3V 100mA solar panel

F

Franc Zabkar

Guest
I'm looking for a 3V or 4V, 100mA solar panel to replace the one in an
LED "eternity lamp" such as are used to illuminate headstones.

The panel consists of 8 cells. Its dimensions are 11.5cm x 6.7cm x
2mm. I don't have any leeway in the dimensions, as the replacement
panel must fit into an existing cutout in the metalwork.

I'm guessing at the specs, but I may be able to get away with a 50mA
panel. It supplies a 74HC14 Schmitt trigger oscillator which drives a
high brightness 10mm white LED, giving a flickering effect. It also
charges two AA NiCd batteries which provide power during the night.

I've tried DSE, Jaycar, Altronics, Oatley, and numerous online
suppliers.

- Franc Zabkar
--
Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email.
 
On Thu, 27 Nov 2008 06:28:06 +1100, Franc Zabkar
<fzabkar@iinternode.on.net> put finger to keyboard and composed:

I'm looking for a 3V or 4V, 100mA solar panel to replace the one in an
LED "eternity lamp" such as are used to illuminate headstones.

The panel consists of 8 cells. Its dimensions are 11.5cm x 6.7cm x
2mm. I don't have any leeway in the dimensions, as the replacement
panel must fit into an existing cutout in the metalwork.
Click to expand...
The solar panel looks like the one here:
http://www.accessories4graves.ie/images/img_l_6.jpg

The panel is the blue rectangle at the top.

This is the actual lamp:
http://www.accessories4graves.ie/images/img_l_7.jpg

- Franc Zabkar
--
Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email.
 
On Thu, 27 Nov 2008 08:22:28 +1100, Franc Zabkar
<fzabkar@iinternode.on.net> wrote:

On Thu, 27 Nov 2008 06:28:06 +1100, Franc Zabkar
fzabkar@iinternode.on.net> put finger to keyboard and composed:

I'm looking for a 3V or 4V, 100mA solar panel to replace the one in an
LED "eternity lamp" such as are used to illuminate headstones.

The panel consists of 8 cells. Its dimensions are 11.5cm x 6.7cm x
2mm. I don't have any leeway in the dimensions, as the replacement
panel must fit into an existing cutout in the metalwork.

The solar panel looks like the one here:
http://www.accessories4graves.ie/images/img_l_6.jpg

The panel is the blue rectangle at the top.

This is the actual lamp:
http://www.accessories4graves.ie/images/img_l_7.jpg

- Franc Zabkar
You might try panels from solar 'garden' or 'pathway' lights. They
Click to expand...
normally charge 2 NiCd cells in series at about 50 ma. Commonly about
5.5cm x 5.5cm. Two of these panels wired in parallel would fit in the
space required and provide 100ma. (Mine are 3.0mm thick though).
 
On Thu, 27 Nov 2008 12:26:36 +1000, notvalid@invalid.com put finger to
keyboard and composed:

On Thu, 27 Nov 2008 08:22:28 +1100, Franc Zabkar
fzabkar@iinternode.on.net> wrote:

On Thu, 27 Nov 2008 06:28:06 +1100, Franc Zabkar
fzabkar@iinternode.on.net> put finger to keyboard and composed:

I'm looking for a 3V or 4V, 100mA solar panel to replace the one in an
LED "eternity lamp" such as are used to illuminate headstones.

The panel consists of 8 cells. Its dimensions are 11.5cm x 6.7cm x
2mm. I don't have any leeway in the dimensions, as the replacement
panel must fit into an existing cutout in the metalwork.

The solar panel looks like the one here:
http://www.accessories4graves.ie/images/img_l_6.jpg

The panel is the blue rectangle at the top.

This is the actual lamp:
http://www.accessories4graves.ie/images/img_l_7.jpg

- Franc Zabkar
You might try panels from solar 'garden' or 'pathway' lights. They
normally charge 2 NiCd cells in series at about 50 ma. Commonly about
5.5cm x 5.5cm. Two of these panels wired in parallel would fit in the
space required and provide 100ma. (Mine are 3.0mm thick though).
Click to expand...
Good idea, thanks. I'll have a go, but I'm not sure if I can make it
look good. The cheap solar lights that I bought some months ago have
already faded badly, so I'll need something with hail resistant glass.
The extra thickness is not a serious problem. I'll just need to be a
little creative with the retaining bracket. In fact the original
mounting was shoddily put together, resulting in stress which caused
the panel to crack. I think the rain got in and corroded one or more
of the cell interconnects.

- Franc Zabkar
--
Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email.
 
On Fri, 28 Nov 2008 06:50:11 +1100, Franc Zabkar
<fzabkar@iinternode.on.net> wrote:

On Thu, 27 Nov 2008 12:26:36 +1000, notvalid@invalid.com put finger to
keyboard and composed:

On Thu, 27 Nov 2008 08:22:28 +1100, Franc Zabkar
fzabkar@iinternode.on.net> wrote:

On Thu, 27 Nov 2008 06:28:06 +1100, Franc Zabkar
fzabkar@iinternode.on.net> put finger to keyboard and composed:

I'm looking for a 3V or 4V, 100mA solar panel to replace the one in an
LED "eternity lamp" such as are used to illuminate headstones.

