Subject:
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LEGO Solar Cell (Was 'Re: New Pitsco Catalog')
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.robotics
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Date:
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Sun, 28 Jan 2001 19:32:41 GMT
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Reply-To:
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micahx@^SayNoToSpam^kih.net
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Viewed:
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732 times
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The solar cell is included in the LEGO Dacta eLAB Renewable Energy Set
(#979681; Pitsco 2001 page 50), and is clearly pictured being used to
power a standard 9V LEGO motor with internal gear reduction, in a simple
tri-wheel mobile platform. The solar cell is wired directly to the motor
via a standard 9V connector. Additionally, the solar cell is sold
individually (#979912; Pitsco 2001 page 51), and in the description it
states "The LEGO Solar Cell provides sufficient power to operate LEGO
models." The array itself appears to be about 8Lx16L, with a slightly
larger Technic-compatible green housing. The solar cell is pictured in
several implimentations, and in each it is wired directly to a single 9V
LEGO motor, so it is obviously capable of powering at least one standard
9V motor by itself.
--
Regards,
Micah J. Mabelitini
The University of Kentucky - SECC Bell County Campus
micahx@kih.net
http://www.users.kih.net/~micahx/
Matthias Jetleb wrote:
>
> > there's a LEGO solar panel available. Is this a new product? I was under
> > its mA output (in direct sunlight) is? I also noticed a LEGO capacitor.
>
> While I can't see it being used for Lego, given the current required
> to run the motors, I have built solar powered vehicles which use a
> solar cell and a high-value/low voltage capacitor. These are
> frequently sold under the (improper) designation "solar robots" or
> "micro-bots". The solar cell is used to charge the capacitor and, when
> a threshold is reached, a transitor is used to dump the stored energy
> into a motor to power the vehicle. It is important to note that the
> motor in question is frequently a pager motor (from a vibrating pager
> - about $2) and as such has very low torque and is therefor not likely
> to find itself used in Lego. These cars charge in about 30 to 45
> seconds (less in US where the radiation angle is higher) and run for
> about 3 seconds (but coast afterward - good for a total of about 10m
> on clean, sealed concrete). They are deliberatly built to be
> light-weight and are quite fast. They also serve as a good science
> experiment on the conversion of light into motion and on the
> limitations of solar powered cars and solar power in general, hence I
> can see how it might have made it into the Pitsco catalog, but I can't
> see it showing up in Lego sets unless lego plans on releasing a
> high-efficiency, low power motor and some sort of controller brick.
> Not likely.
>
> Matthias Jetleb
> VA3-MWJ
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Message has 1 Reply:
 | | Re: LEGO Solar Cell (Was 'Re: New Pitsco Catalog')
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| Actually, it is capable of driving only the geared 9V motor, but it runs really slowly (that is, not in full power). Check out the following site that uses the RCX and the solar cell on a mobile robot with videos : (URL) Original Message ----- From: (...) (24 years ago, 29-Jan-01, to lugnet.robotics)
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Message is in Reply To:
| | Re: New Pitsco Catalog
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| (...) While I can't see it being used for Lego, given the current required to run the motors, I have built solar powered vehicles which use a solar cell and a high-value/low voltage capacitor. These are frequently sold under the (improper) (...) (24 years ago, 28-Jan-01, to lugnet.robotics)
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