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Solar power and batteries — Parallax Forums

Solar power and batteries

ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
edited 2000-03-13 03:09 in General Discussion
Ronald Doctors wrote:
> ...believe me about needing clear sunlight!
> On rethinking this I would go with a lithium battery pack for
> all the power. The cost of good waterproof solar cells and
> all the headaches in using solar with recharging etc
> is far more than a good lithium primary cell system.
> ( PS I am building a solar array with full x-Y tracking
> using RF and STAMPS so i do have some experience )


Ron,

I'm thinking about the quantitative aspect of this--

Paul is talking about a systems that is going to run 24 hours a day at 10ma
average, from "late spring" to "early fall". So about 100+ days.
100*24*0.010=24 amp hours. That is a pretty hefty battery pack. A C-size
lithium cell is rated 5 amp-hours, and costs about $11 each. You would
need 10 of them in series/parallel(?) to get 6 volts at 25 amp-hours, at a
cost of $110 per installation. Then you have to throw it away. I agree it
would be a simple solution, but maybe not the cheapest. Am I missing
something? 24 amp-hour gel cells are pretty hefty and expensive too.

Tracy Allen
Electronically Monitored Ecosystems
http://www.emesystems.com

Comments

  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2000-03-13 03:09
    I think that the current needed is much lower if you don't use a STAMP and RF
    etc. A simple audio with micropower op amps would be an almost zero
    current load <20 micro amps. The sound clapper could doubtless be made more
    efficient by using a small motor and increase the pulse energy via either
    gravity storage or a spring..
    At least the lithium batteries would always be dependable.I am not so sure about
    any solar systems in cloudy climates...


    Date sent: Sat, 11 Mar 2000 15:44:07 -0500
    From: Tracy Allen <emesys@c...>
    To: stampers <basicstamps@egroups.com>
    Send reply to: basicstamps@egroups.com
    Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Re: [noparse][[/noparse]STAMPS] Solar power and batteries

    > Ronald Doctors wrote:
    > > ...believe me about needing clear sunlight!
    > > On rethinking this I would go with a lithium battery pack for
    > > all the power. The cost of good waterproof solar cells and
    > > all the headaches in using solar with recharging etc
    > > is far more than a good lithium primary cell system.
    > > ( PS I am building a solar array with full x-Y tracking
    > > using RF and STAMPS so i do have some experience )
    >
    >
    > Ron,
    >
    > I'm thinking about the quantitative aspect of this--
    >
    > Paul is talking about a systems that is going to run 24 hours a day at 10ma
    > average, from "late spring" to "early fall". So about 100+ days.
    > 100*24*0.010=24 amp hours. That is a pretty hefty battery pack. A C-size
    > lithium cell is rated 5 amp-hours, and costs about $11 each. You would
    > need 10 of them in series/parallel(?) to get 6 volts at 25 amp-hours, at a
    > cost of $110 per installation. Then you have to throw it away. I agree it
    > would be a simple solution, but maybe not the cheapest. Am I missing
    > something? 24 amp-hour gel cells are pretty hefty and expensive too.
    >
    > Tracy Allen
    > Electronically Monitored Ecosystems
    > http://www.emesystems.com
    >
    >
    > -- Easily schedule meetings and events using the group calendar!
    > -- http://www.egroups.com/cal?listname=basicstamps&m=1
    >
    >


    ron... the motor man...
    Ronald Doctors
    http://www.members.home.net/rdoctors
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