project. If you think I shouldn't do anything with them at all okay, your input has been registered.-------

[sdold]

This is a project to teach my kid about the basics of electricity (and to brush up on it myself). So keep in mind before bashing it, this is meant to be fun/educational.

Sounds like a fun project, I'd do it. You might not end up with anything practical, but it beats video games or building M-80s. Learning about solar on a small scale would be fun but learning the limitations of solar technically and economically would be good for a kid too, in a world where people are telling them "anything is possible."

[Moleman]

Sounds like a fun project, I'd do it. You might not end up with anything practical, but it beats video games or building M-80s. Learning about solar on a small scale would be fun but learning the limitations of solar technically and economically would be good for a kid too, in a world where people are telling them "anything is possible."

Yeah, I'm hoping it will be fun. I'm learning a lot myself at the same time. It's definitely not something I intend to spend a lot of $$$ on. I'm wondering about the possibility of connecting directly to the modules like a 12v automotive outlet or usb ports, in order to skip the battery bank. Would I still need a charge controller even for that, or is there another practical way?

[sdold]

The first thing you'll learn playing with the panels is that they are more of a constant-current source, not a fixed voltage source like a battery. An educational thing for you would be to take a panel, put it in the sun, and connect a voltmeter across it and an ammeter in series with it and try different value resistors across the panel to see what it takes to get the most power (volts X current) out of the panel. You'll soon see that there is a particular value that lets the panel operate at its max power (Vmp X Imp). You'll see what happens in low light conditions too. You'll understand at that point why it's not efficient and sometimes unsafe to simply connect the panel to a battery. For a proper system you'll need at least the panel(s), charge controller, and battery. Instead of thinking "what can I make?", think "what can I learn?"

If you do this, make sure the resistor wattage ratings can handle the expected power (volts X amps). Just do it with one panel to start out with.

[Sunking]

I'm just here to learn dude. Sorry if I went a little overboard but the thread is about ideas for a simple little solar project. If you think I shouldn't do anything with them at all okay, your input has been registered.-------

Never said you could not do something with it. The simplest thing is to use one panel and get one of the cheap Computer fans and run it directly from a single panel. To go beyond a single panel experiment will start to cost some bucks requiring a charge controller and battery with very little energy to show for it.

[Mike90250]

Also, automotive 12v bulbs are god to use, they are like resistors, but with visible feedback.. Look at the small ones, like for side marker lights