How can I use my solar cells(small) in an investigatory project?
2006-09-14 23:44:26 · 6 answers · asked by garfyldrox 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
I think what you are actually asking is that you have a few small solar cells, and want to "play around" with it....
If they are quite small, then there are not many "useful" things you can do with them.
Firstly, you need a simple Volt Meter, range 0 - 10 Volt DC.
Hook it up to one of the cells in broad daylight, and determine -
a) the polarity of the 2 wires coming out: If the needle of your volt meter goes "to the right", then remember: The "plus" of the cell is the plus (or +V) of your volt meter. If the needle tries to go left, reverse the wires and try again.
b) Read the number where the needle points to: This is the voltage of your cell.
Then find something which requires a small DC voltage, like a calculator and see whether the voltage matches. If not, you can daisy-chain some cells like so + to - of the next, that + to - of the next, and so on, until the accumulated voltage is what you need.
Then hook it up (watch the polarity!) to your calculator's external DC power plug, and take the batteries out. Should work.... you just saved yourself (and the world) 0.3 Watt, or 1/200th of a light bulb !
2006-09-15 00:35:11 · answer #1 · answered by Marianna 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Could probably use them for just about anything. I was just thinking the other day something like a solar cell charger for an Ipod would be nice for those people who don't want to leave their computer on 4-5 hours at a time to charge their ipods.
2006-09-14 23:52:51 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Various uses of photovoltaic cells are---
1>can be used in very low-power devices such as calculators with LCD's.
2>in remote applications such as roadside emergency telephones, remote sensing, cathodic protection of pipe lines, and limited "off grid" home power applications.
3>A third use has been in powering orbiting satellites and other spacecraft.
4>Cells with conversion efficiencies greater than 30 percent are now available. By connecting large numbers of these cells into modules, the cost of photovoltaic electricity has been reduced to 20 to 30 cents per kilowatt-hour.
2006-09-15 00:04:18 · answer #3 · answered by temptations_irresistible1 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1
2017-01-31 08:24:24 · answer #4 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
solar cells convert light energy to electric energy. They consist of a metal sheet (like silicon embedded metals). WHen light falls on it, the energy of light excites the electron in the metal. Hence, the electron flow results in electricity
2006-09-15 00:02:39 · answer #5 · answered by Sachin 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is the source of sustainable energy.
2006-09-14 23:47:08 · answer #6 · answered by Devaraj A 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