As demand for solar panel installation has risen sharply, especially for installations larger than balcony power plants, the order books of solar companies are full. If you ask for a quote today, you may have to wait a while, if your request isn't simply postponed indefinitely. Another consequence of the solar boom is that some companies are charging very high prices for installations.
Yet there is an obvious and radical solution to the problem of excessive prices: Do it yourself, as the English say. The price of materials is currently affordable, and it's the ideal time for those who do the work themselves. They couldn't save more. Add to this the satisfaction of doing something useful, both economically and ecologically, and the pleasure of building yourself.
In this special issue, you'll find a wide selection of Elektor assemblies, from solar panel controllers to solar water heaters and solar panel orientation systems. The issue also contains practical information on solar panel installation and the technology behind them. Finally, there are a number of articles on the subject of balcony power plants, from how to install them to how to connect them to the Internet...
Contents
BASICS
Dimensioning Photovoltaic Panel ArraysAn introduction to photovoltaic energy and the commonest techniques,followed by simplified calculation models and setup guidelines.
Light Sensor TechnologyMeasuring daylight using LEDs.
Solar Power Made SimpleSolar charging with and without a controller.
Cable Cross-sections and Energy Losses in Solar SystemsKey considerations on the minimum values to respect for electricalcurrent in solar panel cabling.
Solar ModulesEverything you always wanted to know about solar panels...
Ideal Diode ControllerDiode Circuits with Low Power Dissipation.
TIPS
Tracking for Solar Modules
zBot Solar/Battery Power Supply
Solar Cell Array Charger with Regulator
Solar Cell Voltage Regulator
Solar-Powered Night Light
Alternative Solar Battery Charger
PROJECTS
Energy LoggerMeasuring and Recording Power Consumption.
Tiny Solar SupplySunlight In, 3.3 V Out.
A Do-It-Yourself DTURead Data from Small Inverters by μC.
Solar ChargerPortable energy for people on the move.
Solar Thermal Energy RegulatorMaximum power point tracking explored.
2-amp Maximum Power Tracking ChargerSolar Power To The Max.
Computer-driven HeliostatFollow the sun or the stars.
Garden LightingUsing solar cells.
Solar Panel Voltage Converter for IoT DevicesYes we CAN exploit indoor lighting.
Travel ChargerFree power in the mountains.
Solar Cell Battery Charger/MonitorWith protection against deep discharge.
Solar-powered Battery ChargerPIC12C671 avoids overcharging and deep charging.
Converters for Photovoltaic PanelsContributed by TME (Transfer MultisortElektronik).
Solar Charging RegulatorFor panels up to 53 watts.
Solar-Powered ChargerFor lead-acid batteries.
CAN Bus + Arduino for Solar PV Cell MonitoringDetect and locate serviceable panels in large arrays.
Balcony Power Plant 2.0The latest: solar panels, installation and inverters
As demand for solar panel installation has risen sharply, especially for installations larger than balcony power plants, the order books of solar companies are full. If you ask for a quote today, you may have to wait a while, if your request isn't simply postponed indefinitely. Another consequence of the solar boom is that some companies are charging very high prices for installations.
Yet there is an obvious and radical solution to the problem of excessive prices: Do it yourself, as the English say. The price of materials is currently affordable, and it's the ideal time for those who do the work themselves. They couldn't save more. Add to this the satisfaction of doing something useful, both economically and ecologically, and the pleasure of building yourself.
In this special issue, you'll find a wide selection of Elektor assemblies, from solar panel controllers to solar water heaters and solar panel orientation systems. The issue also contains practical information on solar panel installation and the technology behind them. Finally, there are a number of articles on the subject of balcony power plants, from how to install them to how to connect them to the Internet...
Contents
BASICS
Dimensioning Photovoltaic Panel ArraysAn introduction to photovoltaic energy and the commonest techniques,followed by simplified calculation models and setup guidelines.
Light Sensor TechnologyMeasuring daylight using LEDs.
Solar Power Made SimpleSolar charging with and without a controller.
Cable Cross-sections and Energy Losses in Solar SystemsKey considerations on the minimum values to respect for electricalcurrent in solar panel cabling.
Solar ModulesEverything you always wanted to know about solar panels...
Ideal Diode ControllerDiode Circuits with Low Power Dissipation.
