DIY Solar
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1.5 Watt 6 Volt solar panels: Designed to charge the Voltaic Battery Pack 11 or almost any 3.7 to 5 Volt source battery. Can charge some handheld electronics directly. These panels are waterproof, scratch resistant, and UV resistant. They use a high efficiency monocrystalline cell. They output 6V at 250 mA via 3.5mm x 1.3mm connectors. The substrate is an aluminum / plastic composite, specifically designed to be strong and lightweight.
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$25
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1.3 Watt 10 Volt solar panels: Designed to charge the JetPack Battery Pack. These are waterproof, scratch resistant, and UV resistant. They use a high efficiency monocrystalline cell. Available in Silver, Black, Orange and Green. They output 10V at 133 mA via 3.5mm x 1.3mm connectors. The substrate is an aluminum / plastic composite, specifically designed to be strong and lightweight. They can easily stand up to typical outdoor use including being dropped and leaned on. See the full specs here.
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$25
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15 Watt solar panel: Designed to charge Generator Battery Pack. A compact (fits easily in a backpack), lightweight (only 1.5 pounds) waterproof, scratch resistant, UV resistant. It uses high efficiency (20%) monocrystalline cells. They come in Silver, Black, Orange and Green. They output 20V with a peak current of 750 mA via 3.5mm x 1.3mm connectors. See the full specs here.
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$199
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1.3 Watt Panel Specifications |
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| Single Panel | 3 Panels | |
| Panel Dimensions | 3½" x 7½" 184mm x 88mm |
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| Weight | 4 ounces 120 grams |
12 ounces 360 grams |
| Substrate Type | 3mm Aluminum/Plastic | |
| Cell Type | Monocrystalline | |
| Cell Efficiency | 17% | |
| Open Circuit Voltage | 12.5 V | |
| Peak Voltage * | 10.2 V | |
| Peak Current * | 133 mA | 400 mA |
| Peak Watt † | 1.36 W | 4.08 W |
| * Panel output is computed from cell manufacturer's data based on 0% reduction of cell efficiency after packaging of cell strings. Electrical output tolerance +/- 10% † Under irradiance of 100 mW / sq. cm, spectrum of 1.5 air mass, at 25 degrees Celsius, as per cell manufacturer's specifications. |
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Note: For maximum power output, angle the panels towards the sun. When the panels are in direct sunlight but not angled towards the sun the power declines about 20%. When they are angled away from the sun the power drops off 80-90%. Dirt and scratches on the face of the solar panels will reduce the amount of light hitting the solar cells and reduce the power generated. To clean them use a damp non-abrasive cloth.
| Approximate Charging Times | |
| Item | Hours Direct Sunlight * |
| Voltaic Battery Pack | 8-10 |
| Cell Phone | 4-6 |
| Digital Camera | 4-8 |
| GPS | 4-6 |
| iPod | 5-6 |
| *Charge times may be increased in cloudy weather, high temperatures, or where panels are not angled towards the sun. | |
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15 Watt Panel Specifications |
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| Single Panel | ||
| Panel Dimensions | 15¾" x 11¼" 403mm x 284mm |
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| Weight | 25 ounces 710 grams |
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| Substrate Type | 3mm Aluminum/Plastic | |
| Cell Type | Monocrystalline | |
| Cell Efficiency | 20% | |
| Open Circuit Voltage (Voc) | 24V | |
| Closed Circuit Voltage (Vp) | 20V | |
| Peak Current (mAp) | 750mA | |
| Peak Watts (Wp) | 15W | |
Note: For maximum power output, angle the panels towards the sun. When the panels are in direct sunlight but not angled towards the sun the power declines about 20%. When they are angled away from the sun the power drops off 80-90%. Dirt and scratches on the face of the solar panels will reduce the amount of light hitting the solar cells and reduce the power generated. To clean them use a damp non-abrasive cloth.
| Approximate Charging Times | |
| Item | Hours Direct Sunlight * |
| Voltaic Battery Pack (equivalent to typical notebook battery) | 5-6 hours |
| Cell Phone | <1 |
| Digital Camera | <1-2 |
| GPS | <1 |
| iPod | <1 |
| *Charge times may be increased in cloudy weather, high temperatures, or where panels are not angled towards the sun. Note: this refers to the amount of time in the sun required to generate enough charge to fully charge the listed device. It may take longer for that charge to flow from the Voltaic battery to the device. A typical cell phone takes 2 hours to charge even from AC power, it will likely take that long for that charge to flow from the Voltaic battery to the cell phone. However one hour in the sun should be enough time to generate and store that charge in the Voltaic battery. | |
