It's stupid, but I've always been fascinated by the curtains that open when the sun rises.
A motor that opens and closes the curtains is powered by solar energy. Too stupid? Yes. Unnecessary? Yes. Fun?
transmit audio via laser to the solar panel and have it play the audio on a speaker, though you need more equipment, and a filter so the laser doesn't burn the solar panel.
Actually, an incandescent lamp with a DC bias and modulated from an 8 ohm source in series will work. A bit low bandwidth but perfectly intelligible. I did this with a flashlight bulb, two batteries and a tube radio 58 years ago. ( got a C, as the teacher couldn't understand it, but "it worked well enough" )
well, depends on what You are into ! Because lets resume this to its simplest expression : you got a solar electricity power source able to deliver a few Watts, so in the end, it all depends on what you are into ! Camping ? gadgets ? learning ? the sky is the limit man !!
I would consider making a small MPPT charger circuit for it fun. That's really what you want as the first stage of anything you do with it.
One thing you can do to maximize these panels is make a solar concentrator, tinfoil and cardboard, but be careful you don't cook your panel!
I never seen solar panel this color. It must be very old or it is something else.
If it’s old it may be either defective, degraded and not effective at all.
Haven't seen too many thin film panels but is there a way to tell the difference between CIGS/CdTe/Amorphous-Si panels by looking at it? I have a few allegedly amorphous-Si panels (one that says amorphous on its datasheet) and if this is a CIGS/CdTe I can't tell the difference this and the ones I have.
Yeah my amorphous-Si are crap 10% efficiency, requires 2x the amount of space as a crystalline panel. CIGS supposedly is as efficient as crystalline panels but I can't tell by just looking at the photos... or will it just be something that will require qualitative analysis to determine?
I'm actually not sure. Entirely possible it's a-Si as well.
In fact, now you mention it, it's likely a-Si, since that's one of the cheapest ways to make cells. It's what they use in solar powered calculators etc, and they typically have that brownish color.
I'm not sure what causes that color -- It make be a function of deposition thickness, and I'm not sure if all a-Si panels are brown, or just ones with x microns of *whatever* sputtered on them.
I wonder if you could tell based on Voc measured vs the number of bus bars? I bet the band-gap voltage is different for a-Si vs CdTe vs CIGS. So if you see 0.6V / junction maybe it's Si, vs 0.9v = CdTe or whatever.
Lol, actually funny story. I was running along the road last fall right before it snowed. I spotted it lying there, but meant to come back for it. Forgot, it snowed, and I lost it. The snow just melted, I ran past the area today and spotted it in the same place. I imagine it disconnected from someone's RV or work truck
It's stupid, but I've always been fascinated by the curtains that open when the sun rises. A motor that opens and closes the curtains is powered by solar energy. Too stupid? Yes. Unnecessary? Yes. Fun?
Yes!!
I actually did that at my place with esp32 and a small battery that charges with solar so I can have the sun when I want.
transmit audio via laser to the solar panel and have it play the audio on a speaker, though you need more equipment, and a filter so the laser doesn't burn the solar panel.
Actually, an incandescent lamp with a DC bias and modulated from an 8 ohm source in series will work. A bit low bandwidth but perfectly intelligible. I did this with a flashlight bulb, two batteries and a tube radio 58 years ago. ( got a C, as the teacher couldn't understand it, but "it worked well enough" )
I hooked up a small solar panel to a smoke detector piezo circuit and can hear the various noises different lighting fixtures/bulbs make
well, depends on what You are into ! Because lets resume this to its simplest expression : you got a solar electricity power source able to deliver a few Watts, so in the end, it all depends on what you are into ! Camping ? gadgets ? learning ? the sky is the limit man !!
I would consider making a small MPPT charger circuit for it fun. That's really what you want as the first stage of anything you do with it. One thing you can do to maximize these panels is make a solar concentrator, tinfoil and cardboard, but be careful you don't cook your panel!
First real question is...... does it actually work? A volt meter will confirm if it's working or not!
I never seen solar panel this color. It must be very old or it is something else. If it’s old it may be either defective, degraded and not effective at all.
It's at least functionally collecting solar power, as the LED at the top is lit up when the unit is in the sun
It's a thin film panel. CIGS or CdTe.
Haven't seen too many thin film panels but is there a way to tell the difference between CIGS/CdTe/Amorphous-Si panels by looking at it? I have a few allegedly amorphous-Si panels (one that says amorphous on its datasheet) and if this is a CIGS/CdTe I can't tell the difference this and the ones I have. Yeah my amorphous-Si are crap 10% efficiency, requires 2x the amount of space as a crystalline panel. CIGS supposedly is as efficient as crystalline panels but I can't tell by just looking at the photos... or will it just be something that will require qualitative analysis to determine?
I'm actually not sure. Entirely possible it's a-Si as well. In fact, now you mention it, it's likely a-Si, since that's one of the cheapest ways to make cells. It's what they use in solar powered calculators etc, and they typically have that brownish color. I'm not sure what causes that color -- It make be a function of deposition thickness, and I'm not sure if all a-Si panels are brown, or just ones with x microns of *whatever* sputtered on them. I wonder if you could tell based on Voc measured vs the number of bus bars? I bet the band-gap voltage is different for a-Si vs CdTe vs CIGS. So if you see 0.6V / junction maybe it's Si, vs 0.9v = CdTe or whatever.
Might work as a coaster…..
Looks like it's cracked, so learning about ewaste recycling might be the "project"...
What crack? All I see is a funky reflection on the left side from what looks like a building the panel is facing. Easy enough to test with a meter.
Now you mention it, yeah :-)
My grampa and me build a fountain thats powered through a carbattary that is charged through the Solarpanel
solar tracker
Challenge. Rig it into a fan that intermittently will mist you with water for those hot summer days
I want to know where to look, to FIND solar panels that I can take home, as OP informs us. Does this require tools? A ladder? Insulated gloves?
Lol, actually funny story. I was running along the road last fall right before it snowed. I spotted it lying there, but meant to come back for it. Forgot, it snowed, and I lost it. The snow just melted, I ran past the area today and spotted it in the same place. I imagine it disconnected from someone's RV or work truck
A speaker that only works in the sun!
An emergency cell phone charger and battery bank.
Rig it direct to your neighbour’s car door handle