Run a toy train set using solar pv

T

The Launderer

One for any geeks on here.

We are looking to open up a showroom for our renewables products and looking for ways to make it family friendly,

At an exhibition a couple of years ago I seen a solar PV company running a toy train set using a couple of solar panels and a bright light.

I would like to copy this idea but unsure how to go about it.

I think I will put 2 x 250 W panels on the display. I will then point 2 x 500W floodlights at them and will fit a dimmer switch. I would like to use the power generated to power a small train set and hope that the dimmer switch will act as a speed control, ie the more light the faster the train.

Only thing is I have no idea how to get the power being generated by the panels into the train set.

Anyone got any advice?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I read it twice as I could not believe the question...

Without sounding sarcastic, use some cable...
 
Sorry i asked now. It was a serious question.

Are you saying that I simply connect the panels to the train set and it works. Nothing else required?
 
If I'm honest if the best your renewables can run is a train set I don't think your customers will be impressed.

Maybe run the entire office and show it works and have some coal in reserve?

So much green energy about and it's snowing outside! Global warming or the ice age??

Don't mean to be a sceptic about renewables but I am!
 
The panels are what? 30V so X2 you will have 60v if in series, do not know what current a train uses but would imagine it to be low, so it would be one fast train, guess you would need some sort of controller or lower voltage panels.

Sorry for the comment, but it did read rather strange.
 
tbh I think I'd be more likely to question the motivations of someone selling solar PV by pointing 2 x 500W floods at a couple of panels in a showroom.

Stick a small panel outside to power the train, fair enough, but not using 1kW of lights to do it, that's just wasting energy which is completely counter to what we're supposed to be about as an industry.
 
PEM said:
If I'm honest if the best your renewables can run is a train set I don't think your customers will be impressed.

Maybe run the entire office and show it works and have some coal in reserve?

So much green energy about and it's snowing outside! Global warming or the ice age??

Don't mean to be a sceptic about renewables but I am!
Click to expand...

We will run the offices on a PV system. This is meant as a bit of fun to keep the kids amused.
 
Gavin A said:
tbh I think I'd be more likely to question the motivations of someone selling solar PV by pointing 2 x 500W floods at a couple of panels in a showroom.

Stick a small panel outside to power the train, fair enough, but not using 1kW of lights to do it, that's just wasting energy which is completely counter to what we're supposed to be about as an industry.
Click to expand...

I am really regretting asking this question now. Its meant as a bit of fun to keep children amused whilst their parents look around. We will not have the floodlights on constantly. Only when kids want to have a go on the train set. Have you seen the weather in Scotland. There are sadly many many days when there would not be enough power being generated.
 
Earthstore said:
The panels are what? 30V so X2 you will have 60v if in series, do not know what current a train uses but would imagine it to be low, so it would be one fast train, guess you would need some sort of controller or lower voltage panels.

Sorry for the comment, but it did read rather strange.
Click to expand...

One of the reasons I asked the question is that I really don't know how I would make this work. It might be that the 500w lights would be too much. I was hoping someone would be able to give some advice.
 
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
 
Robotstar5 said:
You will need a way of reducing the voltage to 12VDC max or the loco will go very fast very briefly :D before the magic smoke escapes.
Here's a cheap & cheerful starter set to consider - link
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice and the link to the train set. Never thought I would get the chance to play with train sets again. :yes:
 
Last edited by a moderator:
PEM said:
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
Click to expand...

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....
 
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.
 
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).....
 
UKMeterman said:
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).....
Click to expand...

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


Thanks for that. We may consider some things like this also.
 
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?
 
Unless he's just a sales front, in which case any smoke and mirrors will do, accompanied by a shiny suit ... :grinningelf:
 
Worcester said:
Unless he's just a sales front, in which case any smoke and mirrors will do, accompanied by a shiny suit ... :grinningelf:
Click to expand...

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.
 
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@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....
 
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%.
 
yorkshiremike said:
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%.
Click to expand...

Its not going to be as easy as i first thought. I might still give it a go and mess about with more efficient lighting. Considering adding LED lighting to the showroom portfolio anyway. And if it doesn't work I'll stick the panels on the roof and charge a battery to run the trains as others have suggested.
 

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Run a toy train set using solar pv
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