TIPS
Tracking for Solar Modules
zBot Solar/Battery Power Supply
Solar Cell Array Charger with Regulator
Solar Cell Voltage Regulator
Solar-Powered Night Light
Alternative Solar Battery Charger
PROJECTS
Energy LoggerMeasuring and Recording Power Consumption.
Tiny Solar SupplySunlight In, 3.3 V Out.
A Do-It-Yourself DTURead Data from Small Inverters by μC.
Solar ChargerPortable energy for people on the move.
Solar Thermal Energy RegulatorMaximum power point tracking explored.
2-amp Maximum Power Tracking ChargerSolar Power To The Max.
Computer-driven HeliostatFollow the sun or the stars.
Garden LightingUsing solar cells.
Solar Panel Voltage Converter for IoT DevicesYes we CAN exploit indoor lighting.
Travel ChargerFree power in the mountains.
Solar Cell Battery Charger/MonitorWith protection against deep discharge.
Solar-powered Battery ChargerPIC12C671 avoids overcharging and deep charging.
Converters for Photovoltaic PanelsContributed by TME (Transfer MultisortElektronik).
Solar Charging RegulatorFor panels up to 53 watts.
Solar-Powered ChargerFor lead-acid batteries.
CAN Bus + Arduino for Solar PV Cell MonitoringDetect and locate serviceable panels in large arrays.
Balcony Power Plant 2.0The latest: solar panels, installation and inverters
The UT196 True RMS solar multimeter is an ideal tool for solar power system maintenance. This rugged meter is designed for technicians who work in rugged outdoor environments. UT196 can measure up to 1700 V DC and 1500 V AC voltages, and 3000 A AC current with an external current clamp sensor. This solar meter offers IP65 protection and able to withstand 2 m drop as well.
The UT196 solar multimeter is designed with 1700 V DC, 1500 Vrms AC overload protection and tested for safe usage in CAT III 1000 V, CAT IV 600 V environments.
Features
True RMS
Measure up to 1700 V DC and 1500 V AC for high voltage applications e.g. solar array, wind
IP65 protection
CAT III 1000V, CAT IV 600 V
Analog bar
Frequency response: 45 Hz~1 kHz
Low-pass filter function
Low impedance mode
Built-in flashlight, bright backlight and visual alarm
Applications
High DC voltage measurement
Output voltage and frequency measurement
Voltage and frequency measurement
Current and frequency measurement
Specifications
Range
UT196
DC voltage (V)
1700 V
±0.2% +5
AC voltage (V)
1500 V
±0.8% +3
Frequency (Hz)
1 MHz
±0.08% +4
Resistance (Ω)
60 MΩ
±0.8% +2
Capacitance (F)
60 mF
±1.9% +5
Power
9 V battery
Dimensions
195 x 95 x 58 mm
Included
UT196 Solar Multimeter
Battery
Test leads
Downloads
Datasheet
Manual
This book is about DC electric motors and their use in Arduino and Raspberry Pi Zero W based projects. The book includes many tested and working projects where each project has the following sub-headings:
Title of the project
Description of the project
Block diagram
Circuit diagram
Project assembly
Complete program listing of the project
Full description of the program
The projects in the book cover the standard DC motors, stepper motors, servo motors, and mobile robots. The book is aimed at students, hobbyists, and anyone else interested in developing microcontroller based projects using the Arduino Uno or the Raspberry Pi Zero W.
One of the nice features of this book is that it gives complete projects for remote control of a mobile robot from a mobile phone, using the Arduino Uno as well as the Raspberry Pi Zero W development boards. These projects are developed using Wi-Fi as well as the Bluetooth connectivity with the mobile phone. Readers should be able to move a robot forward, reverse, turn left, or turn right by sending simple commands from a mobile phone. Full program listings of all the projects as well as the detailed program descriptions are given in the book. Users should be able to use the projects as they are presented, or modify them to suit to their own needs.
This book is for people who want to understand how AC drives (also known as inverter drives) work and how they are used in industry by showing mainly the practical design and application of drives.
The key principles of power electronics are described and presented in a simple way, as are the basics of both DC and AC motors. The different parts of an AC drive are explained, together with the theoretical background and the practical design issues such as cooling and protection.
An important part of the book gives details of the features and functions often found in AC drives and gives practical advice on how and where to use these. Also described is future drive technology, including a matrix inverter.
The mathematics is kept to an essential minimum. Some basic understanding of mechanical and electrical theory is presumed, and a basic knowledge of single andthree phase AC systems would be useful.
