[Arouse1973]

1) 5 sets of lights, 100 LEDs per set, single LEDs
2) to be light opperated using existing solar panel sensors to reduce cost
3) one power supply to run all 5 sets.

Power supplies available - 5V, 6V, 9V & 12V standard plug in DC power supplies. various currents from 350mA to 2,000mA
Current batteries - AA size, one per set, 1.2V Ni-MH 600mAh

Hi Andy
Yeah 100 LEDs per set seems a lot for one battery. Are these like the little lantern thingy's or a long string of LEDs. Can you take another picture of one of the sets.
Thanks
Adam

 

[Martaine2005]

Hi Andy,
Would I be right in thinking 5 sets have 100 leds, so each light has 20 leds?
And each light has it's own battery?

Martin

 

[Andy Street]

100 lights per set, 500 in total
each set of 100 runs from one 600mAh battery ( for about 4 hours on a full carge )
My probem is simply that the UK winter does not give enough light to fully charge the batteries each day, hence my intention to boost this with a small charger.

 

[Andy Street]

I was just looking for a cheap solution with the odd bits I have to hand, they are only to cheer the kids up in the cold winter nights, I have them spread out over the bushes in the front garden.

If need be I will just connect them in series across a 9V power supply and hope for the best, but I was hoping for a more elegant ( and safer ) solution...........

 

[Arouse1973]

I think I may have some good news. I have found the IC on the PCB. It's either a ZE002 or ANA608, I think they are both the same. See website here: http://www.flytron.com/electronic-parts/240-ana608-solar-charge-and-led-controller.html



So what you may be able to do it remove the battery place a diode in series with the power supply and connect the power supply and diode in place of the battery, the solar cell should still switch the unit on. You may have to load the solar panel with a resistor just in case the output of the solar panel in full sun is too high for the IC.

You will need a power supply so that after the diode you still get 1.5 Volts ish.

Adam

 

[Martaine2005]

Nice find Adam,
I knew you could figure it out!!
Andy, that means a power supply of three volts ish. Much easier to find.

Martin

 

[Andy Street]

I probably have a 3v supply in the the shed somewhere.

What value / rating would you suggest for the diode?

Many thanks for the help

Andy