Author Archives: Andi

New Uses for Solar Energy: Solar Powered Gadgets

A few decades ago, you might have noticed solar panels when driving through rural areas on a radio tower, or perhaps you’d seen them in use at a scientific research facility or on images of the international space station.

These days, it seems like solar panels are popping up everywhere, with many modern homeowners opting to trade in their expensive and inefficient electricity bills for clean, environmentally conscientious solar energy that requires virtually no maintenance and significantly cuts costs over time. From backyard barbeques to complete electric power replacement, modern homes — and offices for that matter — are quickly adapting to the modern solar power trend.

But it’s not just homes that are benefiting from the energy-producing rays of the sun. There is a wide variety of solar gadgets emerging on the modern market, from the ingenious to the entertaining.

There are a great number of portable devices that both businesspeople and vacationers alike depend on for work, play, and communication, the foremost of which is perhaps the laptop. Most laptop owners are familiar with a common frustration associated with their use; while the laptop is certainly portable, it only functions a short while away from its electric energy source. Solar power comes into play for laptop owners with newly-developed laptop battery chargers; imagine getting extra hours of computation, correspondence, or even game playing out of your machine by harnessing the natural energy of the sun.

For those who like to listen to their music out of doors, many audio equipment companies now offer solar-powered headsets, which can provide excellent quality radio, cd, or mp3 tunes without the expense or hassle of batteries; these inventive devices give ‘fun in the sun’ a whole new meaning.

In the garden, solar panels are a great way to provide illumination at night; solar “spotlights” or path lights can be placed throughout the natural landscape without the need for a clutter of wires and cables, and can give your garden a gorgeous night view or help guide your way from the garage once the sun’s gone down.

The increasingly popular use of amphorous solar cells, which are flexible unlike conventional models, are resulting in an array of important applications such as camping gear (some tents feature solar-paneled surfaces), clothing, and more.

With applications from the small and amusing to the truly immense, solar panels are proving an important element of modern energy production. Make this clean and cost-efficient power source a part of your life, and find a solar gadget to delight you and deliver you from electric dependency.

Solar Energy Basics

How Solar Energy Works

Solar energy is a relatively new field of study in terms of practical application, but its existence and effect on our planet is as old as the Earth itself.

The sun undergoes a never-ending series of light and heat producing reactions, comprising and sustaining its fiery mass while radiating these products outward. While some of this radiation is reflected back into space by the upper reaches of our atmosphere, a significant portion passes through and touches the Earth’s surface, powering a variety of natural processes important for the proper balance and functioning of the environment.

But solar energy can be harnessed by humans to power a wide variety of domestic, agricultural, and industrial applications, and is a rapidly-growing technology sector. The importance of moving towards clean, sustainable energy sources is paramount in the modern era, and solar energy provides the most promising and cost-effective solution for many uses.

Solar energy is employed in a number of ways, and can be used in a passive or active scheme, depending on design and desired output. Passive applications for solar energy include conscientious building construction in terms of alignment with the sun for heating and cooling purposes, as well as various greenhouse and farming technologies which allow solar heat to work with maximum efficacy and efficiency. Active uses for solar energy are most often materialized in the form of solar panels, which are accessible conversion tools useful for both large corporations and projects and individual consumers and homeowners.

Solar panels consist of a number of photovoltaic cells, which absorb solar energy and convert it to electric energy for practical use, storing the energy in a battery bank. The special photovoltaic cells contain electric contacts, which generate useful energy with electrons “grabbed” by the cells’ electric fields. These electrons are available to the cells once photons in direct sunlight come into contact with the surface of the panels, and are the key to creating clean, sustainable energy for the home and beyond.

As you might guess, the specific quality of the photovoltaic cells themselves as well as the number of cells laid over the surface of a solar panel help determine the overall efficacy and output of the panel. Factors including shading obstructions, weather patterns, and proper placement all have an impact on the production potential of a given panel and its set of photovoltaic cells.

Though the applications of solar energy vary, the common threads of efficiency and renewable sources render solar power an intelligent and effective way to power human lives without harming the environment.

Solar Energy Systems – Are They Right For You?

Solar energy systems, once reserved for massive industrial and agricultural operations, have seen dramatic developments in efficacy and accessibility over the past few years, allowing business owners, building planners, and homeowners to incorporate these important pieces of green technology into their everyday lives.

