Solar to motor

[lilfear1]

I recently bought a 6V solar panel when it came in the mail today I soldered a wire to it and hooked it up to a small motor that came with my arduino. Nothing happened. I checked voltage coming out of the solar panel and I am getting 5V. I connect the motor to a AAA battery and motor runs fine AAA batteries as you know are only 1.6 ish volts...What is the problem?

 

[davenn]

I recently bought a 6V solar panel when it came in the mail today I soldered a wire to it and hooked it up to a small motor that came with my arduino. Nothing happened. I checked voltage coming out of the solar panel and I am getting 5V. I connect the motor to a AAA battery and motor runs fine AAA batteries as you know are only 1.6 ish volts...What is the problem?

The solar panel may not have the current capability required by the motor
The 5V you measured, is that with or without the motor connected ?

you have told us the voltage of the panel, what is it's current capability ?


Dave

 

[lilfear1]

that is without. It is a 6V, 0.6W panel...I have no information about the DC motor at all.

 

[davenn]

that is without. It is a 6V, 0.6W panel...I have no information about the DC motor at all.

OK so that 6V is likely to drop to around 4V under load and lower under a heavier load
so as I suggested in my first post, the panel probably doesn't have the capability to power that particular motor

 

[lilfear1]

Thank you

 

[Chemelec]

Based on 0.6 watts and 6 Volts, the Maximum current is 100 mA, and that will be under BRIGHT Sun Light.

 

[(*steve*)]

Actually, most likely it will have an open circuit voltage of 6V and a short circuit current of 100mA under specified (and likely unreproducable) conditions.

You may get 90% of the peak current at 80% of the peak voltage if you can manage your load properly

 

[BobK]

100 mA might be enough the run the motor, but not to start it. You could try spinning the motor once it is connected and see if it continues to spin.

Bob

 

[lilfear1]

100 mA might be enough the run the motor, but not to start it. You could try spinning the motor once it is connected and see if it continues to spin.

Bob

I could try that thank you....I have another issue with these panels (2) they are both identical in every way. I checked voltage on both panels, I got the same volts, So I wired them in series and I got 0.00V WTF? I made a drawing of my wiring and the problems I am having. I am only testing voltage right now. I will deal with the motor later.

 

[davenn]

I checked voltage on both panels, I got the same volts, So I wired them in series and I got 0.00V WTF?

you probably wired them incorrectly and looking at your pix, that would be a confirmation

do this




Dave

 

[Doug3004]

Most of the solar car kits use a coreless motor, not a regular brushed-DC motor.
Coreless motors spin much easier than normal motors.

Look on Google for a "K30 solar motor".

 

[lilfear1]

you probably wired them incorrectly and looking at your pix, that would be a confirmation

do this
View attachment 28888



Dave

lol omg how stupid I was...I was looking at the panels wrong...thank you for your clarification...now getting around 9V which is better than 0.00V...it helps when it is hooked up right.

 

[davenn]

hey it happens ... at least you are sorted out

 

[lilfear1]

10.6V / 1.7 A = 6.23 W that isnt enough to run my little motor...even when I spin the shaft...no worries another project in the works...thanks for everyones help with my stupidity

 

[davenn]

10.6V / 1.7 A = 6.23 W that isnt enough to run my little motor...even when I spin the shaft...no worries another project in the works...thanks for everyones help with my stupidity

in series you only double ( approx.) the voltage the current stays the same the ~ 100mA

in parallel, you double the current ( approx.) and the voltage stays the same


D