How would you make a solar powered Boe-Bot? I never really understood solar power... Could someone please explain how you would connect a solar panel to a Boe-Bot?
your bot is really not running off from solar power but rechargeable batteries that the solar panels are sending a trickle charge to them. there is a thread in the fourm that goes into some detail from mike g I think that I have seen. Do a quick search on solar power to find more information on it.
Jax
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If a robot has a screw then it must be romoved and hacked into..
I tried this and failed miserably. Each solar cell output 4.5 volts, so I bought four thinking that I could put two on each boebot. When I measured the voltage, it said each one put out around 2 volts in a normally lit room. This meant that I would need four to make one charger. This was too big for the boebot to handle on his back. So, I put all of this stuff on the back burner for now.
I am going to buy a nine volt recharger already made to do it.
You have to remember that the output voltage and current of a solar panel depends on the amount of light hitting it and they're usually rated based on full sunlight at midday in summer outdoors. Indoors or through a window with indirect light in winter will provide low voltage and not much current. As MovieMaker found out, you have to use serial / parallel connected multiple panels to get any sort of adequate voltage and current and pretty soon the area gets large. Pick up an inexpensive small solar panel from RadioShack or equivalent and try it under various lighting conditions. Hook it up to a 47 Ohm 1/2W resistor that provides a 50mA load at the voltage you need (like 8 or 9V for a 5 cell NiMH 6V battery). See what kind of voltage you actually get across the resistor in various lighting conditions.
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Jax
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If a robot has a screw then it must be romoved and hacked into..
I am going to buy a nine volt recharger already made to do it.