Foldable Solar Panel - Large version

thingiverse

Since I released my foldable 5V solar panel prototype, I discovered bigger epoxy solar panels that are 150x130mm and output 500mA at 5V each (compared to the 150mA of smaller panels used initially). These larger panels also have a frame size that fits perfectly on standard 20x20cm printing beds. I didn't make significant changes to the OpenScad source file, as it was already fully parametrized and customizable. I only added loops to the outer panels for securing the solar panel if needed. A single large solar cell delivers 2.5W of power. Since the 3-page version has an output of 7.5W (twice that of the small version), I provide STL files only for 1-page (2.5W), 2-page (5W), and 3-page (7.5W) versions. For versions with two or three pages, solar cells are typically connected in parallel to produce 1A or 1.5A at 5V, which can charge almost any USB-type device. It is also possible to connect the cells of the 3-page version in series, resulting in 500mA at 15V, ideal for charging 12V lead-acid batteries. In one case, I made a solar panel with balanced charging for a friend who recharges his quadcopter batteries during a canoe trip. I used a standard right-angle pin header and a Lithium charging module to balance the charges from three cells in parallel.