Run a toy train set using solar pv

[Earthstore]

Previous comment about using 500 watt light to run your train set sums it all up.

Use the coal I suggested and buy a steam train more fun for the kids plus you can spend months on risk assessments.

Big sceptic sorry

When you sell a system to a friend who you have known for 40 years and calculate that his earning/savings will come to £10000, then we have one of the worst years ever and it still exceeds your calculation, then you start believing.

The truth of the matter is because of energy usage and the cost of energy we need renewables, but as the governments and power stations can not earn from people producing their own energy they welcome comments by all the sceptics.

Back to the OP, yes I can see the fun in your idea, switch on the light/sun replacement and it produces energy and makes things move, a bit like magic....

 

[The Launderer]

Decided to have a wee look at this myself. So here are my thoughts:

Panels will be 15% efficient so shining 2 x 500 w on 2 panels will give 150 watts of power from the PV at 60V.

I have calculated that will give me 2.5A at 60V

I have found some info that shows a transformer on a train set runs at 15V at 4A.

So I need to find something that will reduce my voltage from 60V to 15V. This will increase current from 2.5A to 10A.

So to get to the 4A I need I need to reduce the total floodlight power to about 400 watt.

If anyone agrees / disagrees with my calcs please let me know. If anyone knows where I can get a device to reduce the voltage from 60V to 15V I would be very grateful.

 

[UKMeterman]

1. What is the effiency of your floodlamp to electrical power from the panel?
2. What power is needed by the train set (N.B 1 Horse power is about 750 watts).....

 

[Worcester]

We used a number of solar powered toys at a summer fair last year, was quite a crowd puller. All sorts available on fleebay
these ones were great fun:
The World's Smallest Mini Solar Power Toy Car Racer New | eBay (still got them )
this one also:
SOLAR POWERED COOLING FAN 4V ELECTRONICS DIY KIT NEW | eBay
6 in 1 Solar Power DIY Educational Toy Kit Boat Fan Car Robot Puppy Windmill | eBay


A lot less expensive - and they can even be given away ...

 

[The Launderer]

1. What is the effiency of your floodlamp to electrical power from the panel?
2. What power is needed by the train set (N.B 1 Horse power is about 750 watts).....

1. Panels are about 15% efficient.
2. Power needed by train - transformer used is 15V at 4A = 60Watts

 

[The Launderer]

We used a number of solar powered toys at a summer fair last year, was quite a crowd puller. All sorts available on fleebay
these ones were great fun:
The World's Smallest Mini Solar Power Toy Car Racer New | eBay (still got them )
this one also:
SOLAR POWERED COOLING FAN 4V ELECTRONICS DIY KIT NEW | eBay
6 in 1 Solar Power DIY Educational Toy Kit Boat Fan Car Robot Puppy Windmill | eBay


A lot less expensive - and they can even be given away ...

Thanks for that. We may consider some things like this also.

 

[solarfred]

The problem is a solar panel gives a varying output and you will need a stable output. I would guess the display you saw had a battery behind the display being charged by the solar panel. You will probably need the correct controller to run the train set and this will be transformered from 240ac most likely down to 15 volts. I would suggest you have a 50 watt panel with the lamp shining on it. Then have a volt meter reading the power produced which everyone can see. The battery will feed a mini inverter via a controller and run the train set. This is how the system would work in practice if the lamp was the sun so I see no reason to try and kid anyone. The battery can run the train all day and if it runs out replace it and charge it from the mains. Or properly size the system and have a panel on the roof/outside and do it for real. If you can find out the voltage required to run the train set then maybe you can get a voltage converter/stabiliser to run it direct but I would not think this is worth it. You can use a car battery temporarily but for a proper system get a decent deep cycle. If you are doing renewables you probably need to do this with a system that actually works for your own and your customers benefit?

 

[UKMeterman]

That is quite a train set! I would expect 5 to 10 watts topps.

If you want to have giveaways have a look round Electronic Components from Rapid - the Electronic Parts Specialist

If you do want to run a small train then;
TEN 20-7212WIR - TRACOPOWER - DC/DC CONVERTER, 1 O/P, 1.7A, | Farnell United Kingdom
Wholesale 12V-40V 10A PWM DC Motor Speed Controller w/ Knob, Free shipping, $18.81/Piece | DHgate
NB you are now resposiable for the safety and emc compliance of this little setup.

 

[Worcester]

Unless he's just a sales front, in which case any smoke and mirrors will do, accompanied by a shiny suit ... :grinningelf:

 

[solarfred]

Now then, now then!

 

[The Launderer]

Unless he's just a sales front, in which case any smoke and mirrors will do, accompanied by a shiny suit ... :grinningelf:

I presume this comment is directed at me. Not very friendly.

We are long established central heating installers and have a long history of carrying out quality work. We have spent loads of time and money getting our heating engineers and electricians trained in renewable technology and are in this for the long haul. We despise the way this industry has been hijacked by snake oil salesman and really object to your suggestion that we might operate like this.

 

[amlu]

if your train runs 12v dc then this one
12V/24V 24A SOLAR PANEL CHARGER REGULATOR CONTROLLER | eBay

plus around 100 watts of 12v pv panels and a deep cycle battery for cloudy days.
you may also use a 12v pwm controller to control train speed.

sorry i dont see a point of lighting it up with any halogen, useless use of energy.
display it somewhere where there is window near by, wait till the summer.

 

[Worcester]

@Gillies, take it in the spirit, - else I wouldn't have bothered to post the other links for you (hence the cheeky grinned elf) and if you knew the problesm the shiny suits leave behind....

 

[Robotstar5]

I have found some info that shows a transformer on a train set runs at 15V at 4A.

That will be the output of the train tx used to power accessories, max output for loco's will be 12VDC and less than 1 Amp

 

[yorkshiremike]

You don't just need to consider the efficiency of the panels, but of the light source as well. Halogen lamps are only about 4% efficient, so a 500W lamp is only producing about 20Watts worth of light - not all of which will fall on the panel and then depending on the lights wavelength, the panel conversion efficiency will be different to the 15%.