Ben- The panel has a blocking diode or else the battery would turn the
panel into a light bulb at night.

Robert K
1982 Westfalia

>From: Ben McCafferty <ben@VOLKSCAFE.COM>
>Reply-To: Ben McCafferty <ben@VOLKSCAFE.COM>
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Cautions, was:  Re: Solar panels are GONE!!!
>Date: Thu, 2 Jan 2003 16:05:37 -0700
>
>Good point Isaac, thanks.  The back of the panels has a label that reads:
>
>"PLEASE NOTE:  This solar electric product is a live power source in
>SUNLIGHT.  It is normal for the panel to heat up when exposed to the sun
>and
>plugged in.  This panel MUST be unplugged from the power outlet and removed
>from the windshield prior to starting and or moving the vehicle.  Panel
>MUST
>also be stored in a secure place so as not to move around while vehicle is
>in motion."
>
>I mentioned the voltage rating earlier this morning (18.8 V), but also have
>seen 25 V on a regular basis with bright Colorado sun.  I'm sure under load
>that would drop a bit, but just something I noticed.
>
>I have disassembled one of these, and don't see any evidence of a one-way
>resistor or anything to keep current from flowing backwards on these--can
>anyone out there comment on why the battery doesn't discharge when this is
>plugged in and not generating any current, i.e. when it's dark?
>
>I'm still experimenting with a bunch of these in arrays, and one day hope
>to
>cover the entire outside of a van with them, per Stan's comments last year.
>Maybe I'll even go electric and drive 2 mph everywhere I go.....
>
>tx,
>bmc  :)
>Ben McCafferty
>ben@volkscafe.com
>
>Volks Cafe
>1823 Soquel Avenue
>Santa Cruz, CA  95062
>831-426-1244
>http://www.volkscafe.com
>
>
> > From: Isaac Taylor <itaylor@ATTBI.COM>
> > Reply-To: Isaac Taylor <itaylor@ATTBI.COM>
> > Date: Thu, 2 Jan 2003 16:04:37 -0500
> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > Subject: Re: Solar panels are GONE!!!
> >
> > Make of this what you will, but when I was working at Boston Volkswagen
> > last summer and these solar panels started coming in (they work great,
>by
> > the way -- I gave out a few to friends and family) there are very clear
> > instructions from VW in every new car to not leave the solar panels
> > plugged into the cigarette lighter once the vehicle is running, at risk
>of
> > electrical hazard and potential fire. I guess the theory is that if the
> > car is on, or if your cigarette lighter in an older car is wired to
> > provide power even when the ignition is off, that rather than charging
>the
> > battery, the current flow reverses and heads into the solar panel. If
>this
> > situation persists, you can melt some light/temporary-duty wires (in the
> > harness -- not in the pv panel) and are risking a short that can have
> > exactly the opposite effect, and drain the battery. And/or start a fire.
> >
> > Again, I don't know that this *is* in fact, an issue, or if the
> > manufacturer was just trying to protect themselves against accidents and
> > idiocy, etc, but in case you're thinking about wiring a solar panel in
> > permanently, and sticking it somewhere less obtrusive than the
>windshield
> > (which I immediately thought about) there were very clear instructions
> > about not leaving these things plugged in after the vehicle is running.
>If
> > there's an electrical engineer in the house, I'd love to hear your
> > thoughts on the subject.
> >
> > Best - Isaac in Cambridge
> >
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Ben McCafferty" <ben@VOLKSCAFE.COM>
> > To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> > Sent: Thursday, January 02, 2003 3:32 PM
> > Subject: Solar panels are GONE!!!
> >
> >
> > Hi everyone,
> > Wow, if you ever feel unpopular, just give something away!  I created a
> > "solar" rule on my email client and had 50+ requests within a couple of
> > hours.
> >
> > Those of you I have responded to will be getting panels.  Everyone else,
> > please bear with me while I count up how many panels are spoken for, and
> > I'll notify you if I have enough for you.
> >
> > Thanks and best regards,
> > bmc  :)
> > Ben McCafferty
> > ben@volkscafe.com
> >
> > Volks Cafe
> > 1823 Soquel Avenue
> > Santa Cruz, CA  95062
> > 831-426-1244
> > http://www.volkscafe.com

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