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Solar Power Devices
Blog Simple Solar BOT  ----Finale
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Engagement
  • Author Author: snidhi
  • Date Created: 14 Sep 2018 6:58 PM Date Created
  • Views 2691 views
  • Likes 7 likes
  • Comments 3 comments
  • solar light
  • energy harvesting
  • ardexpert
  • conservation_projects
  • solarpwrdevicesch
  • energy management
  • solar energy
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Simple Solar BOT  ----Finale

snidhi
snidhi
14 Sep 2018

Finally the Arduino UNO was replaced by a Arduino Nano for the final tests.

 

The Ultimate Block Diagram

 

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Final SimpleSolar BOT

 

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Finally Update

 

The final video of the SolarBot in Action. Due to lack of sunlight today the tests were done with multiple halogen bulbs to simulate the sun. And I also added an extra solar panel to boot up the power output.

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The 4 Halogen Bulb setup to mimic the sun.

 

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Test Setup

 

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Adding 2 another Solar Panel for night mode. Total 4 panels are there. 3 are mounted and one is on the side

 

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Finally the power rails hitting 5V after adding another solar panel on the fly (total 4) for the motor drivers to go on

 

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All modules are ON and ready to go

 

 

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Testing the Power rail of the SolarBOT. The beeping sound is from the motor driver indicating that the power to the driver board is not enough

 

The Working Video

 

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The simple SolarBOT becomes a jerky SolarBOT. image

 

Conclusion

 

Due to current low heat sun weather condition in northern Germany I was not lucky to get good enough sunlight at the time I finished my Simple SolarBOT. As one can see the motors are heavy duty and lack of strong current did the jerky motion in the motors. The DC/DC converter did boost the output current from the solar panels but not enough to give a smooth stable current and voltage to the motor driver.

 

I expect better results in strong sunlight as I saw 500mA coming out of the 2 solar panels (refer to previous blog) and now with an upgrade to 4 solar panels and a DC/DC converter behind it to boost the current; the jerky motion of the motor should stop and get regulated. I also prohibited myself from adding any extra sensors that I had tested before due to power restrictions.

 

This is my final submission to the contest as the deadline is today image

 

 

P.S. If I get lucky in the coming days I will test it with real sun

 

Update: Testing in The Evening Sun

 

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Testing video in the evening Sun

 

 

Cheers

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Top Comments

  • DAB
    DAB over 6 years ago +4
    It is a common problem with solar cells that they cannot provide a lot of the instantaneous power needed by motors. That is why most designs use batteries and use the solar cells to provide recharge current…
  • genebren
    genebren over 6 years ago +4
    Good work! You over came more than your share of issues (like lack of sunlight) in order to get this far. Way to persevere. Good luck! Gene
  • three-phase
    three-phase over 6 years ago +1
    Well done for completing your project, good luck in the competition. Kind regards
  • three-phase
    three-phase over 6 years ago

    Well done for completing your project, good luck in the competition.

     

    Kind regards

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  • genebren
    genebren over 6 years ago

    Good work!  You over came more than your share of issues (like lack of sunlight) in order to get this far. Way to persevere.

    Good luck!

    Gene

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  • DAB
    DAB over 6 years ago

    It is a common problem with solar cells that they cannot provide a lot of the instantaneous power needed by motors.

    That is why most designs use batteries and use the solar cells to provide recharge current.

    The batteries take care of voltage regulation and provide spike current beyond what you can get with standard solar cells.

     

    DAB

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