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CraziestOzzy

Senior Member

Joined: 11/07/2008
Location: Australia
Posts: 135

Posted: 03:43am 25 Feb 2011

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Ok, courtesy of Cyclone Yasi and having no power for over a week, I bit the bullet and purchased an (overpriced) 120w portable/folding solar panel.
Didn't really have much choice on spending nearly a thousand bucks (just for the panel) on getting some power into the house. All my batteries were on their last legs and the 12V DC computer fans I had were starting to run a bit slow with my last source of power, a car battery. Those fans were keeping the missus cool during the hot humid days as she had to sleep, being on night shift.
Everyone was into generators and all were sold out, so I was screwed in that area of achieving heavenly bliss by getting some power into a powerless home.
Any way, brought the solar panel, a deep cycle battery and splurged on an inverter while I was in the mood for spending.
...and boy, was there power available and then some.
So now all my projects have been shelved and have just brought off the "Bay" over a 100 solar cells that I can use to make three solar panels at a fraction of the cost of an already made single solar panel.
...also brought a heap of electronic bits to upgrade my stock in readiness for some sweet smelling smoke as I burn a few transistors or pop a few electrolytes :P

I guess I now have the solar bug, having evolved from wind generators which are now shelved for next year. Or the year after.
I am currently looking into ultra simple solar trackers, as manually turning the solar panels during the day was a bit tricky and will be even more so with three more panels to add to my collection. So I will post my progress here as time goes on.

...good to be back here after an absence :)

http://cr4.globalspec.com/member?u=25757

http://www.instructables.com/member/OzzyRoo/

Bryan1

Guru

Joined: 22/02/2006
Location: Australia
Posts: 1344

Posted: 05:46am 25 Feb 2011

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G'day CraziestOzzy,
Head on over to the feildlines forum and in the solar section Oztules has done a DIY on making solar panels. It's a 3 part series and it is the most informative guide on the net in making your own panels.

Cheers Bryan

mid north Matt

Regular Member

Joined: 06/01/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 58

Posted: 10:58am 25 Feb 2011

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hi C/Ozzie
just before x/mas i got 2 80w panels off epay for 170ea plus 75 post,the 1st panels they send were down on size and power [55w] but the seller came good with the correct panels and c/over frieght costs so all ended well,i see his panels often but no one bids on them much.i got the solar bug when i got 3 solar lights off the dump years ago,these lights must have been the 1st solar lights out because they had 6 volt sealed lead acid batteries/fluro tubes and 6v 250ma panels on them.ive still got the panels which charge my nicad torches and cordless drill battery packs,they will also run small 12v fans as well.ive also make a panel using 20 of those crap chinga solar lights that people chuck out just series/pa them up till you get the volts/current you want

Pt Wakefield Matt

VK4AYQ
Guru

Joined: 02/12/2009
Location: Australia
Posts: 2539

Posted: 12:11pm 25 Feb 2011

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Hi Crazy O

The disease you have got is diagnosed as (Solar Cancer of the Wallet), it leads to AIDS
(Acute income deficiency syndrome) and has been associated with SIDS (solar induced divorce syndrome) so have fun but handle with care, and keep the wife happy and onside with all the miracles it can produce.

All the best

Bob

Foolin Around

AMUN-RA

Senior Member

Joined: 10/03/2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 144

Posted: 06:24am 28 Feb 2011

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CraziestOzzy 120 watt panels $400 had plenty during power out still some left if you want

Every day the sun shines
& gravity sucks= free energy.

CraziestOzzy

Senior Member

Joined: 11/07/2008
Location: Australia
Posts: 135

Posted: 12:25am 03 Mar 2011

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Yeah thanks Bryan1...most detailed instructions from Oztules over at Fieldlines.
Mid north Matt, I have a collection of those garden solar lights in my parts box...good for a rainy day project, but haven't scored enough yet to make anything decent. One day I might discover the Mother Lode at the dump :P
VK4AYQ...am only learning now, how to keep the missus happy. For every dollar I spend on my projects, she gets two :P
AMUN-RA...if only I knew that before I broke my bank balance. I was thinking of sneaking over and running an extension lead to your house...you have more solar panels than roof tiles :P

I was out yesterday to three demolition places looking for some glass to get my home brew solar panels started, seems Cyclone Yasi has demolished a nice stock of glass sheets salvaged from Solar hot water heaters...grrr
I might have to settle for many small panels instead of the three planned big ones.Edited by CraziestOzzy 2011-03-04

http://cr4.globalspec.com/member?u=25757

http://www.instructables.com/member/OzzyRoo/

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