Author Topic: Home brew solar.  (Read 1426 times)

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Nil

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Home brew solar.
« on: August 15, 2006, 03:30:23 PM »
Too bad they are more expensive than buying a comercial panel, and probably harder to maintain.


Anyway I though it was interesting, and figured others may too.


http://scitoys.com/scitoys/scitoys/echem/echem2.html

« Last Edit: August 15, 2006, 03:30:23 PM by (unknown) »

powerbuoy

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Re: Home brew solar.
« Reply #1 on: August 15, 2006, 10:17:15 AM »
I read a warning once that cuprous oxide is hazardous when inhaled, therefore the utmost caution should be used.


Powerbuoy


 

« Last Edit: August 15, 2006, 10:17:15 AM by powerbuoy »

Ungrounded Lightning Rod

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Re: Home brew solar.
« Reply #2 on: August 15, 2006, 10:20:51 AM »
Too bad they only produce MICROwatts, so you need MILLIONS of them to make watts and BILLIONS to make kilowatts.
« Last Edit: August 15, 2006, 10:20:51 AM by Ungrounded Lightning Rod »

fungus

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Re: Home brew solar.
« Reply #3 on: August 15, 2006, 10:30:12 AM »
I've seen that before as well but

quote "A note about power


      The cell produces 50 microamps at 0.25 volts.

This is 0.0000125 watts (12.5 microwatts).

Don't expect to light light bulbs or charge batteries with this device. It can be used as a light detector or light meter, but it would take acres of them to power your house.     


      The 0.0000125 watts (12.5 microwatts) is for a 0.01 square meter cell, or 1.25 milliwatts per square meter. To light a 100 watt light bulb, it would take 80 square meters of cuprous oxide for the sunlit side, and 80 square meters of copper for the dark electrode. To run a 1,000 watt stove, you would need 800 square meters of cuprous oxide, and another 800 square meters of plain copper, or 1,600 square meters all together. If this were to form the roof of a home, each home would be 30 meters long and 30 meters wide, assuming all they needed electricity for was one stove.     


      There are 17,222 square feet in 1,600 square meters. If copper sheeting costs $5 per square foot, the copper alone would cost $86,110.00 USD. Making it one tenth the thickness can bring this down to $8,611.00. Since you are buying in bulk, you might get it for half that, or about $4,300.00.     


      If you used silicon solar panels costing $4 per watt, you could run the same stove for $4,000.00. But the panels would only be about 10 square meters.     


      Or, for about a dollar, you can build a solar stove out of aluminum foil and cardboard. For about $20, you can build a very nice polished aluminum parabolic solar cooker."

« Last Edit: August 15, 2006, 10:30:12 AM by fungus »

thefinis

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Re: Home brew solar.
« Reply #4 on: August 15, 2006, 04:37:34 PM »
Off topic but dang it my first thought was home brew beer made with solar heat when I first saw the heading.


Finis

« Last Edit: August 15, 2006, 04:37:34 PM by thefinis »

elvin1949

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Re: Home brew solar.
« Reply #5 on: August 16, 2006, 03:50:22 AM »
Me to

 Draw ya one.

later

elvin
« Last Edit: August 16, 2006, 03:50:22 AM by elvin1949 »

asheets

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Re: Home brew solar.
« Reply #6 on: August 16, 2006, 10:08:14 AM »
I think somewhere in the archives is a calculation that the energy needed to build one of these CuO plates could never be recovered by the plate itself.
« Last Edit: August 16, 2006, 10:08:14 AM by asheets »

stephent

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Re: Home brew solar.
« Reply #7 on: August 18, 2006, 10:34:44 PM »
Even "easier" way to make a PV--rip/cut the top off of an old 2n3055 or similar power transistor (gently) and expose it to the sunlight...find the 2 legs that give the most V and I out.

Or make a light/dark sensor out of it. (LEDs show the same type characteristic)

Most diode junctions exhibit this trait. (the old  junction "cat-whisker" diodes gave the first thoughts of electric from sunlight a long time ago)

Lemmee see now--4,000,000 parralled tansistors will give me how many watts??--the output is slightly higher then the copper plate thing--but not much.
« Last Edit: August 18, 2006, 10:34:44 PM by stephent »