Solar LED Garden Light Exposed

This is by far the simplest and the cheapest solar garden light I encountered courtesy of 99Cents Store nearby. Components are cheaply made. The amorphous solar cell measures only 1 3/16in X 1 3/16in. Even the 1.2 volt metal hydride battery is tiny button cell type 40mA.
 

 

 



I was able to cracked and redraw the schematic diagram. The circuit is simple enough which composed of the main ic chip, inductor, battery, solar cell, LED and on off switch. It seemed like it uses one of those ASIC chip, not familiar with the number etched on it. This chip is acting like a pulser multiplier. I measured that the LED is giving off approximately 3mA at frequency of 460 khz. Adding another battery equal ~2.6 volts, the LED went on its brightest and current jumped to 36mA.

 

 

Below is another cheap solar LED light selling in a decorative Halloween look. New item from 99 Cents Store. The ic chip type is different and the white LED consumes 1.3 mA. A little larger solar cell at 1 7/16in X 17/16in.

 

 

 

 

A Simple LED Light

         We are now seeing the benefit of LED bulbs which are commonly seen at home contributing to our quests in saving energy. If I could recall,  back in my boyhood village, I did have experienced back the lamp cycle starting from kerosene lamp, to so called coleman, then to incandescent bulb, to flourescent lamps and now LED's.

 Recently I started tinkering on this products.The circuit above was traced from one of the commercial night light sold under brand GE Etched Art Night Light which came out of the market in 2011. You can also add an on off switch.

Bicycle Exerciser Generator

 I was able to salvaged the dynamo from an exerciser bicycle and installed it on a 20 inch bicycle. With this configuration, I was able to pedalled with less effort outputting 2.5 amps, 14 volts to my 10 ampere sla battery.

 Another modification, less gear ratio but outputting less ampe rating.