Solar panels by IKEA

[So_SiMpLe_]

Hey ecomodders!

Today went to IKEA and thei have this solar panel chandeleers that work with 3 x 1.2v rechargeable batteries. That means 3.6v generated per panel so 3 things like this make 3.6x4=14.4v.

link: http://www.ikea.com/pt/pt/catalog/products/90154371

Would it work on a car to recharge help the battery in a parcial alternator cutoff?

I'm don't know tat much abou electricity so I'm just asking, thought was a good idea!

Thanks!

[NeilBlanchard]

No, the current coming from these tiny panels would not make a dent in the need for the alternator -- sorry. Check for the thread where someone covered the entire roof of his car with a PV panel and he got a small benefit, I think.

[gascort]

yeah, the whole roof in panels puts out enough on a sunny day to allow me to drive for about 45 minutes. (summer)
Winter and I probably get enough to run for 20 minutes.
Those little guys probably have current ratings or wattage ratings so you could figure out how much power they have.
Power = voltage * current
(Watts = volts * amps)
If you have 2 watts of solar panel and you have it in direct sun for 3 hours, you have 6 watt - hours
Your car probably requires about 200 watts minimum to run (source)
6 watt hours divided by 200 watts = 0.03 hours that you could run your car on stored solar energy.
You might not even see gains from disconnecting your alternator. I saw negative MPG changes. Now I have a really expensive battery maintainer on my roof, lol. (unless I figure out how to get it to like running at 12V)
Matt

[dwestmodesto]

Did you use a mppt or a pwm charge controller. The mppt will yield between up to 33% more energy from the same solar cell aray. I am hoping to switch my controller that I use on my camping property up in Washington to the newer, better technology.
Good Luk,
DAve

Originally Posted by gascort

yeah, the whole roof in panels puts out enough on a sunny day to allow me to drive for about 45 minutes. (summer)
Winter and I probably get enough to run for 20 minutes.
Those little guys probably have current ratings or wattage ratings so you could figure out how much power they have.
Power = voltage * current
(Watts = volts * amps)
If you have 2 watts of solar panel and you have it in direct sun for 3 hours, you have 6 watt - hours
Your car probably requires about 200 watts minimum to run (source)
6 watt hours divided by 200 watts = 0.03 hours that you could run your car on stored solar energy.
You might not even see gains from disconnecting your alternator. I saw negative MPG changes. Now I have a really expensive battery maintainer on my roof, lol. (unless I figure out how to get it to like running at 12V)
Matt

[So_SiMpLe_]

Originally Posted by gascort

yeah, the whole roof in panels puts out enough on a sunny day to allow me to drive for about 45 minutes. (summer)
Winter and I probably get enough to run for 20 minutes.
Those little guys probably have current ratings or wattage ratings so you could figure out how much power they have.
Power = voltage * current
(Watts = volts * amps)
If you have 2 watts of solar panel and you have it in direct sun for 3 hours, you have 6 watt - hours
Your car probably requires about 200 watts minimum to run (source)
6 watt hours divided by 200 watts = 0.03 hours that you could run your car on stored solar energy.
You might not even see gains from disconnecting your alternator. I saw negative MPG changes. Now I have a really expensive battery maintainer on my roof, lol. (unless I figure out how to get it to like running at 12V)
Matt

So by instaling a switch to the alternator to make a cut off it might not bring any better mpg at all?

About the IKEA solar panels it no would even work for the radio!

[SwamiSalami]

This is a great concept, though.

The question that still remains is this:

Can a solar panel(s) assist the alternator instead of deleting it? I've asked this I don't know how many times, but to no avail.

Also, attached to this question is the notion that A) you could still drive the car in less sunny weather and B) potentially have no range anxiety, because it's an addition, rather than a substitution.

Thanks

[gone-ot]

...ASSIST? = very positive YES.

...REPLACE? = most emphatic NO.

[SwamiSalami]

Ok, now that we've established the fact that it CAN assist, how much?

what can one expect to gain by doing this?

HAS anyone done this set up (to assist, not delete)?

[NeilBlanchard]

Automotive alternators are 50-100A if I am not mistaken? This laminate 24v 136W (meaning it is about 5.6A) is 15.5" x 216" -- and you would need TEN of them to equal a small alternator. That is 33,480 square inches or 232.5 square feet to get ~50A.

[deathtrain]

Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard

Automotive alternators are 50-100A if I am not mistaken? This laminate 24v 136W (meaning it is about 5.6A) is 15.5" x 216" -- and you would need TEN of them to equal a small alternator. That is 33,480 square inches or 232.5 square feet to get ~50A.

is that all???/