We get a lot of questions about how to run an Arduino off of solar panels. We decided to do a bit of testing and came up with three pretty simple ways to run an Arduino even if you aren’t near your computer or an AC plug.
Direct to a Solar Panel – We plugged our 2.0 Watt, 6Volt panel into the Arduino’s 5.5mm x 2.1mm DC Jack via our Generator Circuit Box. On a hazy day and through a screen, it lowered the basic blink application. Of course, this will only work when there is sunlight and your application can work with extended downtime. The circuit box set has two outs so you can send power to another part of your application if needed. The panel is also available from Adafruit.
Adafruit publishes a wide range of writing and video content, including interviews and reporting on the maker market and the wider technology world. Our standards page is intended as a guide to best practices that Adafruit uses, as well as an outline of the ethical standards Adafruit aspires to. While Adafruit is not an independent journalistic institution, Adafruit strives to be a fair, informative, and positive voice within the community – check it out here: adafruit.com/editorialstandards
Stop breadboarding and soldering – start making immediately! Adafruit’s Circuit Playground is jam-packed with LEDs, sensors, buttons, alligator clip pads and more. Build projects with Circuit Playground in a few minutes with the drag-and-drop MakeCode programming site, learn computer science using the CS Discoveries class on code.org, jump into CircuitPython to learn Python and hardware together, TinyGO, or even use the Arduino IDE. Circuit Playground Express is the newest and best Circuit Playground board, with support for CircuitPython, MakeCode, and Arduino. It has a powerful processor, 10 NeoPixels, mini speaker, InfraRed receive and transmit, two buttons, a switch, 14 alligator clip pads, and lots of sensors: capacitive touch, IR proximity, temperature, light, motion and sound. A whole wide world of electronics and coding is waiting for you, and it fits in the palm of your hand.
Have an amazing project to share? The Electronics Show and Tell is every Wednesday at 7:30pm ET! To join, head over to YouTube and check out the show’s live chat and our Discord!
Python for Microcontrollers – Adafruit Daily — Select Python on Microcontrollers Newsletter: PyCon AU 2024 Talks, New Raspberry Pi Gear Available and More! #CircuitPython #Python #micropython @ThePSF @Raspberry_Pi
EYE on NPI – Adafruit Daily — EYE on NPI Maxim’s Himalaya uSLIC Step-Down Power Module #EyeOnNPI @maximintegrated @digikey
I have several questions. This may be good for a small article.
1. If I put several solar panels in series what pitfalls do I need to look out for?
2. If I place them in parallel to up the current are the pitfalls different?
3. Doing both together are there other problems that will come up?
4. If I want to charge a battery I have heard that I need a blocking diode in some places, in others I have heard that it is not needed that the cells themselves act as diodes. This must change from light to dark. What do I actually need to do?
Like I said this could be an article not a reply as there are so many different questions stacked. I am not wondering how the cells work on the quantum level, but on a charging circuit level.
Any pointers for where to look, or even better one good do it all whack would be nice. 🙂
I have several questions. This may be good for a small article.
1. If I put several solar panels in series what pitfalls do I need to look out for?
2. If I place them in parallel to up the current are the pitfalls different?
3. Doing both together are there other problems that will come up?
4. If I want to charge a battery I have heard that I need a blocking diode in some places, in others I have heard that it is not needed that the cells themselves act as diodes. This must change from light to dark. What do I actually need to do?
Like I said this could be an article not a reply as there are so many different questions stacked. I am not wondering how the cells work on the quantum level, but on a charging circuit level.
Any pointers for where to look, or even better one good do it all whack would be nice. 🙂
I have several questions. This may be good for a small article.
1. If I put several solar panels in series what pitfalls do I need to look out for?
2. If I place them in parallel to up the current are the pitfalls different?
3. Doing both together are there other problems that will come up?
4. If I want to charge a battery I have heard that I need a blocking diode in some places, in others I have heard that it is not needed that the cells themselves act as diodes. This must change from light to dark. What do I actually need to do?
Like I said this could be an article not a reply as there are so many different questions stacked. I am not wondering how the cells work on the quantum level, but on a charging circuit level.
Any pointers for where to look, or even better one good do it all whack would be nice. 🙂
Thanks.
-C
I have several questions. This may be good for a small article.
1. If I put several solar panels in series what pitfalls do I need to look out for?
2. If I place them in parallel to up the current are the pitfalls different?
3. Doing both together are there other problems that will come up?
4. If I want to charge a battery I have heard that I need a blocking diode in some places, in others I have heard that it is not needed that the cells themselves act as diodes. This must change from light to dark. What do I actually need to do?
Like I said this could be an article not a reply as there are so many different questions stacked. I am not wondering how the cells work on the quantum level, but on a charging circuit level.
Any pointers for where to look, or even better one good do it all whack would be nice. 🙂
Thanks.
-C