Specifications

81
Figure 68 - Connection between PV array and Battery
Permission Pending
Heat generated by the panels may compromise our system. If that happens we need to
find ways to dissipate the heat generated. We propose putting the panels outside of the
box since they are weatherproof and make it lifted from the box such that air can flow
between the panels cooling it as well as adding insulation so that it cannot go into the
box and damage components. We will also have to make sure it is storing enough
power at a rate, which is acceptable to the user. It is important to manage the amount of
panels vs. the amount of energy created. We do not want to create a bulky system that
will create energy at a rapid rate but on the other side we do not want to create a
system that takes a really long time to charge the system.
Another method that will be utilized to test the photovoltaic array is to utilize UV lighting
and light sensors to determine how well the array can generate energy on its‟ own
disconnected from the rest of the system. The test will start with multiple PV cells
connected together with a number of UV lights directed at them and a multi-meter
reading the output generated from them. As data is collected, one by one UV lights will
be removed from the test and the new data analyzed for any patterns. The test data
should show a linear decline in the energy generated by the system with each light
removed.
After all of the lights have been removed the test should be repeated again but this time
removing a section of PV cells and the new data re-analyzed. After performing this test
not only should a linear pattern of energy loss be present for each individual light
removed but there should also be a similar linear decline with each PV section
removed. If the quantity of light generated by the UV lighting is constant for each bulb
then after all of the data is collected it should be calculable to determine the amount of
energy each individual PV section should be able to generate with a given amount of
light and how adding additional sections would add to that value