Metal lamp on solar panels do it yourself

Recently, the installation of autonomous luminaires on the dacha or the preservation area has become an excellent alternative to ordinary lighting devices that draw energy from common electrical networks. The main advantage of such devices is their independence and mobility. So, the autonomous lamp can easily be installed in the desired place, without shifting the cable and without installing new supports. Even when the light is disconnected throughout the summer village, they will be able to illuminate the site before the start of electricity.

With relatively low prices on parts, as well as due to the occurrence of low-power light sources, such as LEDs, homemade craftsmen have the opportunity to make an autonomous lamp without any problems. Moreover, with minimal investments, you can make a reliable product that will serve much longer than the factory Chinese models. Repair of such lamps on solar panels with your own hands, can come out even more expensive than to make a quality product in advance. How to make a lamp do it yourself - further in the article.

The principle of the autonomous lamp

Since the autonomous lamp is not connected to general electrical networks, it must have another power source. In fact, it does not differ from the usual pocket lantern. However, so as not to change the batteries constantly in it, such lamps are supplied with batteries. They charge through the work of solar cells during the daytime, and at night they give energy LEDs. The latter, in contrast to incandescent lamps, have low power consumption with a much striking glow, which allows them to work for a long time on one charge of the battery.

To automate the inclusion of the street lamp, photocells are used, which include it when the illumination is reduced or special transistors. The latter works as a key. When the voltage on the solar battery under the influence of sun rays increases, it allows the current to the battery. As soon as the voltage falls, which indicates a reduction in illumination, the transistor submits the current from the battery to the LEDs. In this case, the solar battery in a pair with a transistor plays the role of a photocell.

The housings of such a lamp is usually made of steel or plastic. Since it will be constantly exposed to temperature differences, high humidity, its body must be sealed. Otherwise, the life of the product will significantly decrease. The easiest way is to use a metal box from foods for these purposes, which is tightly closed.

Required materials for the lamp on solar panels do it yourself

With this simple job, almost everyone will cope with this, who at least once kept a soldering iron and has elementary concepts about electrical circuits and their work. To collect a simple chain, it is not necessary to make a textolite board and etching the tracks on it. Everything is going to simply, you can say "on the knees."

For the manufacture of one lamp it will take:

1. Accumulator battery. The nickel-metal hydhydride battery with a voltage is not less than 3.6 V. Buy it in any store. It is quite easy to learn, it looks like 3 finger batteries that are tightened in a special film. Particular attention should be paid to the capacity of the battery. It depends on it, as far as the lamp will be able to do without sunlight. The optimal container can be calculated as the amount of energy that the LEDs consumes multiplied by the number of hours of autonomous work with a reserve of 30%.
2. Solar cells. Recently, buy them is not difficult. If the battery voltage is 3.6 V, then for its charging, a voltage is needed at least 5 V. Since the middle panel, which is sold at present, produces about 0.4-0.6 V. Their power will need to be collected in the battery, Accordingly, 10 pcs. one. They are connected in series, in this case the voltage of each panel will be folded. When buying separate photoelectric panels, you must give preference to those that have outputs. Otherwise, it is worth choosing kits in which the conductors and a special flux are included in the form of a pencil. It is necessary for soldering contacts.
3. One transistor 2N4403 is also needed, rectifier diode 1N5391 or KD103A.

The chain includes a resistance element (resistor). Its nominal can be simply calculated using the formula:

R \u003d UX 100 / NX0.02; where:

• R - resistance of the resistor;
• U is the battery voltage;
• N - the number of LEDs;

That is, for three LEDs with a voltage of 1.2 V and a battery voltage of 3.6 to the optimal resistance of the resistor will be 6 com.

To each of the LEDs is connected by the resistance with a face value of 33 Ohm.

