Date: Thu, 2 Jan 2003 16:05:37 -0700
Reply-To: Ben McCafferty <ben@VOLKSCAFE.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Ben McCafferty <ben@VOLKSCAFE.COM>
Subject: Cautions, was: Re: Solar panels are GONE!!!
In-Reply-To: <0fa301c2b2a2$8f5ba830$6401020a@garibaldi>
Content-type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
Good point Isaac, thanks. The back of the panels has a label that reads:
"PLEASE NOTE: This solar electric product is a live power source in
SUNLIGHT. It is normal for the panel to heat up when exposed to the sun and
plugged in. This panel MUST be unplugged from the power outlet and removed
from the windshield prior to starting and or moving the vehicle. Panel MUST
also be stored in a secure place so as not to move around while vehicle is
in motion."
I mentioned the voltage rating earlier this morning (18.8 V), but also have
seen 25 V on a regular basis with bright Colorado sun. I'm sure under load
that would drop a bit, but just something I noticed.
I have disassembled one of these, and don't see any evidence of a one-way
resistor or anything to keep current from flowing backwards on these--can
anyone out there comment on why the battery doesn't discharge when this is
plugged in and not generating any current, i.e. when it's dark?
I'm still experimenting with a bunch of these in arrays, and one day hope to
cover the entire outside of a van with them, per Stan's comments last year.
Maybe I'll even go electric and drive 2 mph everywhere I go.....
tx,
bmc :)
Ben McCafferty
ben@volkscafe.com
Volks Cafe
1823 Soquel Avenue
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
831-426-1244
http://www.volkscafe.com
> From: Isaac Taylor <itaylor@ATTBI.COM>
> Reply-To: Isaac Taylor <itaylor@ATTBI.COM>
> Date: Thu, 2 Jan 2003 16:04:37 -0500
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Solar panels are GONE!!!
>
> Make of this what you will, but when I was working at Boston Volkswagen
> last summer and these solar panels started coming in (they work great, by
> the way -- I gave out a few to friends and family) there are very clear
> instructions from VW in every new car to not leave the solar panels
> plugged into the cigarette lighter once the vehicle is running, at risk of
> electrical hazard and potential fire. I guess the theory is that if the
> car is on, or if your cigarette lighter in an older car is wired to
> provide power even when the ignition is off, that rather than charging the
> battery, the current flow reverses and heads into the solar panel. If this
> situation persists, you can melt some light/temporary-duty wires (in the
> harness -- not in the pv panel) and are risking a short that can have
> exactly the opposite effect, and drain the battery. And/or start a fire.
>
> Again, I don't know that this *is* in fact, an issue, or if the
> manufacturer was just trying to protect themselves against accidents and
> idiocy, etc, but in case you're thinking about wiring a solar panel in
> permanently, and sticking it somewhere less obtrusive than the windshield
> (which I immediately thought about) there were very clear instructions
> about not leaving these things plugged in after the vehicle is running. If
> there's an electrical engineer in the house, I'd love to hear your
> thoughts on the subject.
>
> Best - Isaac in Cambridge
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Ben McCafferty" <ben@VOLKSCAFE.COM>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Thursday, January 02, 2003 3:32 PM
> Subject: Solar panels are GONE!!!
>
>
> Hi everyone,
> Wow, if you ever feel unpopular, just give something away! I created a
> "solar" rule on my email client and had 50+ requests within a couple of
> hours.
>
> Those of you I have responded to will be getting panels. Everyone else,
> please bear with me while I count up how many panels are spoken for, and
> I'll notify you if I have enough for you.
>
> Thanks and best regards,
> bmc :)
> Ben McCafferty
> ben@volkscafe.com
>
> Volks Cafe
> 1823 Soquel Avenue
> Santa Cruz, CA 95062
> 831-426-1244
> http://www.volkscafe.com
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