On 4/23/2012 1:20 PM, Rob Gaddi wrote:> Figure folks here might know. I'm looking to put together a couple of > small-scale projects, just for my own amusement, that would be nice to > not need batteries for. Probably MSP430 based, on duty-cycles on the > order of a few milliseconds per minute. > > It seems like I should be able to power this off of a low-leakage cap > and the sorts of solar cells that they put in crappy calculators for > $6.99 at the pharmacy. Does anyone know anywhere to buy small > quantities of said crappy photocells for say $1 a pop? >http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170826876029+ $1.42
OT: Cheap Solar Cells
Started by ●April 23, 2012
Reply by ●April 24, 20122012-04-24
Reply by ●May 4, 20122012-05-04
On Mon, 23 Apr 2012 17:46:18 -0700 Joerg <invalid@invalid.invalid> wrote:> mike wrote: > > On 4/23/2012 1:35 PM, Joerg wrote: > >> Rob Gaddi wrote: > >>> Figure folks here might know. I'm looking to put together a couple of > >>> small-scale projects, just for my own amusement, that would be nice to > >>> not need batteries for. Probably MSP430 based, on duty-cycles on the > >>> order of a few milliseconds per minute. > >>> > >>> It seems like I should be able to power this off of a low-leakage cap > >>> and the sorts of solar cells that they put in crappy calculators for > >>> $6.99 at the pharmacy. Does anyone know anywhere to buy small > >>> quantities of said crappy photocells for say $1 a pop? > >>> > >> > >> Try a few Dollar stores. Sometimes they have cheap outdoor lamps from > >> which those can be harvested. Of course, then you'd also end up with > >> some other stuff that you either have to use, give a way, or recycle. > >> > >> Last time my wife was there they also had tasty chocolate. > >> > > > > Local dollar store has lawn lights for a buck. > > Contains a solar cell, rechargeable AA cell, battery charger, > > upconverter for the led light. > > > > google > > > > QX5252 > > jd1803 > > > > Yup. Pretty useful stuff in there sometimes: > > http://ynsemi.com/uploadFile/download/20091151017497441.pdf > > But you have to know someone who can read Chinese :-) > > [...] > > -- > Regards, Joerg > > http://www.analogconsultants.com/Thanks for everyone's help. I'm amazed that it looks like the cheapest way to get these sorts of panels is to buy solar powered garbage electronics and throw out the rest. -- Rob Gaddi, Highland Technology -- www.highlandtechnology.com Email address domain is currently out of order. See above to fix.
Reply by ●May 5, 20122012-05-05
In article <20120504144018.75f9d451@rg.highlandtechnology.com>, Rob Gaddi <rgaddi@technologyhighland.invalid> wrote:>On Mon, 23 Apr 2012 17:46:18 -0700 >Joerg <invalid@invalid.invalid> wrote: > >> mike wrote: >> > On 4/23/2012 1:35 PM, Joerg wrote: >> >> Rob Gaddi wrote: >> >>> Figure folks here might know. I'm looking to put together a couple of >> >>> small-scale projects, just for my own amusement, that would be nice to >> >>> not need batteries for. Probably MSP430 based, on duty-cycles on the >> >>> order of a few milliseconds per minute. >> >>> >> >>> It seems like I should be able to power this off of a low-leakage cap >> >>> and the sorts of solar cells that they put in crappy calculators for >> >>> $6.99 at the pharmacy. Does anyone know anywhere to buy small >> >>> quantities of said crappy photocells for say $1 a pop? >> >>> >> >> >> >> Try a few Dollar stores. Sometimes they have cheap outdoor lamps from >> >> which those can be harvested. Of course, then you'd also end up with >> >> some other stuff that you either have to use, give a way, or recycle. >> >> >> >> Last time my wife was there they also had tasty chocolate. >> >> >> > >> > Local dollar store has lawn lights for a buck. >> > Contains a solar cell, rechargeable AA cell, battery charger, >> > upconverter for the led light. >> > >> > google >> > >> > QX5252 >> > jd1803 >> > >> >> Yup. Pretty useful stuff in there sometimes: >> >> http://ynsemi.com/uploadFile/download/20091151017497441.pdf >> >> But you have to know someone who can read Chinese :-) >> >> [...] >> >> -- >> Regards, Joerg >> >> http://www.analogconsultants.com/ > >Thanks for everyone's help. I'm amazed that it looks like >the cheapest way to get these sorts of panels is to buy solar powered >garbage electronics and throw out the rest.I just bought a 2 euro device. It includes a solar cell, a white LED, conversion electronics (looks like a transistor with 4 pins) and a 600 mAh AA cell with holder. (Plus all the stainless steel and plastic to keep it together.) The cell serves double duty, as a sensor whether the LED has to shine. The cell is sturdy (cast in plastic) but the sensitive surface is only 10 % of the plastic, unfortunately. Amazing.> >-- >Rob Gaddi, Highland Technology -- www.highlandtechnology.com >Email address domain is currently out of order. See above to fix.-- -- Albert van der Horst, UTRECHT,THE NETHERLANDS Economic growth -- being exponential -- ultimately falters. albert@spe&ar&c.xs4all.nl &=n http://home.hccnet.nl/a.w.m.van.der.horst
