Thinking outside the box solar power


OTP workshop is going green with solar power.

We hope to get your mind thinking about using solar power.
In this OTP workshop we will go step by step to make a solar panel.
We hope you take this information and learn as much as you can about solar power and how it can help our earth.
Who knows how far you can go with solar energy. It is up to you to THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX.


This first things we need are solar cells.
You can go online to learn about many types of solar cells. Teachers can use my information as a start to get kids involved into solar power and also to learn about saving our earth. Let us get started making a solar panel. First we need to use the internet to learn about the solar cells.
The cells we are using are 3x5 inch cells and we want nine volts per panel. Young people this is why school is so important and gangs and drug are not.
Teachers you will have fun with math with this one.
Have the kids use the internet to find out how many cells it will take to get my 9 volts per panel.

Teachers don't forget to do your homework on solar cells.
There will be questions from the kids.

As you learn about the solar cells you will find out that cutting them will take time to learn.
Keep all of your scraps parts to practice cutting the cells. Teachers, ask the students in you class,can we use the small parts to make a small solar panel?.
Here is more homework for the teacher on solar cells.

As you see it will not take long to have scraps so that each student can make a solar power supply.

We must protect the solar cells, so we are using plexieglass.
Why do we need to protect the solar cells. What is encapsulation?
Keep your class thinking as you make your solar panel.

We are using the metal aluminum for our frame.
Ask your class, can we use wood, steel or plastic to make a frame?

Solar cell are like a battery.
Each solar cell must be connected positive to negative to increase the voltage.
A solar cell will put out one half volt.
To get six volts you will need twelve cells.
The picture shows the back of the solar cells.

The picture shows the front of the solar cells.

We are using the silicone to make our frame water resistance.
The picture shows a tube of white 25 year outdoor silicone.
We need spacers to create a space between our frame.
We are using wood as spacers.

We are using the silicone On each solar cell to adhere the plexieglass.

Put plexiglass on top of the spacers.
We put a forty pound weight on our solar panel to evenly spread the silicone.
As you can see our solar cells are protected by the plexieglass.
We need four hours for this silicone to cure.
Some silicone can take 24 hours to cure.

Our solar panel is now completed.
We put the frame and clip leads on the solar panel.
Our solar panel is set up as a teaching tool.
This panel can be set up to have two,four or six volts output.
This solar panel can be set up as a series or Parallel configuration.

Three cell solar panel will make a good teaching tool.
A three cell solar panel will put out 1,5 volts.
A 1.5 volt solar panel will run a small toy dc motor or most things a 1,5v AA battery will run.
We hope this information will help get you started with solar power.

We put our 1.5 volt solar cells in a picture frame.
The key is to think outside the box.

Solar power can be used on a construction site.
Solar power can power almost anything fossil fuels can.

This is a 12v solar charger for phones, mp3, and digital cameras.
You can also charge your laptop computer with this 12v solar charger.

I am with the Nebraska Solar Energy Society teaching a two day solar panel workshop.
We are in the lab building solar battery chargers, cell phones chargers, 15 and 30 watts solar panels .

I am teaching how a solar array will tie in to the power grid.
We had a questions and answers on the applications on the solar panels and chargers.

I made a 6 volt solar panel for use as a teaching tool for alternative energy.

My electronics and solar teaching tools display.

I am explaining some of the components in my display .

I wanted to do a full size system with an output of 120v and a pure sine wave at 15 amps.
The cost of doing this system is way out of my price range.
I started thinking outside the box and this is what I am working on.
I wanted a 48v system for low voltage loss and I need a 48v solar array.
I am using one small solar panel to represent a 48v array using 16 60watt solar panels.
The small 48v batteries represent a 4000ah 48v battery bank.
I know I need a 48v solar controller.
I will build the combiner boxes and other parts etc. As you look at this set up, start thinking out the box.
You will see how I am atempting to build this system with very little money. My goal is not to let money stop me from thinking.
Please enjoy studying this setup.

Our first display for 2010 .
This solar display was set up to inspire young people who are getting help to become productive adults.
I set up this display in a organization that is working with young people who are in need help.
I also talked about getting a good education and keeping away fron drugs and gangs.
Mentoring the Creative Mind in our young people starts in our home.

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