Solar Panel
area illuminated vs power

First posted
Monday March 22, 2010 11:11
Updated
Friday March 26, 2010 08:14

PNM work proposal

Let's cover the entire panel with aluminum foil to see what happens, then about a half, then all with black plastic.

Our measurements are 11 9/16" x 17 11/16" 'Peak Voltage' above we believe should read 'Peak Power'. Approximate area is [[11*16 + 9]/16] * [[17*16 + 11]/16] = [185/16] * [283/16] = 52335/256 = 204.5 sq in. Or 204.5/12*12 = 1.42 sq ft. 1 square meter = 10.7639104 square feet Monocrystalline solar panels would be the most energy efficient (but expensive) solar panels on the market due to the fact they’re, literally, made with monocrystalline (silicon) cells. Harbor Freight nominal current should be 5/12 = .417 amps. But the voltage, in fact, varies greatly depending on the load so the current will be less. Getting 5 watts out of the panel would not suprise us. We will try putting the panel outside, adjust the angle and load to see if we can't get 5 watts out.

About 11:00 Monday March 22, 2010.

Open circuit panel voltage of about 19.91 volts. The three little red $1.99 and older yellow meters are all measuring IR drop across a 50 ohm 10 watt resistor. This is done merely to compare reliability and hopefully accuracy of the 4 meters. Below is under 50 ohm load. 9.78 volts 168.6 ma measured by autoranging big CEN-TECH. The panel is covered with aluminum foil, shiny side out. Below is panel voltage, IR drop, and current measurements after panel reinstalled in window. Let's next cover about half of the panel.

Get senior coke at Mickey D's, return video, get gas and tamale, then return to find out why circuit is measuring open.

Stepping on the experiment to adjust the solar panel caused the ground between solar panel and circuit to become disconnectded.

Here east portion of panel covered. Note shadow at about 13:00. We built home in 1981 using a 1970's Better Homes and Garden enegy efficient blueprint. We did the same in Pullman but a slightly smaller home. About 1765 sq ft in Pullman and 2010 in Albuquerque. There are large over hangs over both first and second story windows, most of which face south. In the winter we get lots of sun. In the summer, the windows are shaded. Sears measured house for possible refrigerated air conditioning. Sears reported that house took in more heat that it radiated. Sear reported this is unusual. Soon we will have to move our solar electric experiment outside. Below is output with east side of panel covered as seen above. 5.99 * .1037 = .621 watts 5.23 / 50 = .1046 amps .1046 * .1046 * 50 = .547 watts We moved the aluminum foil to cover the west side and measured. 5.83 * .101 = .589 watts 5.09 / 50 = .1018 amps .1018 * .1918 * 50 = .518 watts Then we removed the foil cover to measure. 10.8 * .1859 = 2.01 watts 9.37 / 50 = .1874 amps .1874 * .1874 * 50 = 1.756 watts Next we removed the power-side of the panel to measure open circuit panel voltage. We could have bought a second panel to wire in parallel to show that doubling the panel area about doubles the amps OUT. The alumium foil experiment apparently demonstrates the same principle and is lots cheaper. Key statement may have been posted. fast neutron Santa Fe, NM January 12, 2009 From actual experience, wind farms produce 1.2 watts per square meter. Solar Thermal and Photovoltaic methods capture 5 to 6 watts per square meter. There is no economy of size in either technology. Dividing the watts you need by those values gives the land area in square meters needed to produce the juice. The numbers are astronomical http://www.topix.net/forum/source/santa-fe-new-mexican/T0QVJ5UD3R25C8HRL Best output we have obtained with 50o solar panel angle appears to both produce maximum 15.30 volts and power measured by 13.10 IR drop accross 50 ohm resistor. 13.1 / 50 = .262 amps. .262 * .262 * 50 = 3.4322 watts. Our panel is about 1.42 sq ft. 1 square meter = 10.7639104 square feet. 10.7639104 / 1.42 = 7.58. .262 * 7.58 = 1.98569 amps by parallel connected solar panels. 1.98569 * 1.98569 * 50 = 197.15 watts? Or 15.3 * 1.98569 = 30.38 watts? Let's keep investigating. This does not agree with fast neutron stated values. Further investigation is necessary. ... 1 sq. metre of panels exposed to the full sun will generate 120W to 125W of electricity. We are using a monocrystalline panel which apparently is the most efficient. Monocrystalline 'panels typically retail at between $10.00 and $11.00 per watt.' Harbor Freight 5 W panel cost $39.99. Listen to Dave McCoy's statement about cost of solar-generated elecricity. 8 * $40 = $320 to attempt to generate 197.15 watts of maybe unusable [too low voltage]? So we won't do this experiment. We are dealing with not-so-useful watts of about 15 volts at peak driving into 50 ohms. Let's hold-off judgment on fast neutron's posting. We are all hopefully working to find out the truth. The contemplation of things as they are, without error or confusion, without substitution or imposture, is in itself a nobler thing than a whole harvest of invention. Francis Bacon We are investigating through experimentation and computation as opposed to acceptance of written information to determine veracity of solar generation of electricity claims.

Does heat IN have anything to do with solar panel power OUT?

Answer, supported by experiment, appears to be 'no.' Removal of the black plastic caused numbers on all meters to not rise but to jump to 'normal.' Soar replaced by red CEN-TECH #3.

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