this post was submitted on 07 Nov 2023
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SolarDIY

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Powering a 5V computer fan with a solar panel (sh.itjust.works)
submitted 1 year ago by CowsLookLikeMaps@sh.itjust.works to c/solardiy@lemmy.world
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As my first foray into Solar DIY, I'd like to try to power a 5V computer fan with a solar panel. My goal is to run it for at least several hours per day. My understanding is that I'd need the solar panel (duh!), a fan, a charge controller, and a battery. As a newbie, I'd like to run my setup by this community since you know better than I do. Please let me know if this makes sense:

Steps:

  1. Strip end of solar panel wire and attach to charge controller
  2. Connect micro USB cable to battery bank and strip the other end to connect to charge controller
  3. Strip end of computer fan and attach to charge controller

Parts:

  1. 10W, 5V Solar Panel:
    https://web.archive.org/web/20231107180209/http://web.archive.org/screenshot/https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004587476483.html?amp%3Balgo_pvid=4fe1d766-427c-4c24-978d-094fb385b2b9&amp%3Balgo_exp_id=4fe1d766-427c-4c24-978d-094fb385b2b9-1&amp%3Bpdp_npi=4%40dis%21CAD%2139.69%2117.07%21%21%2128.30%21%21%402101fb1116993792757332890e8301%2112000029732119781%21sea%21CA%21177099580%21&amp%3BcurPageLogUid=tN1l84mY50ZP

  2. Spare cable that terminates in micro USB

  3. 10A Solar Charge Controller:
    https://web.archive.org/web/20231107180717/http://web.archive.org/screenshot/https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005210165491.html

  4. 5000mAh, 5V 2A Input, 5V 2.1A output Battery Bank (one I have laying around similar to this):
    https://web.archive.org/web/20231107175655/http://web.archive.org/screenshot/https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001322867876.html

  5. DC 5V, 0.75W, 0.15A fan (also a part I have laying around)

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[–] EatYouWell@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I would not buy batteries from AliExpress. I'd recommend getting an 18650 cell from Illumn.com or Imrbatteries.com, then an 18650 sled to attach to the charging circuit.

You can also go way lower for your charging circuit, since your solar panel will never get close to 10A.

Amazon sells a solar charging circuit with an 18650 sled on it.

[–] CowsLookLikeMaps@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

So just something like this or could I go down to 2500Mah?

https://illumn.com/18650-samsung-inr18650-35e-3500mah-high-discharge-flat-top.html

Also, I was seeing 18650 battery chargers on Amazon but I'm not sure what you were referring to for the "solar charging circuit"?

[–] EatYouWell@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

That one should last up to 16h, and the 2.5A up to 12h. there are also shorter batteries in the 18xxx series if space is a factor.

This is the one I got. Can't speak to how it works since I haven't gotten to the project I bought it for yet.