Reply by ●May 6, 20122012-05-06
Rob Gaddi wrote:> On Mon, 23 Apr 2012 17:46:18 -0700 > Joerg <invalid@invalid.invalid> wrote: > >> mike wrote: >>> On 4/23/2012 1:35 PM, Joerg wrote: >>>> Rob Gaddi wrote: >>>>> Figure folks here might know. I'm looking to put together a couple of >>>>> small-scale projects, just for my own amusement, that would be nice to >>>>> not need batteries for. Probably MSP430 based, on duty-cycles on the >>>>> order of a few milliseconds per minute. >>>>> >>>>> It seems like I should be able to power this off of a low-leakage cap >>>>> and the sorts of solar cells that they put in crappy calculators for >>>>> $6.99 at the pharmacy. Does anyone know anywhere to buy small >>>>> quantities of said crappy photocells for say $1 a pop? >>>>> >>>> Try a few Dollar stores. Sometimes they have cheap outdoor lamps from >>>> which those can be harvested. Of course, then you'd also end up with >>>> some other stuff that you either have to use, give a way, or recycle. >>>> >>>> Last time my wife was there they also had tasty chocolate. >>>> >>> Local dollar store has lawn lights for a buck. >>> Contains a solar cell, rechargeable AA cell, battery charger, >>> upconverter for the led light. >>> >>> google >>> >>> QX5252 >>> jd1803 >>> >> Yup. Pretty useful stuff in there sometimes: >> >> http://ynsemi.com/uploadFile/download/20091151017497441.pdf >> >> But you have to know someone who can read Chinese :-) >> >> [...] >> >> -- >> Regards, Joerg >> >> http://www.analogconsultants.com/ > > Thanks for everyone's help. I'm amazed that it looks like > the cheapest way to get these sorts of panels is to buy solar powered > garbage electronics and throw out the rest. >That happens a lot. When I thought the battery in my cell phone was dying (turned out just to be a contact issue) I looked around. The cheapest method was ... to buy the same model cell phone, the whole thing. -- Regards, Joerg http://www.analogconsultants.com/
Reply by ●September 14, 20122012-09-14
responding to http://www.electrondepot.com/embedded/ot-cheap-solar-cells-123761-.htm Seend wrote: Rob Gaddi wrote:> Figure folks here might know. I'm looking to put together a couple of > small-scale projects, just for my own amusement, that would be nice to > not need batteries for. Probably MSP430 based, on duty-cycles on the > order of a few milliseconds per minute.> It seems like I should be able to power this off of a low-leakage cap > and the sorts of solar cells that they put in crappy calculators for > $6.99 at the pharmacy. Does anyone know anywhere to buy small > quantities of said crappy photocells for say $1 a pop?------------------------------------- What is your thought about photovoltaic energy?
Reply by ●September 15, 20122012-09-15
On 9/14/2012 3:02 AM, Seend wrote:> responding to > http://www.electrondepot.com/embedded/ot-cheap-solar-cells-123761-.htm > Seend wrote: > > Rob Gaddi wrote: > > >> Figure folks here might know. I'm looking to put together a couple of >> small-scale projects, just for my own amusement, that would be nice to >> not need batteries for. Probably MSP430 based, on duty-cycles on the >> order of a few milliseconds per minute. > >> It seems like I should be able to power this off of a low-leakage cap >> and the sorts of solar cells that they put in crappy calculators for >> $6.99 at the pharmacy. Does anyone know anywhere to buy small >> quantities of said crappy photocells for say $1 a pop?Local dollar store has a solar yard lamp that has a single AAA rechargeable cell and a QX5252 boost converter for powering the led. I bought some with the intention to use them to charge a higher voltage battery to power a PIC. Already packaged and waterproof. Mine has real packaged QX5252. There's some risk that any random lot might have a chip covered in black goop. Hasn't hit the top of the priority list yet...> > > > ------------------------------------- > > What is your thought about photovoltaic energy?A bad idea if you have ANY cost-effective means of power available.
