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--- tutorials:products:usbdcsolarlipo:solarprep.html [2011/07/01 20:32]
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+++ tutorials:products:usbdcsolarlipo:solarprep.html [2016/01/28 18:05]
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-==== Solar charging - Installing the Capacitor  ====
-The first thing to do before starting to charge with a solar panel is to install the large filtering capacitor. This capacitor is necessary to stabilize the panel a little, and since we're going to charge with a lot of current, the capacitor needs to be pretty big. There is a spot on the PCB for the capacitor, you can of course install it directly there by soldering the wires of the capacitor into the pads.
-**Make sure to check the polarity of the capacitor, make sure the positive lead of the capacitor goes into the pad marked +!**
-[[http://www.ladyada.net/images/usbdcsolarlipo/bigcap.jpg|{{  http://www.ladyada.net/images/usbdcsolarlipo/bigcap_t.jpg?nolink&500x390  |}}]]
-If you're low on space, you can solder wires to the capacitor and then install it a little farther away. Just remember to use heatshrink to keep the capacitor legs from shorting. If you want you can bend the capacitor over a bit as well, but dont have it touch the hot charging chip (the black square in the middle of the PCB)!
-Next you will have to connect up your solar panel. Panels sometimes come 'bare' (no wires), with just wires, or with a connector of some sort. You may need to splice a connector onto the panel to match the 4mm DC jack on the adapter.
-==== Solar panels - Splice or adapt?  ====
-The first verison of the solar charger comes with a 4mm DC barrel jack on it. We also provide a 5.5mm->4mm converter cable. So you can do one of two things
-  *Connect a [[http://www.adafruit.com/products/369|2.1mm Terminal Block Adapter]] onto the panel using basic wires, then plug that into the 2.1mm adapter. This is the fastest method, but not as rugged
-  *Cut the adapter cable in half and splice the 4mm connector onto the panel. This is the most 'elegant' method - the panel will plug right into the board but its more work.
-For both methods you'll need to remove any existing connector. Cut off whatever connector is on
-[[http://www.ladyada.net/images/solarlipo/cutconnector.jpg|{{  http://www.ladyada.net/images/solarlipo/cutconnector_t.jpg?nolink&500x385  |}}]]
-Gently remove the outer casing without nipping the inner wires
-[[http://www.ladyada.net/images/solarlipo/strippanel.jpg|{{  http://www.ladyada.net/images/solarlipo/strippanel_t.jpg?nolink&500x385  |}}]]
-[[http://www.ladyada.net/images/solarlipo/solarstripped.jpg|{{  http://www.ladyada.net/images/solarlipo/solarstripped_t.jpg?nolink&500x384  |}}]]
-Strip and tin the inner wires
-[[http://www.ladyada.net/images/solarlipo/solarstrip2.jpg|{{  http://www.ladyada.net/images/solarlipo/solarstrip2_r.jpg?nolink&500x385  |}}]]
-[[http://www.ladyada.net/images/solarlipo/solartin.jpg|{{  http://www.ladyada.net/images/solarlipo/solartin_t.jpg?nolink&500x385  |}}]]
-==== Method 1  ====
-For this you'll need a [[http://www.adafruit.com/products/369|2.1mm Terminal Block Adapter]] but its really simple. Just open up the screw terminals, slide the red wire into the + hole and the black wire into the - hole and retighten! Now you can just plug it directly into the adapter cable.
-{{  http://www.ladyada.net/images/usbdcsolarlipo/21mmterm_t.jpg?nolink&500x417  |}}
-==== Method 2  ====
-This method is a little tougher, but results in a nicer cable. You'll need some heatshrink as well as some item with a 2.1mm DC barrel plug (like the 2.1mm adapter)
-Cut off anything on the opposite end
-[[http://www.ladyada.net/images/usbdcsolarlipo/deconnect.jpg|{{  http://www.ladyada.net/images/usbdcsolarlipo/deconnect_t.jpg?nolink&500x351  |}}]]
-And carefully strip off the outer sheath
-[[http://www.ladyada.net/images/usbdcsolarlipo/solarstripping.jpg|{{  http://www.ladyada.net/images/usbdcsolarlipo/solarstripping_t.jpg?nolink&500x385  |}}]]
-You'll want some longer wires on this side, maybe 1.5" (3-4 cm)
-[[http://www.ladyada.net/images/usbdcsolarlipo/solarsheath.jpg|{{  http://www.ladyada.net/images/usbdcsolarlipo/solarsheath_t.jpg?nolink&500x425  |}}]]
-Strip just the ends of the wires and tin them
-[[http://www.ladyada.net/images/usbdcsolarlipo/solarstrip.jpg|{{  http://www.ladyada.net/images/usbdcsolarlipo/solarstrip_t.jpg?nolink&500x327  |}}]]
-Place a big piece of heatshrink onto the cable, and then two shorter and smaller pieces on each of the wires
-[[http://www.ladyada.net/images/usbdcsolarlipo/solartinned.jpg|{{  http://www.ladyada.net/images/usbdcsolarlipo/solartinned_t.jpg?nolink&500x272  |}}]]
-Solder red to red and black to black, keep the heatshrink away from your soldering iron since it may shrink too fast!
-[[http://www.ladyada.net/images/usbdcsolarlipo/jig.jpg|{{  http://www.ladyada.net/images/usbdcsolarlipo/jig_t.jpg?nolink&500x362  |}}]]
-[[http://www.ladyada.net/images/usbdcsolarlipo/splice.jpg|{{  http://www.ladyada.net/images/usbdcsolarlipo/splice_t.jpg?nolink&500x415  |}}]]
-After the solder cools off, pull the smaller shrink onto the wires and heatshrink them!
-[[http://www.ladyada.net/images/usbdcsolarlipo/minisolarshrink.jpg|{{  http://www.ladyada.net/images/usbdcsolarlipo/minisolarshrink_t.jpg?nolink&500x277  |}}]]
-Then pull the big piece over everything!
-[[http://www.ladyada.net/images/usbdcsolarlipo/bigheatshrink.jpg|{{  http://www.ladyada.net/images/usbdcsolarlipo/bigheatshrink_t.jpg?nolink&500x273  |}}]]
-And heatshrink it (with a hot air gun if you have one, or carefully with a lighter if you don't)
-[[http://www.ladyada.net/images/usbdcsolarlipo/shrinking.jpg|{{  http://www.ladyada.net/images/usbdcsolarlipo/shrinking_t.jpg?nolink&500x336  |}}]]
-That's it! Check with a multimeter, in the sun, to verify that you have a open circuit voltage on the plug
-{{  http://www.ladyada.net/images/usbdcsolarlipo/done_t.jpg?nolink&500x309  |}}

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