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DiscoverCircuits.com -- Hobby Corner
"Hobby Circuits for
your Hobby Projects"
Last Updated on:
06/19/2009 02:54:18 PM
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Solar Panels Using Broken Cells
designed by David Johnson, P.E. |
As illustrated
below, one way to salvage a large number of broken solar cells is to wire them in
parallel, not in the more conventional series connection. Broken cells of various sizes
and shapes are grouped together into panels of about one quarter to one full square foot
in area. Those panels are then wired in series with other similar panels. The result is
a low voltage, high current electrical power source. A commercial or custom DC to
DC converter can then be used to boost the voltage, so the panel can charge a 12v or 24v
battery.
A typical 10% efficient solar cell will produce about 0.07 watts per square inch. An
active area of about 140 square inches will produce about 10 watts of power. With
some careful shopping, you can sometimes buy a batch of broken solar cells at about $0.5
per watt. A 40 watt panel could therefore be made using about $20 worth of cells. |
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