SOLAR ENERGY KIT

MODEL SK-40

Elenco® Electronics, Inc.

150 Carpenter Avenue
Wheeling, IL 60090
(847) 541-3800
Website: www.elenco.com
e-mail: elenco@elenco.com

Elenco Electronics, Inc.

®

Copyright © 2008 by Elenco® Electronics, Inc. All rights reserved. 753149

No part of this book shall be reproduced by any means; electronic, photocopying, or otherwise without written
permission from the publisher.
Parts List Other Uses
Solar Cell Angle Stand Angle Stand Motor Fan Cardboard Figures Plastic Discs

Ë
Base

SK-40-P12

»
SK-40-P17

SK-40-P1 SK-40-P2 SK-40-P3 SK-40-P4 SK-40-P5 SK-40-P13

Motor Holder Motor Holder Music Box Light Bulb Jumper Wires
Base SK-40-P14
SK-40-P18
SK-40-P7
Wrench SK-40-P15 SK-40-P19
Radio Calculator
SK-40-P6 SK-40-P8 SK-40-P9 SK-40-P10 SK-40-P11 SK-40-P16 SK-40-P20

The Solar World

Solar power: With energy costs and pollution rising, the limitless supply of pollution-
free solar energy will have an ever-increasing role in meeting our world’s energy needs.

9
+ –
Since the sun will always be bright, solar energy will always be available. Solar panels
are quiet, clean, and will last for years since they don’t have any moving parts that can
wear out. Although electricity produced from solar panels is still several times as – +
expensive as electricity produced by normal energy sources, that is changing as solar
panels become less expensive and more efficient. Scientists are constantly
experimenting with new ways to capture the energy radiated from our sun. More and Battery Charger Cassette Player
more products are being developed that use solar panels as their power source.

Sun power: The sun ®

produces heat and light on an Another Elenco Kit to Build
immense scale, by
transforming Hydrogen gas Elenco® Snap Circuits® Jr.
into Helium gas. This Model SC-100 with over 100 projects
“transformation” is a
Models SC-100 and SC-100R contain
thermonuclear reaction, over 30 parts to introduce students at the
similar to the explosion of a elementary level to the world of electricity
Hydrogen bomb. The earth is and electronics. Build over 100 projects
protected from most of this from the easy-to-follow color manual by
heat and radiation by being so simply snapping all the parts in place. No
far away, and by its tools needed. The student will learn about
atmosphere. But even here resistors, capacitors, motors, batteries,
the sun still has power, since series/parallel circuits, and much more.
it can spin the motor on your
Figure 1
kit and give you sunburn on a Requires two (2) “AA” batteries.
hot day.
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Spinning Disc Nearly all of the energy in any form on the
surface of the earth originally came from
the sun. Plants get energy for growth from
There are four disc sizes along with some cardboard figures. Cut the figures out and the sun using a process called photo-
attach them to the discs using double-sided tape. Connect the disc to the motor then synthesis. People and animals get energy
place the solar panel facing the sunlight directly. You can vary the speed by adjusting for growth by eating plants (and other
the amount of sunlight hitting the solar panel. animals). Fossil fuels such as oil and coal
that power most of our society are the
decayed remains of plants from long ago.
These fuels exist in large but limited
quantity, and are rapidly being consumed.

Born in the space program: The solar

panel is a photovoltaic cell, with photo
meaning light and voltaic meaning that it
produces electricity. Photovoltaic cells
were first developed for the space program,
to recharge batteries and power various
systems in spacecraft and satellites.
Although they were expensive, they saved
Disc money because heavier batteries or other
fuel sources did not have to be launched Figure 2
into earth’s orbit on very expensive rockets.
The sun’s brightness is reduced when it
passes through the earth’s atmosphere, so
solar cells are more efficient in space. Solar Cell on
a Satellite
Birds Solar cells are used to power most
Disc satellites because they are lightweight and
never wear out (sending a serviceman to
do maintenance on a satellite is extremely
expensive). Over the years manufacturing
processes for photovoltaic cells have
improved and reduced costs, and now they
are used in many common products on
earth such as calculators, and often charge
Fan batteries in industrial applications. It is
likely that a large portion of America’s
electricity will be produced from solar cells
Planes by the end of this century.
Figure 3

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How your solar panel works: Your solar panel is made from silicon, like the transistors
and microprocessor used throughout the electronics industry. Silicon is easy to find,
Solar Motor
since ordinary sand contains mostly silicon. Power requirement: 1.5V @ 300mA.
Each row of cells are 1.5V 100mA, so 3 rows of cells are
The silicon is refined into two layers of very pure crystal, but tiny amounts of different needed to be connected in parallel.
minerals (such as Boron and Phosphorus) are added to give one side a positive
electrical charge and the other side a negative charge. These opposite charges cancel Formula: I total = 3 rows of cells x 100mA = 300mA.
each other out, producing a neutral cell. However when sunlight shines on the silicon To assemble your Solar Motor, follow these steps:
crystal, charged particles in the light unbalance the cell and create an electrical charge
across it (called a voltage). By connecting wires to the positive and negative layers
Step 1 Step 2
1 2 3 Insert motor
this voltage will make a flow of electrical charge, called an electric current. into motor
holder

