Velleman EDU02 - Manual (Page 15)

15 www.vellemanprojects.com
Required parts: Solar cell, BAT85 diode, battery holder for two AAA batteries, two AAA
1.2V rechargeable batteries.
How it works: As long as the
solar cell is exposed to light, a
current will flow from the solar cell
via the diode trough the batteries
and back to the solar cell. The
charge current depends on the
amount of light that reaches the
solar cell. Max. current with the
supplied cell is 30mA.
A diode prevents discharge of the
batteries trough the solar cell
(e.g. at nighttime), as it only
allows the current to pass in one
direction.
SOLAR CELL
BAT85
How long does it take to fully charge the batteries?
Check the capacity of your batteries. You can find this
info printed on the battery. Usually, it is expressed in
mAh, e.g. 300mAh. Multiply by 1.2 = 360mAh.
Divide by 30mA = 12 hours
Twelve hours of bright sunlight are required to fully
charge the batteries (rule of thumb).