How to Convert Sunlight Into DC Electricity
How to Convert Sunlight Into DC Electricity

In the era of rapidly disappearing fossil fuel resources, and, as technology advances, renewable energy sources are becoming increasingly accessible to the public. Converting sunlight into electrical power is a relatively simple task and can be accomplished on any scale, be it a solar-powered R/C car or a large outdoors solar array. With the use of a small monocrystalline solar panel and a few simple electrical regulation components, sunlight can be converted into usable DC energy for small devices such as R/C cars, emergency radios and electric lights.

Instructions

1

Install the solar panel or panels of your choice by bolting it to a mount of some sort. Install the panel in a location where it is likely to get the most sunlight. Outdoor panels can be set on fixed mounts, adjustable mounts and specialized tracking mounts that follow the angle of the sun. Smaller panels can often be bolted directly onto another surface; for example, if the panel is meant to power a remote control car, it should be screwed to the top of the car s frame.

2

Run the output cable from the solar panel to the input jack or terminal on the charge controller or dc meter, and connect it with a plug (or by soldering, if it is not the plug type). These devices monitor the amount of electricity flowing into the batteries and allow the batteries to dispense power when the solar panel is not producing electricity. This is important because without regulation, the battery may be damaged by overcharging or overdraining.

Wire the charge controller or dc meter to the battery array by connecting the positive terminal to the positive terminal of the first battery and the negative terminal to the corresponding terminal of the last battery --- the batteries are then wired together by connecting the positive terminal of each battery to the negative terminal of the battery before it. The array may also be wired in parallel, meaning the positive and negative terminals of the charge controller will be wired to the corresponding terminals on the first battery, and each additional battery will have its positive and negative terminals wired to the same-charge terminals on the battery before it.

4

Wire the DC outlet to the batteries and charge controller in accordance with the instructions provided with the equipment --- usually this will entail wiring the outlet to the charge controller s output jack or cable. Place the DC outlet in the area that it will be used; the charge controller can control the voltage of output, and any needed DC power can be accessed from the outlet. http://www.jyins.com/