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Small Cabin Forum / Off-Grid Living / Prototype Solar Radio

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# Posted: 23 Apr 2014 14:04 - Edited by: SE Ohio
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Off-grid entertainment! Makes it sound like someone is home.

This hookup runs an AM/FM radio pretty loud (I can hear it playing outdoors as I'm typing indoors). It has 3 old 3 volt solar lamps sans batteries hooked together in series (+ to -). These are clipped onto the radio's battery connector (sans battery). Yellow lead is clipped onto antenna stub for a bit better reception as the antenna was broken off (and not by my kids! I bought it this way...)

I have 50 cents invested in this project so far... My neighbor upgraded his solar lamps, I got the old ones free. Radio was only cost.

It is sunny today so it's playing pretty well. Of course it'll be silent tonight. Will see how it does when cloudy. I may need to parallel another string of cells.

I'll probably set this one up in our outhouse (after making permanent connections) and leave it on. No batteries to run out or corrode.

Tired solar cell at about 4 volts

3 cells clipped in series for 9 volt radio

Leads clipped to battery terminals

Wilbour
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# Posted: 23 Apr 2014 16:36
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Very clever!

ErinsMom
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# Posted: 27 Apr 2014 07:46
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