A question about solar power
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Posted on Jul 08, 2008 01:56 pm
dbmasters
Administrator Since: Apr 03, 2002
My kids got a playhouse for their birthdays (combined gift) it's an 8x10 Amish built, cool cottage style playhouse.
Like any "shed" type structure, it gets hot in there, so I am looking at solar powered exhuast fans, nothing big, just to keep air moving while the sun is out.
I had a thought and found a DIY article that is similar...but not exactly, my idea. Perhaps somebody with more electrical knowledge could help.
I plan to put a couple of ceiling vents on the roof, like attic exhaust vents on any house, just smaller versions...then I want to buy a couple of cheap solar powered garden lights and take them apart to use just the solar piece of it, and, instead of hooking the battery up to the light I would hook it up to a small fan (like the little "muffin fans" in a computer case).
The one thing I have to work around is the switch that turns the lights on once sunlight is down...I'd have to bypass that so it runs while it's in direct sunlight and run as long as the battery has power for...but asside from that, if the solar power can run a light bulb, can it run a little muffin fan, I'd ideally like two vents, each with one of those little fans in it.
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Jul 08, 2008 02:40 pm I can look around for you and see if someone makes a 12v exhaust fan. I'm sure that they do.
As for the switch for the lights. They already make that type of switch. It's the same as for the street lights. They are pretty cheap.
That combined with a deep cycle 12v battery, and your in business.
Jul 08, 2008 02:56 pm They do make little solar powered fans, but even little ones are like $60...I am guessing I can DIY it for much cheaper.
Yeah, the lights sit and charge all day when in the sun, then when there is no light they send the juice to the lights to light up...I need it so that the juice just goes straight to the fan while the sun is up...but that little trigger can't be hard to change or bypass or something.
Jul 08, 2008 03:10 pm Regular thermostat will do that for ya.
I still at work right now, but when I get home I'll check Mouser for the fans.
Jul 08, 2008 03:11 pm thank man, appreciate any assitance.
olddogMember
Since: Jul 02, 2003
Jul 08, 2008 04:24 pm I could be wrong but most of the solar yard lights like your talking about use LED's not bulbs and only use 1 1/2V maybe 3V, so you'd need 4-8 of them to power one 12V fan. Judging by the size of the cell on the lights I have I'd guess 1.5V. I think it would probably be cheaper and easier to just by 2 solar powered fans.
Dan
Jul 08, 2008 07:35 pm oh, yeah, maybe they do use LED's...CRAP...there HAS to be a way.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Jul 08, 2008 08:29 pm There is. We'll talk tomorrow about it.
I may still have a couple of 120mm 6 volt ones from an older rack I had in the day.
I think you can simply chain a few of the panels together to get a 6 volt or close output. But you would need a 6 volt dry cell to keep the charge. Or are yo trying to do it without a battery at all?
Jul 08, 2008 09:11 pm I don't know what I am trying to do, I just know I want fans running in exhaust vents on the roof of the thing, hopefully two. It's be cool if it could be on a thermostat so it only kicks in when it reaches a threshold temperature, but that could be a future enhancement.
Basically, I want to learn something about solar on a small scale because I am interested in it for my home.
Jul 09, 2008 08:05 am cool, thanks Dan!
