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Date:         Thu, 2 Jan 2003 20:13:18 -0800
Reply-To:     Robert Keezer <warmerwagen@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Robert Keezer <warmerwagen@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Cautions, was: Re: Solar panels are GONE!!!
Comments: To: ben@VOLKSCAFE.COM
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed

Ben- The panel has a blocking diode or else the battery would turn the panel into a light bulb at night.

Robert K 1982 Westfalia

>From: Ben McCafferty <ben@VOLKSCAFE.COM> >Reply-To: Ben McCafferty <ben@VOLKSCAFE.COM> >To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM >Subject: Cautions, was: Re: Solar panels are GONE!!! >Date: Thu, 2 Jan 2003 16:05:37 -0700 > >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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