Assembling the scheme of the LED autonomous lamp on solar panels

The order of work at this stage is the following:

1. Each of the LEDs has two legs - a short (cathode) and a long (anode). Short legs need to be connected together, and then solder, and to long - solder one resistance of 33 ohms.
2. The free legs of the resistors must be assembled together and solder, and the collector of the transistor solder. A resistor of 3.6 com sold to its base, and to the emitter of the transistor - the cathode of the diode, which performs the function of the rectifier. A positive pole of batteries will be connected to it. The diode anode is connected to the resistance of the transistor base and the positive pole of the solar module. The negative pole of the solar battery is connected to the negative pole of the battery. The wire joins the cathodes of LEDs.
3. It is necessary to provide solar modules by conductors. As a rule, they go to sets with elements. If there are no, it is necessary to purchase a flat conductor and cut them on measuring lengths. The length of the conductor must be 5-7 mm more than the width of the module.
4. When soldering contacts, the most important thing is not to confuse the poles. The minus contact of the solar panel is on the front side, and the advantage is on the back side. When assembling the battery, each subsequent element soldes with opposite poles. Simple words: minus the previous panel is soldered to the plus subsequent.
5. The contact of the solar module is a narrow strip of the conductor. To solder a conduit tape to it, it is necessary to first spend on it with a flux (a colorless marker that comes in the kit), impose a tape, and gently spend a heated soldering iron.
6. The tape already has a layer of tin, so it is easily soldered to the surface of the module. When soldering, you need to be very neat so as not to damage the modules. They are very fragile and fear overheating.
7. Thus, a battery of 10 modules with a total voltage of 5 V. The layout of the module depends on the dimensions of the lamp. Usually 10 elements are located in two rows of 5 elements.

Assembling the lamp on solar panels with your own hands

After the electrical scheme of the autonomous lamp on the solar panels is collected and verified, you can begin assembling the design itself. Sunny battery must be protected from precipitation. For this items need to be placed under the glass.

The order of work at this stage is the following:

1. The first thing is the solar battery for garden lamps with their own hands is placed on the glass installed on the frame. The glass frame is made of aluminum profile. Glass is attached to the frame with the help of silicone sealant. In order for the solar panel to serve a long time and was afraid of a hail and snow, it is better to use a calene glass.
2. After the frame with glass is ready, it is placed on it solar battery, remove the contacts and poured with epoxy resin. It seals the entire battery, reducing moisture on it. Alternatively, instead of epoxy resin, you can use a film for lamination. It covers the solar panels, and heated with an industrial hair dryer. In this case, it must be remembered that the heating temperature must be raised gradually so as not to spoil the film and contacts.
3. Now the luminaire case is manufactured. To do this, you can take a hermetically metallic box. In its lid, holes are made to output LEDs. Inside, you can install a piece of foam. If the legs of the part during soldering the schemes were not covered, they can be inserted into the foam, thereby fixing them.
4. After that, connect the bottom of the box and the solar battery case. The last step will be closing the lid of the lamp body. Specialists advise before it to dry the inside of the lantern on a hairdryer to evaporate moisture from it. So the flashlight will serve much longer.

Operation of autonomous lantern

In order for the LED lamp with their own hands longer, it must be properly operated.

The following rules of operation are available:

• In order for the batteries during the day to charge more efficiently, they need to be oriented to the south side, at an angle of about 30 ° C to the horizon. In this case, the sun's rays will fall under the necessary angle and the efficiency of the battery will be high.
• The lantern is better to install 3 meters high at a pole so that the shadow from the trees does not interfere with the batteries. In winter, this lamp is not particularly effective and better not to use it. In low temperatures, the discharge of the battery is much faster, and the length of the daylight does not allow it to replenish its charge.
• For the winter, such a lamp is better putting on storage, pre-dischargeing the battery. To do this, you need to cover the solar battery of a light-tight matter, or put in a dark place. The transistor will automatically turn on the LEDs and discusses the battery.

Solar panel lamp: Photo

Lamp do it yourself, master class: video