View Full Version : solar panel wrapped batteries
i was listening to a 2001 repeat of Coast to coast Am and a caller mentioned seeing these and that the company was bought out and he hasn't seen them since. i did some googling and didnt see anything and was wondering if we can use our collective searching powers to find these.
Prometheus
2007-12-23, 07:56
Sounds like a silly idea to me. Batteries usualy are in enclosed areas. Now, a solar powered charger...
the idea behind them was that when they were drained you could just throw them in your window and they would charge back up. i see huge potential for camping here.
rabbitweed
2007-12-28, 07:56
the idea behind them was that when they were drained you could just throw them in your window and they would charge back up. i see huge potential for camping here.
Aren't batteries quite fussy about the amount of current they receive when recharging?
I would think the amount of current the photovoltaic cells produce would fluctuate a lot depending on intensity of sunlight received and temperature.
Aren't batteries quite fussy about the amount of current they receive when recharging?
I would think the amount of current the photovoltaic cells produce would fluctuate a lot depending on intensity of sunlight received and temperature.
Maybe you would need somekind of power buffer in between the panels and the battery?
Slave of the Beast
2008-01-03, 23:08
This idea makes almost as much sense as a solar powered torch.
Prometheus
2008-01-05, 06:43
I'm guessing you mean 'torch' as in 'flashlight'. Yeah, I've seen them.
xXPhoenixFireXx
2008-01-05, 17:21
Naa, if you recharge a battery slowly enough you can pretty much keep chargining it indefinately. The problem is that the batteries would also charge very slowly. I can see it working though.
If allelse fails a small zener diode could just dump excess current when the voltage gets too high.
Run Screaming
2008-01-05, 23:53
Sounds like a silly idea to me. Batteries usualy are in enclosed areas...
Usualy that's because they don't have solar panels on them, you think?
curly the pig
2008-01-06, 08:51
They wouldnt be terribly efficient if the whole battery was wrapped in PV cells, as cells not in sunlight would be a drain on the system. A strip down one side could work, provided they were able to supply a usable level of charge
Sean
Rolloffle
2008-02-02, 14:03
This idea makes almost as much sense as a solar powered torch.
this.
SwitchbladeAK47
2008-04-05, 03:34
Capacitors > Batteries.
Capacitors are Greener by far.
wolfy_9005
2008-05-19, 15:34
batteries are cheaper/easier.
This idea makes almost as much sense as a solar powered torch.
http://www.autocult.com.au/img/gallery/full/andy4.jpg
killuminated
2008-06-15, 20:19
When I leave batteries out in the sun, they tend to explode and leak.
This idea makes almost as much sense as a solar powered torch.
I've seen them. They work quite nicely and i've got a couple laying around. the energy is stored until the lights go out/power goes out and then they switch on. like emergency lights.
Slave of the Beast
2008-06-26, 19:37
Lol, I can't believe I'm being quoted 6 months down the line and we're still only on post 17.
I guess that's Clean Tech for you.
meindahouse
2008-07-30, 19:46
i would defiently get them
Issue313
2008-07-31, 19:13
http://www.autocult.com.au/img/gallery/full/andy4.jpg
My car!
Dragonflame
2008-08-27, 04:24
Having a solar panel on the top of your car ect. would work a hell of alot better, so thats probably why they werent created.