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In the latest SAH catalog (Fall 2001, rec'd today in Massachusetts), in the Mindstorms section, there are two "new" parts. One is a solar panel, and the other is a capacitor. I know these are former/current Dacta items. The page also says to go to (...) (23 years ago, 13-Sep-01, to lugnet.robotics)
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| | Re: Solar panels, capacitor
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There is hardly enough current to move a motor. You would need about 9-11 Solar Panels and a bright sunny day to power the RCX. My only attempt at working with this solar panel can be seen here: (...) (23 years ago, 13-Sep-01, to lugnet.robotics)
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| | Re: Solar panels, capacitor
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Check here, (URL) Fay "J G Gregory" <jgg@ultranet.com> wrote in message news:GJKtKy.Du9@lugnet.com... (...) the (...) running (...) (23 years ago, 13-Sep-01, to lugnet.robotics)
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| | Re: Solar panels, capacitor
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Thanks for your response, but it really didn't address my questions. 1. How are these things supposed to be connected to an RCX? 2. Assuming that I could get power to it, would the RCX run with a solar panel (300ma) if I didn't connect any motors? I (...) (23 years ago, 13-Sep-01, to lugnet.robotics)
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| | Re: Solar panels, capacitor
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I have not run a RCX with the Solar Cells. I would think you would require three cells and three capacitors connected in series to provide 7.5 volts to the RCX. This would require making an adapter from the wire brick to the power input of the RCX. (...) (23 years ago, 13-Sep-01, to lugnet.robotics)
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| | Re: Solar panels, capacitor
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(...) I have the same thoughts. You can't use them together. Power output/requirements don't match. You could have an RCX driven vehicle pulling a trailer that has a solar-cell and capacitor supplying power to a device that is switched on from (...) (23 years ago, 14-Sep-01, to lugnet.robotics)
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| | Re: Solar panels, capacitor
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I have performed some experiments using the Lego Solar panels and capacitors to operate the RCX. I used the 5 volt configuration on my site at (URL) two AA batteries in series with the output of the solar capacitors. This resulted in a 7.5 volt (...) (23 years ago, 18-Sep-01, to lugnet.robotics)
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| | RE: Solar panels, capacitor
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I don't think it's practical to power the RCX with such small solar cells and capacitors. A device like the RCX does not like input voltage drops - the program will stop running, and the entire RCX will reset when power comes back up. Such drops are (...) (23 years ago, 18-Sep-01, to lugnet.robotics)
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