Folding Solar Panel



B

Bill Cotton

Guest
Someone asked about using solar panel on long trips. I did some testing this
week. My Quest running during daylight with the backlight on and ending with
a gain on the internal battery. Next I plug the panel onto a drained 12
volts battery, pack down to 5 volts, on my gage. after more than 7 hours the
gage read 12.5 volts. details are here;
http://www.billcotton.com/quest_on_bicycle.htm
This was a stationary test. I plan to mount the panel on the top of my rear
pack and tent. However I will have a shadow problem in some directions. But
when camping without electric this will come in handy.

--
www.billcotton.com
 
Bill Cotton wrote:
> Someone asked about using solar panel on long trips. I did some testing this
> week. My Quest running during daylight with the backlight on and ending with
> a gain on the internal battery. Next I plug the panel onto a drained 12
> volts battery, pack down to 5 volts, on my gage. after more than 7 hours the
> gage read 12.5 volts. details are here;
> http://www.billcotton.com/quest_on_bicycle.htm
> This was a stationary test. I plan to mount the panel on the top of my rear
> pack and tent. However I will have a shadow problem in some directions. But
> when camping without electric this will come in handy.

For...?

--Karen D.
inquiring minds want to know!
 
Veloise wrote:

>Bill Cotton wrote:
>
>
>>Someone asked about using solar panel on long trips. I did some testing this
>>week. My Quest running during daylight with the backlight on and ending with
>>a gain on the internal battery. Next I plug the panel onto a drained 12
>>volts battery, pack down to 5 volts, on my gage. after more than 7 hours the
>>gage read 12.5 volts. details are here;
>>http://www.billcotton.com/quest_on_bicycle.htm
>>This was a stationary test. I plan to mount the panel on the top of my rear
>>pack and tent. However I will have a shadow problem in some directions. But
>>when camping without electric this will come in handy.
>>
>>
>
>For...?
>
>--Karen D.
>inquiring minds want to know!
>
>
>
Well, ... for one ... I have always been interested in the possibility
of recharging AA batteries this way while on tour — or simply while on
rides around home for that matter. It's free energy.

----
Speaking of that — does anyone else have one of those inductive, no
battery flashlights? I accidentally left mine on for a long time (days -
in my bike pack) and now I can not get it to stay on more than a few
seconds at at time - if that (even after shaking it - magnet through
coil - for two minutes). It must have come with a big charge on the
capacitor (they will stay on for a couple of days when new). I'm
wondering how to get that charge back on there. I liked the idea of
having a "perpetual" and very light weight flashlight in my bike pack at
all times. But now, it's kaput.
----

--
*****************************
Chuck Anderson • Boulder, CO
http://www.CycleTourist.com
Integrity is obvious.
The lack of it is common.
*****************************
 
Chuck Anderson wrote:
> Speaking of that - does anyone else have one of those inductive, no
> battery flashlights? I accidentally left mine on for a long time (days -
> in my bike pack) and now I can not get it to stay on more than a few
> seconds at at time - if that (even after shaking it - magnet through
> coil - for two minutes). It must have come with a big charge on the
> capacitor (they will stay on for a couple of days when new). I'm
> wondering how to get that charge back on there. I liked the idea of
> having a "perpetual" and very light weight flashlight in my bike pack at
> all times. But now, it's kaput.

Can't help you with getting your light working again, but you should
try the hand cranked dynamo LED flashlights. They work very well and
it's a more direct motive force than the induction - more reliable.
Some of them have built in radios.

R
 
Chuck Anderson wrote:
> Veloise wrote:
>
>> Bill Cotton wrote:
>>
>>
>>> Someone asked about using solar panel on long trips. I did some
>>> testing this
>>> week. My Quest running during daylight with the backlight on and
>>> ending with
>>> a gain on the internal battery. Next I plug the panel onto a drained 12
>>> volts battery, pack down to 5 volts, on my gage. after more than 7
>>> hours the
>>> gage read 12.5 volts. details are here;
>>> http://www.billcotton.com/quest_on_bicycle.htm
>>> This was a stationary test. I plan to mount the panel on the top of
>>> my rear
>>> pack and tent. However I will have a shadow problem in some
>>> directions. But
>>> when camping without electric this will come in handy.
>>>
>>
>> For...?
>>
>> --Karen D.
>> inquiring minds want to know!
>>
>>
>>
> Well, ... for one ... I have always been interested in the possibility
> of recharging AA batteries this way while on tour — or simply while on
> rides around home for that matter. It's free energy.
>
> ----
> Speaking of that — does anyone else have one of those inductive, no
> battery flashlights? I accidentally left mine on for a long time (days -
> in my bike pack) and now I can not get it to stay on more than a few
> seconds at at time - if that (even after shaking it - magnet through
> coil - for two minutes). It must have come with a big charge on the
> capacitor (they will stay on for a couple of days when new). I'm
> wondering how to get that charge back on there. I liked the idea of
> having a "perpetual" and very light weight flashlight in my bike pack at
> all times. But now, it's kaput.

I'm betting what you have isn't a true Faraday, and has little batteries and
not a capacitor?
 
ujb wrote:

>Chuck Anderson wrote:
>
>
>>Veloise wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>>Bill Cotton wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>Someone asked about using solar panel on long trips. I did some
>>>>testing this
>>>>week. My Quest running during daylight with the backlight on and
>>>>ending with
>>>>a gain on the internal battery. Next I plug the panel onto a drained 12
>>>>volts battery, pack down to 5 volts, on my gage. after more than 7
>>>>hours the
>>>>gage read 12.5 volts. details are here;
>>>>http://www.billcotton.com/quest_on_bicycle.htm
>>>>This was a stationary test. I plan to mount the panel on the top of
>>>>my rear
>>>>pack and tent. However I will have a shadow problem in some
>>>>directions. But
>>>>when camping without electric this will come in handy.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>For...?
>>>
>>>--Karen D.
>>>inquiring minds want to know!
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>Well, ... for one ... I have always been interested in the possibility
>>of recharging AA batteries this way while on tour — or simply while on
>>rides around home for that matter. It's free energy.
>>
>>----
>>Speaking of that — does anyone else have one of those inductive, no
>>battery flashlights? I accidentally left mine on for a long time (days -
>>in my bike pack) and now I can not get it to stay on more than a few
>>seconds at at time - if that (even after shaking it - magnet through
>>coil - for two minutes). It must have come with a big charge on the
>>capacitor (they will stay on for a couple of days when new). I'm
>>wondering how to get that charge back on there. I liked the idea of
>>having a "perpetual" and very light weight flashlight in my bike pack at
>>all times. But now, it's kaput.
>>
>>
>
>I'm betting what you have isn't a true Faraday, and has little batteries and
>not a capacitor?
>
>
It's certainly got a coil and a magnet that slides back and forth
through it. But I actually have no idea what stores the charge
(capacitor or small rechargeable battery). Either way, I'm getting the
idea (after reading more on the 'net) that they are sort of scam.

--
*****************************
Chuck Anderson • Boulder, CO
http://www.CycleTourist.com
Integrity is obvious.
The lack of it is common.
*****************************
 
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