Mini solar flashlight teardown

[SeanB]

QF means sell Quick and leave Fast with the money..................

[Kiriakos GR]

I just assembled it back so to use is as flash light.

As flash light it is very good.
But it does makes you wonder ... battery  + 3 X LED 15MCD  + mini switch + SMT diode + PCB + panel + casing + profit for the maker and the seller = 1.20$ US   

[SeanB]

What you mean is Seller bought for 60c, Importer bought for 30c landed. Seller in China made it, paid for the parts and assembly, amortised the cost of the dies and PCB layout and manufacture, paid for the shipping and export documentation , paid his workers and made a little profit and covered overheads for under 30c per unit.

[MJLorton]

All that I had in mind was this little panel, to fight back the self discharge of those NiMH when the meter are not in use.
Something equal to trickle charge.

I was not that optimistic that this panel will keeping alive the multimeter just by it self.

If this panel it could deliver 5.2V and 20mA I would be more than happy.


EDIT:
One last picture from the panel.
Probably the part code it can lead to some real electrical specifications.
I will try that next. 


EDIT: No2  the 40mA are the inner battery specs. 
If he is a serious manufacturer ?  I am a Lord from London again. 

http://qf-solar.en.alibaba.com/product/390418541-209457701/solar_torch.html

 

 

LOL...you put another smile on my face! Great posts!

[Kiriakos GR]

LOL...you put another smile on my face! Great posts!

Knowledge plus entertainment !!   

Cheers mate!

[Kiriakos GR]

Round No 2  

7.86 EUR for two panels 6.8V 90mA 
Size : 90 mm x 35 mm

Hope dies last, but in two weeks from now I will say my last word. 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/261028931962?ru=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fsch%2Fi.html%3F_from%3DR40%26_nkw%3D261028931962%26_rdc%3D1

[SeanB]

5V in direct sunlight, and most likely only 20ma into a 5V load in direct sun. I have seen that size cell charging a 400mAh NiCd cell, and it would take 2 days to get the cell to full charge.

[Kiriakos GR]

Well I made a dedicated topic in my forum about what are my expectations.

http://www.ittsb.eu/forum/index.php?topic=91.0

From the diode I am expecting a  loss of 0.5V,
and probably is will get 6.1 - 6.3V in bright sunlight.

I was having the choice to get a 5.5V panel at the same dimensions which I avoided it.
As I did take under consideration the losses.

The meter uses 900mA NiMH and I do feel optimistic so far, that this idea haves more chances to succeed from the first one.   
 

[SeanB]

Might work, just use a nice low drop Schottky diode, and it should provide a small trickle charge to the battery. You will have to worry about leaving the meter in the sunlight from the window during the day, but being face down it should just be the temperature that is a worry, not the display being bleached.