Subj : Solar TV Battery Test To : Nancy Backus From : Barry Martin Date : Fri Feb 14 2020 08:44:00 Hi Nancy! A little chilly out there this morning: -8ø and the weather report said a 30-below wind chill. The local TV news anchors were joking because it's Valentine's Day hug someone - anyone! - for warmth. BM>> In a word: failed. Also have to add there are a lot of known details BM>> working against. The project could work, just not here conveniently. NB>> Well, at least now you know... :) BM> True. LIS later in that reply or in an interim message the only BM> window here without the UV Block that gets Sun is the one in the BM> basement. Now can get to it (clean-up project coming along!), BM> workbench a bit crowded -- will hold off a little longer as no big rush BM> and keep things focused. NB> Probably just as well to try to stay focused... and NB> theoretically, when you finish your workbench cleanup, you'll NB> still have access to that window... ;) Have relatively easy access now - so the cleanup project is progressing. :) Still holding off as want to stay focused, where I'd put the battery and meter for testing on the bench still has some in-progess boxes BM> Even if the power failed right now there are BM> three batteries available which should run over three hours each. Not BM> planning on keeping that many charged: one is the battery from the UPS BM> that failed because the second battery was bad. Second is from a UPS BM> right now is a spare (not for too much longer!), and the third was a BM> spare/replacement battery. NB> So for now, you have plenty of backup anyway... :) Yes. And with the temperatore below zero if the power fails I have more to be concerned with than what's on TV! BM>> Several problems with the test setup: BM>> -- The window has 'UV Block'. So do all the other windows in the BM>> house except for the ones in the basement. NB>> That will do it... all on its own... means that the solar charging NB>> isn't going to get through... Richard had a similar problem with NB>> using a security camera at church... the UV and IR blocks on the newer NB>> windows are useful for some things, but not for cameras in the IR NB>> range and charging from the UV range.... :) BM> For every action there is an opposite reaction! ...Could set up BM> outside -- temporary would probably be dealing with freezing BM> conditions and burst batteries. Running wires to inside -- has BM> possibilities. NB> That sounds like a warmer weather type of experiment, though.... Especially at eight-below!! BM>> Didn't try outside: warm enough today but in winter quite possible BM>> well below freezing, could freeze and therefore break the battery. BM>> Solar cell outside, run wires to inside.... Thinking this is more of a BM>> now-emergency than something planned and semi-permanent. NB>> And might be that you'd do better to test that aspect come later NB>> spring through summer and early fall.... In warmer weather, you NB>> could try doing it just through the screen... I'd think that you'd NB>> also need to protect it from the elements... BM> Hmmm: now that's a possibility! Thanks! At this point not sure if the BM> solar charger is sufficiently weather resistant to stay outside BM> permanently.... NB> Something else to get more data on in the meantime... :) Yes, though may sacrifice the unit just because it is old. Would provide some sort of protection from rain, snow, etc., but if the plastic case gets brittle and breaks no great loss. BM>> So appears the throw-it-together solar charging isn't going to work BM>> here. Do want to state I think solar works, just needs to be outside BM>> and properly aligned. The manual for this little portable critter BM>> even says may need to realign 10ø. Will discontinue the solar charger BM>> option; will have to semi-plan ahead and maintain a battery or two to BM>> be charged a different way, right now electricity. NB>> For now, it's good you have other options... ;) BM> And now re-open later for the between the screen and window BM> consideration. May end up simply maintaining a battery on electricity BM> -- the battery I snagged from the UPS (the other battery had failed) BM> also appears to be slightly damaged (or maybe just because older) and BM> doesn't seem to hold a charge quite as well as the other two BM> batteries. Does hold a charge for at least a couple of weeks.... NB> Just need to keep them charged regularly so that they'd be NB> available in case of need.... :) Right. The battery from the pair of UPS batteries where one failed doesn't hold a charge as well as the spare battery -- half-expected, though could be from age. BM>> ... Useless Invention: Solar powered night light. NB>> Not necessarily useless... if it can store up enough during the day NB>> when the sun is shining, it could last the night as a night light.. ;) NB>> After all, that's what those solar lights that one puts along the NB>> sidewalk or driveway do... soak in the power during the day, and when NB>> it gets dark, shine the lights.... BM> Right: when working I had in my pocket a small flashlight where the BM> coin cell battery inside was recharged by a small solar panel. That BM> also barely recharged through the window because of the UV Block. I BM> had purchased three or four -- inexpensive and gave one or two away. BM> Still have two: theoretically alike but one somewhat charges inside BM> (dim) and the other not at all. Outside both charge to full BM> brightness. NB> Maybe the coin cell batteries need replacing....? I have a small NB> calculator that has the solar cell panels on the front... it NB> seems to work either in good light or not so, so obviously it NB> also has a battery internally... But I'm sure the solar feature NB> would keep the internal one from going bad so quickly... :) The bettery seems to be fine: when that flashlight was charged outside it went to full brightness and held the charge. NB> ... Behind every good computer - is a jumble of cables! Can only do so much wireless! ¯ ® ¯ Barry_Martin_3@ ® ¯ @Q.COM ® ¯ ® .... Albert J. Parkhouse invented the wire coathanger in 1903. --- MultiMail/Win32 v0.47 þ wcECHO 4.2 ÷ ILink: The Safe BBS þ Bettendorf, IA --- QScan/PCB v1.20a / 01-0462 * Origin: ILink: CFBBS | cfbbs.no-ip.com | 856-933-7096 (454:1/1) .