Solar panels are green power sources which convert energy from the sun into electricity. Building your own solar-powered fan is not only good for the environment, but it can also save you money while keeping you cool during the summer months. This circuit is simple to build and a great beginner's project if you want to learn the basics of practical electronics.
Instructions
1. Heat the soldering iron and keep the solder nearby.
2. Solder the positive (red) wire coming from the fan to the positive wire coming from the capacitor. To do this, touch the two wires together while holding the soldering iron against them both. After a few seconds the wires will become very hot. Touch the solder to the heated wires and use the soldering iron to shape it in place, if necessary.
3. Solder the from the solar panel to the positive wire on the capacitor. Use additional solder as needed. If the solar panel does not have protruding wires, the back is usually positive, and the front negative.
4. Solder the negative wire (black) from the fan to the negative wire on the capacitor.
5. Solder the negative wire from the solar panel to the negative wire on the capacitor. Again, use more solder, if necessary.
6. Check the connections on the capacitor. If they are secure, wrap the exposed wires with electrical tape to avoid short-circuits. If not, re-solder the connections.
7. Test the fan. Place the solar panel in direct sunlight and watch the fan. The fan may not start straight away as the capacitor will store some of the charge. This energy in storage will be useful should a cloud or other object block the sunlight from the solar panel (the larger the capacitor, the more power will be stored).
Tags: negative wire, positive wire, from solar, from solar panel, solar panel