15/08/2023
Why Solar?
Solar power is a form of renewable energy harnessed from the sun's rays using photovoltaic cells to convert sunlight into electricity. Solar power doesn't produce greenhouse gasses or air pollutants during operation, making it an eco-friendly alternative to fossil fuels. It can also be harnessed independently of the energy grid, allowing for many versatile uses in a wide range of scenarios. The sun as an energy source is inexhaustible and abundant, it provides an estimated 173,000 terawatts of energy continually, far surpassing the world's total energy use. Solar energy systems have a low impact during manufacturing and operation, consuming minimal water resources and occupying relatively little space. Embracing solar power is a pivotal step toward a sustainably powered future.
Design
The idea of a solar powered charging station presented different interpretations, each with their own challenges, pros, and cons. Our members collaborated to create a simple and functional design. 1. Making the circuit. We began with a 12V solar panel to capture sunlight and convert it into electrical energy. This energy is then sent through the charge controller. The solar charge controller, with a capacity of 30 amps and designed for 12V- 24V systems, serves as a crucial component by regulating the energy flow between the solar panel and the battery. The energy then goes into the 12V, 7.2 ampere-hour deep cycle battery. Our setup includes two USB ports on the solar charge controller. These USB ports allow devices like smartphones to be directly connected for charging. The charge controller, acting as an intermediary, ensures that the voltage provided to the USB ports is safe for device charging. Additionally, the deep cycle battery serves as an energy reservoir, storing excess energy generated by the solar panel for use during periods of low sunlight. Assuming an average smartphone battery capacity of around 3000mAh, the 7.2Ah battery could potentially charge the phone approximately 2-3 times from a fully charged battery. 2. Making the body. Once we had a working circuit we had to figure out to house our charger. Aiming to keep things simple and effective, two pieces of wood were drilled into a board. Heavy duty velcro was then used to attach the solar panel, charge controller, and battery to the wood body.
Solar Charger Project Team
Mariano Alberto, Jeanelle Bacat, Pranav Basnet, Bryce Bedgood, Jordan Cardenes, Connor Chang, Anthony Grigorian, Jacob Gertler, Luke Huey, Daniel Huiza, Dillon Hicks, Max Meldrum, Adam Meldrum, Tessa Littlefield, Alec Le Baut, Sofie Rooney, Diego Silva, Jeremiah Suh, Ethan Sushinsky, Sarah Ordenes, and Ms. Hayes.
