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DiscoverCircuits.com -- Hobby Corner
Last Updated on:
Tuesday, June 01, 2021 03:06 PM
Hobby Circuits List
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Solar Cell Circuits
Tester Circuits |
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Solar Cell Test Fixture Circuit |
| If you are considering
building your own solar panel, you might try building the solar cell tester shown
below. When constructing a solar panel it is important to make sure that all the
solar cells used in the panel be closely matched for their short circuit current.
One weak cell will lower the efficiency of the whole panel. The system shown allows
individual solar cells to be tested for their short circuit current under a constant
light intensity condition. The system uses a low voltage 2550 watt halogen spot
light to simulate the light from the sun. |
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A small PIN
photodiode is placed in the path of the light from the lamp and is connected to a
circuit, which converts the light intensity collected by the diode into a voltage.
Another circuit compares that voltage to a reference. The error signal is fed to a pulse
width modulation circuit, which controls the amount of power fed to the lamp. The result
is a uniform light source, whose intensity remains fixed. The system can be calibrated
to produce a light intensity equal to one sun. |
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The assembly could be made from piece of plywood with
cutout for the test area. A bracket of some kind could hold the lamp assembly below
the window. I’d recommend a piece of high temperature frosted glass as a light
diffuser to insure a more uniform light pattern. I think a glass window area about 6
inches by 6 inches would be big enough for most solar cells. The current generated
by the solar cell under test is measured by any digital multimeter, which can
measure a few Amps of current. I will add the complete control circuit for
this system later. |
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Click on Circuit Below to view PDF of Schematic |
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Solar Cell Circuits
Tester Circuits
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eMail David A.
Johnson, P.E. about this circuit |
