Looking for small perferably flexible solar cell

[NatesNU87]

Hello,

I am looking for a miniature solar cell, ideally a flexible one. Similar cells (not flexible though) can be found in solar powered calculators, LCD blinking key chains ( http://www.hilltrend.com/solar_power_lcd_key_chain.htm ) and perhaps elsewhere. I find it very hard to find suppliers of such cells. I found two in China but even they don't have the really thin cells from the blinking key chain for example.

When looking for flexible ones I had no luck at all. This is the closest I could come but it is too wide (25 mm wheres I would need it to be less than 10 mm): http://www.jameco.com/1/1/1170-mp3-2...e-25ma-3v.html

Does anyone know of a supplier where one could get small flexible cells? Maximum dimensions I can afford is 40 mm x 10 mm x 1.5 mm. Smaller is of course better. As for power, for now I really just want to have the size right. The circuit it will be powering will consume very little power (in the range of a few 10 uA).

Thank you.

[inetdog]

Not that I can help you directly with your search, but what voltage will your equipment need?
A silicon-based cell will have an voltage of about .5 volts, so what you may actually need is a small panel composed of several cells rather than a small cell.

[NatesNU87]

You are quite right. I'm not up to speed with terminology yet. What I am looking for is a small module made up of a few cells. As long as the voltage is above 3 V it should be fine. Around 6 V to 12 V would be even better.
Thanks.

[SunEagle]

What you are looking for does not exist.

A solar cell will generate a specific amount of voltage based on the material it is made of and it's size.

I know of no solar panel that puts out 3 volts let alone 6 or more that measures 40 x 10 x 1.5 mm.

There are a number of portable & flexible solar charging devices that put out 5 volt at some amperage but they are made up of 2 cells each about 160 x 160 mm in size wired in series.

[inetdog]

2 cells each about 160 x 160 mm in size wired in series.

Two cells wired in series to get 5 volts? Maybe I am missing something.
Unless the "cells" you are talking about are really multi-junction amorphous assemblies which if they were larger would be called panels.

[SunEagle]

Two cells wired in series to get 5 volts? Maybe I am missing something.
Unless the "cells" you are talking about are really multi-junction amorphous assemblies which if they were larger would be called panels.

Yeah I found that strange also. There were a lot of portable solar chargers that made the claim of 5 volts and xx ma for yy watts that were designed to charge cell phones.

Here is the one I mentioned in my other post.

http://www.amazon.com/Suntactics-sc5...bs_tab_pd_tr_2

[inetdog]

Yeah I found that strange also. There were a lot of portable solar chargers that made the claim of 5 volts and xx ma for yy watts that were designed to charge cell phones.

Here is the one I mentioned in my other post.

http://www.amazon.com/Suntactics-sc5...bs_tab_pd_tr_2

Those feature PV panels, not PV cells, notwithstanding that they are meant to charge "cell" phones.

The grid structure pattern is usually a dead giveaway that you are looking at multiple cells.

[SunEagle]

Those feature PV panels, not PV cells, notwithstanding that they are meant to charge "cell" phones.

The grid structure pattern is usually a dead giveaway that you are looking at multiple cells.

Good point.

I wasn't sure it they were amorphous cells or some type of thin film. They couldn't be silicon cells since ones of that size only put out 0.5 volts each. The packaging just made them look like a couple of cells. Thanks for the clarification.

[inetdog]

Good point.

I wasn't sure it they were amorphous cells or some type of thin film. They couldn't be silicon cells since ones of that size only put out 0.5 volts each. The packaging just made them look like a couple of cells. Thanks for the clarification.

Single silicon cells of any size at all will only put out .5 volts. But not all panels are made up of individual 6" by 6" cells visibly soldered together.

[bcroe]

Does anyone know of a supplier where one could get small flexible cells?
Maximum dimensions I can afford is 40 mm x 10 mm x 1.5 mm. Smaller is of course better.
As for power, for now I really just want to have the size right. The circuit it will be powering
will consume very little power (in the range of a few 10 uA).

That doesn't sound so different from what I see in the front panel of some "dual power"
calculators. Look like they might put out 2V. I have one in the scrap box today; must
have thrown out a few more already. Bruce Roe

[c1881]

Flexible thin film solar panel

Hi Tony - First post and you want to sell something - no.

Participate if you want but sales and that kind of help are not allowed.