Tiny Solar Cell

This time I share with you an easy STEM project to show the kids how a solar cell works.

This little device collects clean renewable energy in the form of sunlight and convert that light into electricity which can then be used to provide power to light several 5 mm leds.

The solar array sends direct current (DC) electricity to the storage unit, a 4700 microfarad capacitator

I hope you like it

• Six 5 mm green leds
• Ten 1N4001 diodes
• Two 4700 microfarad capacitators
• Two micro switches push button

I found the idea for this project in this instructable

As you can see in the image, when you broke a 1N4001 diode with pliers, the p-n junction remains exposed to the light and generates around 310 mV when is directly expose to the sunlight.

Instead of using a 1N4148 diode, as it used in the instructable, I have used a 1N4001 one because it generates more energy as you can see in the images.

Following the drawing, it is very easy to mount a solar cell with 7 broken diodes that can generate over 2 V

Please pay attention to the diodes polarities when you begin to solder the device.

Following the drawing, it is very easy to mount a solar cell with 10 broken diodes that can generate over 3 V

Again, please pay attention to the diodes polarities when you begin to solder the device.

Taking into account the above steps, we can build a cool tiny solar cell to light 6 green leds.

It will use 10 diodes, a little switch and a 4700 microfarad capacitator.

The time to fully load it is about 20 minutes approximately when it exposes directly to the sun.