A solar car model for a school project.
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Features include two 1 Farad supercapacitors which give an ability to charge in relatively low light and also to drive about 10 yards through a shaded area out of direct sunlight. The solar panels can be tilted to either side to best catch oblique sunlight. Two LEDs indicate the charging with the high intensity blue LED being visible in sunlight. It can be charged in low light from a light bulb.
Solar Car (Steam powered!) March 2004 The next childs Dad-assisted school project. Not really electronic but is a contrast with the car above. This utilised a model steam engine for marine use that I bought 20 years ago. The sunlight is focused by 2 Fresnel lenses (used for reading magnification). Each beam is reflected to strike the boiler on each side which is blackened to absorb heat. The lens and mirror structures are able to be tilted to aim towards the sun. So far the engine works when externally heated with a burner and has a satisfying red flywheel. Not enough power to work with sunlight without extra heat assistance. Note the focusing of the overhead light by the lenses. A Stirling engine would work better.
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Photo Date: 2003