IDEA: Solar Powered Outlet Station
Posted on 07. Jan, 2009 by Charles Tsai in Tech-Inspiration, Technology
Joe, 15, USA - Africa is a large continent with many villages that could benefit from electricity. This is why my invention is a solar powered outlet station. It has many standard, wall-type outlets.
This invention could help and could even enable other inventions to work better. For example, the One Laptop Per Child project is supposed to bring education to underprivileged areas in Africa. However, the laptop is charged by a wall outlet. This stops people living without electricity from having access to the free laptops.
Electricity could bring small villages other benefits. My miniature solar powered outlet station could even help combat diseases like malaria by enabling electrically powered mosquito eliminators.
The best part about this invention is that it is easy to produce and could provide power to a village for under $100. It has a 12V solar panel sitting on top of a weatherproof box. It is wired to a solar controller, which keeps the battery from overloading. This controller is, in turn wired to the battery. The battery is a 12V battery, like in a car. The battery then provides 12V to the transformer, which outputs 120V for the outlets. This can all be seen in the photo of my prototype.
I haven't made a prototype yet, but I made a schematic of the wiring. All of this will be closed in a weather proof box.
8 Responses to “IDEA: Solar Powered Outlet Station”
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Charles Tsai
11. Jan, 2009
Hi Joe,
Have you already made the prototype?
Joe
15. Jan, 2009
No, I unfortunately don’t have enough money to build one yet.
Solar Energy Blog
13. Apr, 2009
Dude a great diagram for solar energy use…. before read this I didnt get how to use a 12v soalr panle wiith my TV…
Kevin Mc
17. Jul, 2009
This is a great idea. I was looking around on the web for something similar to this. My idea wasn’t as altruistic as this though. I was just looking for a way to possibly power a fan and radio while at the beach. I hadn’t thought of other ways to use this kind of thing.
You should really think about improving the diagram/specs of a prototype. Dimensions, weight, cost. Get as detailed as you can with the wiring. There are a lot of companies and foundations that would love to fund a project like this. Especially if you’re a teenager (I hope I’m reading that right. If not, apologies).
heri
31. Jul, 2009
Absolutely agree with Kevin, but.. Do you have the schematic diagram..?
Deentiori
04. Oct, 2009
I mean I’m not smarter than the market, but I can recognize a good tape and a bad tape. I recognize when it’s right and when it’s wrong and that’s what my strength is.
Anxiety Symptoms
20. Oct, 2010
solar panel prices are getting lower and lower, soon we can afford to buy those high power solar panels**’
Paving Slabs ·
09. Nov, 2010
we have a solar panel at home that my father built, it can generate 500 watts of electricity _