Anyone who uses or installs drives, or is just interested in how these powerful electronic products operate and control modern industry, will find this book fascinating and informative.
The MotoPi is an extension-board to control and use up to 16 PWM-controlled 5 V servo motors. The board can be additional powered by a voltage between 4.8 V and 6 V so a perfect supply is always guaranteed and even larger projects can be powered.
With the additional power supply and the integrated Analog-Digital-Converter, new possibilities can be reached. An additional power supply per motor is not required anymore because all connections (Voltage, Ground, Control) are directly connected to the board.
The control and the programing can be directly done, as usual, on the Raspberry Pi.
Specifications
Special features
16 Channels, own clock generator, Inkl. Analog Digital Converter
Input 1
Coaxial power connector 5.5 / 2.1 mm, 5 V / 6 A max
Input 2
Screw terminal, 4.8-6 V / 6 A max
Compatible with
Raspberry Pi A+, B+, 2B, 3B
Dimensions
65 x 56 x 24 mm
Scope of supply
Board, manual, fixing material
This board allows the Raspberry Pi Pico (connected via pin header) to drive two motors simultaneously with full forward, reverse & stop control, making it ideal for Pico controlled buggy projects. Alternatively, the board can be used to power a stepper motor. The board features the DRV8833 motor driver IC, which has built-in short circuit, over current and thermal protection.
The board has 4 external connections to GPIO pins and a 3 V and GND supply from the Pico. This allows for additional IO options for your buggy builds that can be read or controlled by the Pico. In addition there is an on/off switch and power status LED, allowing you to see at a glance if the board is powered up and save your batteries when your project is not in use.
To use the motor driver board, the Pico should have a soldered pin header and be inserted firmly into the connector. The board produces a regulated supply that is fed into the 40-way connector to power the Pico, removing the need to power the Pico directly. The motor driver board is powered via either screw terminals or a servo style connector.
Kitronik has developed a micro-python module and sample code to support the use of the Motor Driver board with the Pico. This code is available in the GitHub repo.
Features
A compact yet feature-packed board designed to sit at the heart of your Raspberry Pi Pico robot buggy projects.
The board can drive 2 motors simultaneously with full forward, reverse, and stop control.
It features the DRV8833 motor driver IC, which has built-in short circuit, over current and thermal protection.
Additionally, the board features an on/off switch and power status LED.
Power the board via a terminal block style connector.
The 3V and GND pins are also broken out, allowing external devices to be powered.
Code it with MicroPython via an editor such as the Thonny editor.
Dimensions: 63 mm (L) x 35 mm (W) x 11.6 mm (H)
Download
Datasheet
Build Your Own Vintage Radio Broadcaster
The Elektor AM Transmitter Kit allows streaming audio to vintage AM radio receivers. Based on a Raspberry Pi Pico microcontroller module, the AM Transmitter can transmit on 32 frequencies in the AM band, from 500 kHz up to 1.6 MHz in 32 steps of approx. 35 kHz.
The frequency is selected with a potentiometer and shown on a 0.96" OLED display. A pushbutton allows toggles the transmitting mode between On and Off. The range of the transmitter depends on the antenna. The onboard antenna provides a range of a few centimeters, requiring the AM Transmitter to be placed close to or inside the radio. An external loop antenna (not included) can be connected to increase the range.
The Elektor AM Transmitter Kit comes as a kit of parts that you must solder to the board yourself.
Features
The board is compatible with a Hammond 1593N enclosure (not included).A 5 VDC power supply with micro-USB connector (e.g., an old phone charger) is needed to power the kit (not included). Current consumption is 100 mA.
The Arduino software (requiring Earle Philhower’s RP2040 Boards Package) for the Elektor AM Transmitter Kit plus more information is available at the Elektor Labs page of this project.
Component List
Resistors
R1, R4 = 100 Ω
R2, R3, R8 = 10 kΩ
R5, R6, R9, R10, R11 = 1 kΩ
R7 = optional (not included)
P1 = potentiometer 100 kΩ, linear
Capacitors
C1 = 22 µF 16V
C2, C4 = 10 nF
C3 = 150 pF
Miscellaneous
K1 = 4×1 pin socket
K2, K3 = 3.5 mm socket
Raspberry Pi Pico
pushbutton, angle mount
0.96" monochrome I²C OLED display
PCB 150292-1
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