Off-world Power Generation Lab 1.1: First Free Space Transmission

Overview

[large panel] > [battery] > [laser]   =====>   [small panel]

• Use a full-sized solar panel to power a large battery through a solar battery controller.
• Use the large battery to directly power lasers with 12V. Experiment with different lasers.
• Point the laser at a small solar panel that is far enough away that the laser disperses enough for best power transfer.

Gear

Primary

• 100W solar panel 16V 6.25A ("open circuit voltage" 20V)
• solar power regulator
• 88 Wh battery
• $45 300mW laser
• small solar panel

Secondary

• Etekcity cheap but well-rated all-in-one multimeter
• 190-540nm laser goggles for our 405nm laser

Connectors

• MC4 connectors, Voltaic battery connectors, soldered wires

Goals

• direct as much power as possible to various lasers
• record power delivery to small panel

Experiments

Lasers

10 small red lasers could be powered from the 12v

Results

Solar collection efficiency: 6.4kg 100W panel = 15.6 W/kg

Solar collection cost: $115 100W panel = $1.15/W

Solar storage efficiency: 88.8 Wh $129 Voltaic lipo battery, weighs ?? 2kg? ~ 44 Wh/kg

Solar storage cost: 88.8 Wh $129 Voltaic lipo battery = $1.45 / Wh