Screw & nut

Sunlight
Current Flow (photons) 1. Attach jumper wires across terminals #1 - #3 & #2 - #4.
Negative
Silicon Direction 2. Attach jumper wires across terminals #3 - #5 & #4 - #6.
3. Attach the motor wires to terminals #1 & #2 and Loosen screw on the motor holder, insert the motor
tighten the nuts. and then tighten the screw.
Negative
Contact Step 3 Step 4

Positive Barrier Layer

Positive
Contact
Silicon Electrons

Figure 4
Solar cells operate best when bright sunlight is available at all times. Unfortunately,
most areas of the United States only get about 4-5 hours of sunlight per day on average.
The electricity needs of people vary throughout the day, whether or not the sun is
shining. Because of this, most solar cell arrays are used to charge rechargeable
batteries. The batteries provide for people’s electricity needs throughout the day, and
are recharged whenever the sun shines. Solar power is often used in remote desert
areas, because it is too expensive to build electricity distribution networks to them.
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Press the motor shaft into the hole on the fan. Insert the the plastic post into the base key hole and
tighten by twisting it 90 degrees.
Place the solar panel facing the sunlight directly and the fan will spin. To reverse the
rotation, switch the position of the motor wire connections to the solar panel.
If there is no sunlight, place the panels approximately five inches from a 100W light.
Caution; not more than three minutes as the heat may melt the plastic frame.
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Solar Music Player Using Solar Electricity
Power requirement: 4.5V @ 100mA There is no limit to the amount electricity you can produce from sunlight. The more cells
Formula: 4.5V you use, the more power you get.
= 3 rows of cells
Each row of cell 1.5V To increase the voltage, connect the cells in series from the negative side to the positive side
To assemble your Solar Music Player, follow these steps: as shown in Figures 6-11. Although the voltage (E) increases the current (Ι) remains constant.

The formula for cells in series is as follows:

Step 1 Step 2 E Total = E1+E2+E3 e.g: (E1)1.5V+(E2) 1.5V+(E3)1.5V = 4.5V
1 2 3 4 5 6 I Total = I1+I2+I3 current (I) remains constant = 100mA

Angle stand

Slide into
place in
direction
of arrow

1. Attach jumper wires across terminals 2-3 & 4-5.

Base
2. Attach the music player’s negative wire to
terminal #1 and the positive lead (+) lead to #6. Slide the angle stand onto the base as shown.

Step 3 Step 4
Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure 7 Figure 8
E1 E2 (E1 + E2) E3 (E1 + E2 + E3)
1.5V 100mA connection 3V 100mA series circuit. 4.5V 100mA series circuit.
(Figure 6).

Tighten the two screws enough so you can adjust Slide the stand into the slot on the solar panel. To Figure 9 Figure 10 Figure 11
the angle position if necessary. release the stand, pull up the locking tab as shown.
Terminals #1 & #2 are the Terminal #2 connected to Terminal #2 connected to
Place the solar panel facing the sunlight directly and the music should play. If there is output. #3. Terminals #1 & #4 are #3, terminal #4 connected
no sunlight, place the panels approximately five inches from a 100W light. the output. to #5. Terminals #1 & #6 are
Caution: No more than three minutes as the heat may melt the plastic frame. the output.

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To increase the current (I), connect the cells in parallel, connecting the positive point
to the positive point, negative point connected to the negative point as shown. Although
the current (I) increases, the voltage (V) remains constant.
The formula for cells in parallel is as follows:
I Total = I1+I2+I3 e.g: (I1)100mA+ (I2) 100mA + (I3)100mA = 300mA
E Total = E1+E2+E3 – The voltage (E) remains constant at 1.5V
Caring for your solar panel: Your solar panel will never wear out and could spin the
motor forever if sunlight were always shining on it. But the motor itself would wear out,
since it has moving parts that rub against each other. The solar panel may break if
you drop or smash it. Use a soft cloth and glass cleaner to keep dust off the panel,
since dust would reduce the brightness of light shining on it.
Future of solar power: We at Elenco® Electronics believe solar power will have an
important role in meeting America’s electricity needs of the 21st century. We think it is
important to educate everyone about the environmental advantages of solar energy
instead of pollution-causing fuels like oil and uranium. We hope you enjoyed building
this kit, please contact us if you have any questions about it.

Light Bulb
Power requirement: 1.5V @ 300mA
Each row of cells are 1.5V 100mA, so 3 rows of cells
are needed to be connected in parallel.
Formula: I total = 3 rows of cells x 100mA = 300mA.
To assemble your Light Bulb, follow these steps:

Figure 12 Figure 13 Figure 14

I1 I2 (I1 + I2) I3 (I1 + I2 + I3)
1.5V 100mA connection. 1.5V 200mA parallel circuit. 1.5V 300mA parallel circuit.
Step 1
1 2 3 4 5 6 1. Attach jumper wires across
terminals #1 - #3 & #2 - #4.
2. Attach jumper wires across
terminals #3 - #5 & #4 - #6.
3. Attach the light bulb to terminal #1
& #6 and tighten the nuts.

Figure 15 Figure 16 Figure 17

Terminals #1 & #2 are the
output.
Terminal #2 connected to #4,
#1 connected to #3.
Terminals #1 & #4 are the
output.
Terminal #2 connected to
#4, #1 connected to #3, #4
connected to #6, #3
connected to #5. Terminals It’s best to do this project using a lamp instead of the sun.
#1 & #4 are the output. Place the panels approximately five inches from a 100W light and the bulb lights.
Caution: No more than three minutes as the heat may melt the plastic frame.

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