The Naked Scientists
  • Login
  • Register
  • Podcasts
      • The Naked Scientists
      • eLife
      • Naked Genetics
      • Naked Astronomy
      • In short
      • Naked Neuroscience
      • Ask! The Naked Scientists
      • Question of the Week
      • Archive
      • Video
      • SUBSCRIBE to our Podcasts
  • Articles
      • Science News
      • Features
      • Interviews
      • Answers to Science Questions
  • Get Naked
      • Donate
      • Do an Experiment
      • Science Forum
      • Ask a Question
  • About
      • Meet the team
      • Our Sponsors
      • Site Map
      • Contact us

User menu

  • Login
  • Register
  • Home
  • Help
  • Search
  • Tags
  • Member Map
  • Recent Topics
  • Login
  • Register
  1. Naked Science Forum
  2. General Science
  3. General Science
  4. How efficiently can one power Christmas lights using flat PV panels?
« previous next »
  • Print
Pages: [1]   Go Down

How efficiently can one power Christmas lights using flat PV panels?

  • 3 Replies
  • 1144 Views
  • 2 Tags

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline katieHaylor (OP)

  • Naked Scientist Producer
  • Global Moderator
  • Sr. Member
  • ********
  • 470
  • Activity:
    9.5%
  • Thanked: 1 times
  • Naked Science Forum Newbie
    • View Profile
    • The Naked Scientists
How efficiently can one power Christmas lights using flat PV panels?
« on: 20/04/2018 13:49:21 »
Paul says:

My son bought some solar powered Christmas lights last Xmas, but the panels are only about 6"x6" and they are flat. Why don't manufacturers build them curved or cylindrical so they catch the sun throughout the day?

I suppose it is just cheaper to produce flat panels but if you point them towards the rising sun you miss out on the afternoon and evening sun.


What do you think?
« Last Edit: 20/04/2018 14:05:27 by chiralSPO »
Logged
 



Offline chris

  • Naked Science Forum King!
  • ******
  • 7947
  • Activity:
    2.5%
  • Thanked: 273 times
  • The Naked Scientist
    • View Profile
    • The Naked Scientists
Re: How efficiently can one power Christmas lights using flat PV panels?
« Reply #1 on: 20/04/2018 16:00:31 »
Flat is a good compromise between ease of manufacture, transport / retail, and installation, and efficiency of solar collection performance. If you made a curved sheet how would it perform optimally all day long? Some parts of the panel would still be off-axis.
Logged
I never forget a face, but in your case I'll make an exception - Groucho Marx - https://www.thenakedscientists.com/
 

Offline alancalverd

  • Global Moderator
  • Naked Science Forum GOD!
  • ********
  • 11428
  • Activity:
    100%
  • Thanked: 671 times
  • life is too short to drink instant coffee
    • View Profile
Re: How efficiently can one power Christmas lights using flat PV panels?
« Reply #2 on: 20/04/2018 23:04:26 »
A curved panel will absorb less solar radiation than a flat one since at any position of the sun, only an infinitesimal portion will be perpendicular to the sun's rays. Placing a flat panel perpendicular to the noon sun will maximise energy output for a simple, fixed  installation. The alternatives are to rotate the panel to keep it pointing at the sun, or to use a curved mirror, considerably larger than the PV panel, to concentrate solar radiation on a small PV generator.

I assume the question came from the southern hemisphere. Sunshine hours are minimal-to-zero at Christmas  in the north.
Logged
helping to stem the tide of ignorance
 

Offline chris

  • Naked Science Forum King!
  • ******
  • 7947
  • Activity:
    2.5%
  • Thanked: 273 times
  • The Naked Scientist
    • View Profile
    • The Naked Scientists
Re: How efficiently can one power Christmas lights using flat PV panels?
« Reply #3 on: 21/04/2018 10:50:31 »
Quote from: alancalverd on 20/04/2018 23:04:26
I assume the question came from the southern hemisphere. Sunshine hours are minimal-to-zero at Christmas  in the north.

Oh, I don't know. Next-door neighbour has got some solar-powered fairylights on an arbour in his garden. They worked throughout the winter, admittedly not for as long as in summer, but they did work! LEDs use so little energy compared with old-fashioned incandescents that solar-powered nightlights are actually a viable phenomenon in Britain these days!
Logged
I never forget a face, but in your case I'll make an exception - Groucho Marx - https://www.thenakedscientists.com/
 



  • Print
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »
Tags: solar panels  / photovoltaics 
 

Similar topics (5)

Is Boron power "Fission" or "Fusion"?

Started by evan_auBoard Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology

Replies: 6
Views: 5352
Last post 08/02/2016 22:47:48
by alancalverd
Can matter and anti-matter annhilation one day power the earth?

Started by spook1456Board Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology

Replies: 1
Views: 7558
Last post 11/04/2011 17:46:33
by JMLCarter
Would a flail-type wood chipper use less power if chipping frozen wood?

Started by peppercornBoard Technology

Replies: 3
Views: 8438
Last post 21/04/2018 10:58:02
by chris
Can water shortage, power shortage, & nuclear waste be simultaneously fixed?

Started by Atomic-SBoard The Environment

Replies: 4
Views: 6189
Last post 11/06/2018 06:16:38
by pradeepkumar
Is 'power fantasy' a cultural thing or a deep-rooted male thing?

Started by ConfusedHermitBoard Physiology & Medicine

Replies: 6
Views: 5481
Last post 05/09/2012 04:41:19
by CliffordK
There was an error while thanking
Thanking...
  • SMF 2.0.15 | SMF © 2017, Simple Machines
    Privacy Policy
    SMFAds for Free Forums
  • Naked Science Forum ©

Page created in 0.177 seconds with 43 queries.

  • Podcasts
  • Articles
  • Get Naked
  • About
  • Contact us
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Subscribe to newsletter
  • We love feedback

Follow us

cambridge_logo_footer.png

©The Naked Scientists® 2000–2017 | The Naked Scientists® and Naked Science® are registered trademarks created by Dr Chris Smith. Information presented on this website is the opinion of the individual contributors and does not reflect the general views of the administrators, editors, moderators, sponsors, Cambridge University or the public at large.