How to Build a Solar AAA Battery Charger
Building a solar AAA battery charger is moderately difficult, but creating one is inexpensive and can help save money in the long run by reducing the costs for new batteries. Solar cells, or photovoltaic semiconductors, and a soldering iron are used to create the charger.
You Need
- Small Solar Cell
- Solder Iron
- Solder
- Recharageable AAA battery with holder
- 1 Low Value Diode
- 14 or 16 gauge Insulated Wire
- Voltmeter
- Glue
- Wood Board
- The solar panel must generate at least 1.5 volts in direct sunlight to charge a AAA battery. Small solar panels cannot do this on their own, so joining them together provides the necessary power. To connect them in a series, wire the positive lead of the first panel to the negative lead of the second. Continue until you have enough panels wired together to provide the necessary voltage.
- Connect the last positive lead to one side of the diode. The other side will be wired to the positive terminal of the battery. Using a small plastic battery holder makes it a little easier to change the batteries out. Solder the remaining positive and negative leads to the terminals on the holder. Once complete, the circuit will have “chained” the solar panels to the battery holder.
- Use the wood board as a base. Mount the solar array onto the wood base by applying a small amount of glue to the back of each panel. Affix the panel to the wood. Don’t press too hard, the solar panels are glass.
- Place a battery in and put everything in direct sunlight. If the solar panel array puts out 3 volts, the battery will charge to 95 percent in eight or nine hours.