Far from being a second-best energy option or merely comprising a fashionable way to power a space, solar energy systems present excellent solutions for entrepreneurs and consumers alike, and are great for the environment, too. But what are the main benefits of these systems, and why are people so excited about this rapidly evolving technology? The answers lie in the ability of solar energy systems to provide efficient power use at an affordable price, resulting in a better environment in our lifetime and for future generations.

Solar Power Controller

Solar Power Controller

As the mainstay of modern solar energy systems, solar panels have become a hot topic amidst the green community. These panels operate by collecting light radiation from the sun and converting it to electric energy, which we can in turn use for a variety of applications. But while many traditional means of acquiring electric power, including coal, water, and nuclear systems, create a significant amount of waste product during processing, and often absorb resources that could readily be used for other applications, solar energy systems with the use of solar panels are entirely efficient, wasting no materials while creating sufficient stores of energy.

But though a smoothly-operating system with great output and a lack of waste may seem to warrant high costs, solar energy systems are actually a very cost-effective way to power homes, buildings, and beyond.

A relatively simple set up consists of components that are easily affordable for both business and home owners. Many users who set up solar energy systems including solar panels find their initial investments recouped with remarkable speed, thanks to the alleviation of costly electric bills and related expenditures. Imagine saying “goodbye” to your monthly electric utility statement and never being shocked by a hiked rate again. It’s an ideal achieved by many through the installation of solar energy systems. And this advantage of price extends to the Earth itself, as well.

Our planet is ruthlessly taxed of its natural resources, providing modern civilization with a host of necessities and luxuries at a rapidly accelerating pace. In the quest to find and implement clean, sustainable sources of energy, solar panels and related technologies are leading the fight against the depletion of Earth’s bounty, and can deliver the promise of a green and healthy planet for people today, tomorrow, and into the next centuries.

Solar Energy is Hot!

Solar radiation, as well as other solar resources like wind power, wave power and hydroelectricity make up over 99% of the renewable energy sources available to us. Amazing!

I remember reading about google’s goal of installing enough solar panels to generate electricity for 50,000 homes. They have made a real commitment to investing in renewable energy resources.

Imagine if we each made JUST ONE home appliance solar powered? We can start small – like a solar powered I-Pod charger or some solar powered outdoor lights. How about a solar powered cell phone charger? Once you realize how easy it is to begin using solar power, you’ll be ready to convert some of your bigger energy drains…..like maybe a hot water heater?

People are motivated to convert to solar power for a variety of reasons. Some look at the financial benefits while others are more concerned about the earth.

We all have been hit hard this year with rising fuel costs. My cars cost more to fill up, my home cost even more to cool down, and I just got a huge bill from my propane company. The only fuel source that cost the same this year as last is my solar bill. It’s still ZERO!

Although I personally got involved with solar energy for financial reasons, my focus has changed over time. I am glad to be doing just a little bit to reduce our dependence on non-renewable energy sources.

If you’re ready to take the plunge, take a look at our solar panels and solar controllers. Remember to take your time, do your homework, then be prepared to reap the benefits of solar power for years to come.

What is a heatsink?

When current flows through a resistor, part of the electrical energy is converted into heat that gets dissipated into the surroundings. If the heat generated is not quickly removed, it can permanently damage the electronic circuit. Heatsinks are devices that are capable of removing the heat from electronic devices and speedily dissipate it into surroundings.

Heatsinks can be passive or active devices. Passive heat sinks consist of fins made generally

Voltage Regulator in a Heatsink

Voltage Regulator in a Heatsink

of aluminum that provide a large surface area for heat dissipation. Active devices in addition have fans that circulate the air around the sink for faster removal of heat. The heat dissipation in a heatsink takes place principally through convection either natural or forced.

Heat transferred through convection is proportional to the temperature difference between the heatsink and the surroundings. The constant of proportionality is called convection coefficient. Mathematically, q = h x A x ∆t, where q is the heat dissipated by convection, h is the convection heat transfer coefficient, A is surface area and ∆t is the temperature difference between the heat sink and the surroundings. The coefficient h is a function of velocity of air circulating around the heatsink among other things. Thus higher the speed of air circulating around the heatsink faster is the heat dissipation.

Heatsinks are widely used for cooling electronic devices and the surrounding circuit like the CPU in a computer. With the need to make electronic devices more compact and powerful, the need to make high capacity heatsinks is increasing. Modern heatsinks are manufactured by extrusion, die casting, cold forging etc. Heat pipes have been used in heatsinks as they are lighter and more efficient compared to solid pipes of same size. Anodized aluminum is the most common material used in making heatsinks, although copper, silver and even gold have been used.