The panel consists of 8 cells. Its dimensions are 11.5cm x 6.7cm x
2mm. I don't have any leeway in the dimensions, as the replacement
panel must fit into an existing cutout in the metalwork.

The solar panel looks like the one here:
http://www.accessories4graves.ie/images/img_l_6.jpg

The panel is the blue rectangle at the top.

This is the actual lamp:
http://www.accessories4graves.ie/images/img_l_7.jpg

- Franc Zabkar
You might try panels from solar 'garden' or 'pathway' lights. They
normally charge 2 NiCd cells in series at about 50 ma. Commonly about
5.5cm x 5.5cm. Two of these panels wired in parallel would fit in the
space required and provide 100ma. (Mine are 3.0mm thick though).

Good idea, thanks. I'll have a go, but I'm not sure if I can make it
look good. The cheap solar lights that I bought some months ago have
already faded badly, so I'll need something with hail resistant glass.
The extra thickness is not a serious problem. I'll just need to be a
little creative with the retaining bracket. In fact the original
mounting was shoddily put together, resulting in stress which caused
the panel to crack. I think the rain got in and corroded one or more
of the cell interconnects.

- Franc Zabkar
Click to expand...
Off topic comment but these things hardly sound like an Eternity Lamp.
Apart from the failure mode you're currently working to remedy, the
NiCd cells are only going to last a few years max which is a tad shy
of my understanding if eternity!

John
 
On Fri, 28 Nov 2008 02:30:29 GMT, John <john_shaw@hotmail.com> put
finger to keyboard and composed:

On Fri, 28 Nov 2008 06:50:11 +1100, Franc Zabkar
fzabkar@iinternode.on.net> wrote:

On Thu, 27 Nov 2008 12:26:36 +1000, notvalid@invalid.com put finger to
keyboard and composed:

On Thu, 27 Nov 2008 08:22:28 +1100, Franc Zabkar
fzabkar@iinternode.on.net> wrote:

On Thu, 27 Nov 2008 06:28:06 +1100, Franc Zabkar
fzabkar@iinternode.on.net> put finger to keyboard and composed:

I'm looking for a 3V or 4V, 100mA solar panel to replace the one in an
LED "eternity lamp" such as are used to illuminate headstones.

The panel consists of 8 cells. Its dimensions are 11.5cm x 6.7cm x
2mm. I don't have any leeway in the dimensions, as the replacement
panel must fit into an existing cutout in the metalwork.

The solar panel looks like the one here:
http://www.accessories4graves.ie/images/img_l_6.jpg

The panel is the blue rectangle at the top.

This is the actual lamp:
http://www.accessories4graves.ie/images/img_l_7.jpg

- Franc Zabkar
You might try panels from solar 'garden' or 'pathway' lights. They
normally charge 2 NiCd cells in series at about 50 ma. Commonly about
5.5cm x 5.5cm. Two of these panels wired in parallel would fit in the
space required and provide 100ma. (Mine are 3.0mm thick though).

Good idea, thanks. I'll have a go, but I'm not sure if I can make it
look good. The cheap solar lights that I bought some months ago have
already faded badly, so I'll need something with hail resistant glass.
The extra thickness is not a serious problem. I'll just need to be a
little creative with the retaining bracket. In fact the original
mounting was shoddily put together, resulting in stress which caused
the panel to crack. I think the rain got in and corroded one or more
of the cell interconnects.

- Franc Zabkar

Off topic comment but these things hardly sound like an Eternity Lamp.
Click to expand...
Agreed, hence my use of quotes.

Apart from the failure mode you're currently working to remedy, the
NiCd cells are only going to last a few years max which is a tad shy
of my understanding if eternity!

John
Click to expand...
This will be the third time I've replaced them in 10 years. As for the
solar panel, I've been looking at dozens of different designs, but
only two HPM garden lamps had glass tops. I finally decided to try
adapting a very large, glass topped, 4V panel from a step light kit by
fitting it over the hole. It comes with three batteries as well, so
that should improve the light output.

BTW, I did try contacting the original supplier, but both their emails
addresses bounced, and they haven't returned my phone call.

- Franc Zabkar
--
Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email.
 
On Fri, 28 Nov 2008 16:27:03 +1100, Franc Zabkar
<fzabkar@iinternode.on.net> put finger to keyboard and composed:

I finally decided to try
adapting a very large, glass topped, 4V panel from a step light kit by
fitting it over the hole. It comes with three batteries as well, so
that should improve the light output.
Click to expand...
The instructions state that the "lights should achieve optimum light
output after the remote panel has been exposed to 4 days / nights of
sunlight, enabling the batteries to fully charge".

- Franc Zabkar
--
Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Welcome to EDABoard.com

Sponsor

Back
Top