⚡️☀️solar power: a note on inverters
One of the first problems we ran into when trying to run corners of our house with solar power was a loud buzzing sound coming from the TV and power strip.
It turns out the initial inverter (pictured on the top) that changes DC to AC power is a modified sine wave. It is square wave with additional steps to approximate a sine wave.
For many electronic devices in your home, you need a pure sine wave inverter to produce a waveform similar to what the grid provides. That waveform looks like smooth curves as seen on the bottom.
We're unsure if our current inverter is doing any damage but the buzz sounds terrible.
Pure sine wave inverters are a bit more expensive but will provide the highest quality AC for your home devices.
One of the first problems we ran into when trying to run corners of our house with solar power was a loud buzzing sound coming from the TV and power strip.
It turns out the initial inverter (pictured on the top) that changes DC to AC power is a modified sine wave. It is square wave with additional steps to approximate a sine wave.
For many electronic devices in your home, you need a pure sine wave inverter to produce a waveform similar to what the grid provides. That waveform looks like smooth curves as seen on the bottom.
We're unsure if our current inverter is doing any damage but the buzz sounds terrible.
Pure sine wave inverters are a bit more expensive but will provide the highest quality AC for your home devices.
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☀️🔌 Solar Power Bank Project
(if none of this makes sense, don't worry, we're going to do a whole video on this project once it's complete. It's still being pieced together and tested).
▪️A second battery has been added in parallel;
▪️Bolt connectors have been used to replace default clip connectors (more secure & simplifies connecting more than one wire per teriminal);
▪️Adding another battery in parallel should provide more amp hours for system use;
▪️This solar power bank is used primarily for running basic systems in a temporary power outage;
(if none of this makes sense, don't worry, we're going to do a whole video on this project once it's complete. It's still being pieced together and tested).
▪️A second battery has been added in parallel;
▪️Bolt connectors have been used to replace default clip connectors (more secure & simplifies connecting more than one wire per teriminal);
▪️Adding another battery in parallel should provide more amp hours for system use;
▪️This solar power bank is used primarily for running basic systems in a temporary power outage;
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Applied Technology Lab
☀️⚡️Solar Generator We've got our solar generator fully set up, now it's time to test it. Specs: ▪️100 watt panel; ▪️Inverter handling up to 1500 watts of appliances (a few fans, lamps, a TV, internet router and a computer for example); ▪️a 12V car battery…
This is the original setup assembled after being ordered online. One battery, clips for the battery terminals.
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🔌☀️ Solar Power Bank Test
▪️With 2 batteries we managed to run the living room at night (excluding the air conditioner) for over an hour;
▪️There was still power left in the batteries but 1 hour was the goal for this test, simulating a power outage at night;
▪️During the day, the solar panel itself helps extend the system even with just one battery;
▪️Power in and around Bangkok, Thailand is very reliable and in almost 20 years here, I've never seen it out for more than an hour, usually 10-15 minutes once in a long while;
Next step will be to document how to make your own solar power bank.
Now that we know it works, we can make additional systems for larger scale solar applications outside.
Stay tuned.
▪️With 2 batteries we managed to run the living room at night (excluding the air conditioner) for over an hour;
▪️There was still power left in the batteries but 1 hour was the goal for this test, simulating a power outage at night;
▪️During the day, the solar panel itself helps extend the system even with just one battery;
▪️Power in and around Bangkok, Thailand is very reliable and in almost 20 years here, I've never seen it out for more than an hour, usually 10-15 minutes once in a long while;
Next step will be to document how to make your own solar power bank.
Now that we know it works, we can make additional systems for larger scale solar applications outside.
Stay tuned.
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☀️Despite Thailand's proximity to the equator, the position of the sun as it crosses the sky changes throughout the year.
If you use solar power and have limited room to move your panel, you may run into months of inadequate charging.
Our mobile solar power bank is having this issue. The south-side of the house is optimal but there is no way to move the panel there.
It still charges but not like it had been earlier this year.
We're looking into possible solutions for this problem.
Solar is great but it still has its limits.
If you use solar power and have limited room to move your panel, you may run into months of inadequate charging.
Our mobile solar power bank is having this issue. The south-side of the house is optimal but there is no way to move the panel there.
It still charges but not like it had been earlier this year.
We're looking into possible solutions for this problem.
Solar is great but it still has its limits.
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📐Design Notes...
Iterations: 3D designed and printed door stop (to ensure a 2-way door only swings in one direction) includes a paper cut out to double check dimensions.
Sometimes no matter how much you double check, some things aren't apparent until you 3D print.
The narrower design worked perfectly.
Iterations: 3D designed and printed door stop (to ensure a 2-way door only swings in one direction) includes a paper cut out to double check dimensions.
Sometimes no matter how much you double check, some things aren't apparent until you 3D print.
The narrower design worked perfectly.
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📐🎄DIY Christmas Ornaments
3D design and printing allows you to create completely customized manufactured items.
This can be anything from spare parts, simple solutions, enclosures for projects, toys, tools, and more.
In this case, a Christmas tree topper requested by the kids, a Mario Brothers star.
We used cardboard to determine the approximate dimensions, designed it in SketchUp (free, runs in your browser), and now printing it in PETG plastic filament.
3D design and printing allows you to create completely customized manufactured items.
This can be anything from spare parts, simple solutions, enclosures for projects, toys, tools, and more.
In this case, a Christmas tree topper requested by the kids, a Mario Brothers star.
We used cardboard to determine the approximate dimensions, designed it in SketchUp (free, runs in your browser), and now printing it in PETG plastic filament.
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📏3D Printing Big & Small: Saving Your Drawstrings...
It's the cold season here in Thailand and time to wear sweater jackets. To keep the drawstring from disappearing I designed and printed out these simple stoppers in just minutes.
3D printing lets you make incredible things, but its ability to also make very simple things, exactly how you want and in just a few minutes is also powerful.
It's the cold season here in Thailand and time to wear sweater jackets. To keep the drawstring from disappearing I designed and printed out these simple stoppers in just minutes.
3D printing lets you make incredible things, but its ability to also make very simple things, exactly how you want and in just a few minutes is also powerful.
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Applied Technology Lab
📐🎄DIY Christmas Ornaments 3D design and printing allows you to create completely customized manufactured items. This can be anything from spare parts, simple solutions, enclosures for projects, toys, tools, and more. In this case, a Christmas tree topper…
🎄The final 3D printed star with LEDs installed...
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