Custom Tube Amp in Time for Halloween

Steve W. from Peterborough, Ontario, Canada sent me some new pictures of his latest projects.

He built this particular amp for himself. It’s a 40 Watt per channel 807 that used 8 of our 470uF 400V Electrolytic Capacitors .

The finish is blue perl clear coat – that finish is perfection!

We’ll be posting more of Steve’s custom tube amps over the next couple of days.

As always – great job, Steve!

Halloween Amp

Halloween Amp

Halloween Amp2

Halloween Amp

Halloween Amp3

Halloween Amp

Op Amps – Then and Now

Op Amps – Then and Now

Op amp is the commonly used name for operational amplifiers, which are widely used electronic components. Op amps are often seen on many surface equipment designs and logging tools.

The name ‘operational amplifier’ comes from the use of such high gain amps in performing mathematical operations for analog computer operations and is said to have been coined in 1947. A lot of study was done in the field and the initial operational amplifiers, based on vacuum tubes, were a result of the research done in Bell labs. By 1960’s, vacuum tube op amps had given way to solid state devices and hybrid operational amplifiers were entering the scene.

The first IC operational amplifier was developed in 1963 by Bob Widlar and was called Fairchild µA702. It was not a success because of a number of bugs. But Widlar’s next design, which was the µA709, was hailed as milestone in design. A number of designs followed including the very popular µA741. A number of precision op amps like OP7, OP27 and OP37 are commonly used in logging electronics.

In the initial days, these electronic components were based on NPN bipolar process and because of the slow PNP transistors of the time; the speed of the amps was limited. The LM118/218/318 model tried to solve the problem but did not meet with much success. The only fast IC op amps were the ones owned by Harris, the HA2500 as well as the HA2600, and were quite popular despite their high cost.

FET input operational amplifiers though highly advantageous in downhole tool applications, did not enter the scene due to engineering problems. However with the introduction of the ion implantation process in 1974, their manufacture became possible and the LF155/156/157 series was introduced by National Semiconductor, and OP15, OP16, and OP17 by PMI. The TL06x, TL07x, and TL08x models introduced by Texas Instruments (TI) in 1978 went on to become industry standards.

The CA3130 employing a P-channel MOS input with a CMOS output, set the stage for CA3140 having a MOSFET input and a bipolar output which caught the eye of many logging tool companies. This model has many advantages including good bandwidth and military temperature range, and continues to be used and manufactured even now.

Tact Switch – SKPFABA010

We’ve been selling a lot of this one particular switch – it’s called a long travel tact switch; manufactured by ALPS.

Here are some of the features of this switch:
— Dimensions: 8mm x 8mm
— Suitable for automotive applications due to its high operational force
— Malfunctions are prevented due to it having a longer travel than most conventional tact switches
— Easily mounted on a PC board with snap in leads
— Some of the output terminals can be used as jumper leads which makes the circuit arrangement simple

Here are some other uses:
— automotive electronic equipment
— communication devices
— measuring instruments

These switches are available right now – they have been priced lower than any other distributors.

Be sure to check them out next time you need a 12V tact switch!

Desoldering – Why is it Necessary and How is it Done?

Soldered joints, if improperly done, may need to be ‘desoldered’ or the solder removed in order to resolder them. A poorly soldered joint can result in failure of the electrical circuit over a period of time. This can happen for a number of reasons. Low quality solder or failure to properly clean the surface before soldering or even lack of proper technique and corrosion of the joint due to leftover flux, movement (shake) of the joint before the solder has cooled may all cause a poor soldered joint.

There are other reasons you might need to desolder a joint. Desoldering and resoldering may also be required in order to replace a defective electronic component or if you are troubleshooting an electrical circuit.

One common method of desoldering is to use a desoldering pump which is a vacuum pump similar in operation to a bicycle pump in reverse. The spring loaded plunger breaks the solder and gets sucked away by the pump. Repeated operation of the pump may be required in order to completely desolder a joint, or you can also use the solder pump to take up the bulk of the flowing solder and finish up the job with solder wick. Either way works – the solder wick is more expenisve so you may want to use both if you have a large job. Be careful – the pump should be operated carefully so that no damage the PCB or the electronic components occurs.


A solder wick or braid is an alternative to desoldering pumps. Here the copper wick is placed over the joint and the solder is melted by means of soldering iron. The solder gradually flows into the wick and hence gets removed. The wick must be removed from the PCB before it cools down as otherwise it may damage the board.