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New solar panel on nerdiest gadget of all time

About 25 years ago I bought a baseballs hat with a solar panel on the top w hich drove a fan motor. It looked terrible and never moved enough air onto the user's forehead to actually do anything. After a while I got the impr ession that the panel was no longer giving out ANY power.

I wonder if it might be possible to replace the 25 year old solar panel wit h a more modern one which actually works?

Possibly a flexible panel which goes round the head a bit? What values shou ld I try looking for? Or am I kidding myself that I might get this thing t o work? Is that why no one has tried putting these things back into product ion?

Reply to
Amanda Riphnykhazova
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which drove a fan motor. It looked terrible and never moved enough air ont o the user's forehead to actually do anything. After a while I got the im pression that the panel was no longer giving out ANY power.

ith a more modern one which actually works?

ould I try looking for? Or am I kidding myself that I might get this thing to work? Is that why no one has tried putting these things back into produ ction?

Solar cell efficiency certainly has improved, but not enough (in the cells available to you) to make any difference in that gimmicky hat.

Reply to
Terry Schwartz

So, even after 25 years of solar panel development, the most i can expect (if I replace that el-cheapo rectangular panel at the top) is to restore it to its former lousy operational state?

Reply to
Amanda Riphnykhazova

Are you sure the problem is a wimpy solar panel? Does the fan blow adequately if you power it from batteries? If you look on ebay, you can find lots of sellers of solar cells, fans, and caps, both separately and combined.

Reply to
jfeng

which drove a fan motor. It looked terrible and never moved enough air ont o the user's forehead to actually do anything. After a while I got the im pression that the panel was no longer giving out ANY power.

ith a more modern one which actually works?

ould I try looking for? Or am I kidding myself that I might get this thing to work? Is that why no one has tried putting these things back into produ ction?

Monocrystalline panels are more efficient than polycrystalline. Motor effic iency & power consumption also varies. You could spend on it if you want, b ut not wearing the hat would move more air.

NT

Reply to
tabbypurr

Yes, I suppose there's lateral stinking for you but I like the peak keeping the sun out of my eyes.

In the event that I do rebuild it, I should therefore address the general question of filling in that hole in the centre of the peak

Reply to
Amanda Riphnykhazova

You might consider a battery holder instead of a solar cell. "Function over form."

--
"I am a river to my people." 
Jeff-1.0 
WA6FWi 
http:foxsmercantile.com
Reply to
Fox's Mercantile

The battery cover is a better idea if the panel cant be replaced and properly hidden in some curve or other.

It is probably why there is a still imperfect newer version of my hat, but with two tiny solar panels on either side of the fan, which weighs the peak down so's you cant actually wear the thing!

Reply to
Amanda Riphnykhazova

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