I need a 2v (500-800ma) solar panel that in can fit on a 24inx4in flat surface. Where can i get one this size and with this power?
Hey Jeff, what you're talking about is frequently referred to as a, solar battery maintainer. There are lots of places that make and sell them, I have seen them in many auto parts stores and truck stops along the freeways. Go to google and search for a solar battery maintainer, they come is sizes similar to what you are searching for, but it will be difficult to find one that is not over 4 wide. Lots of them are about the size of the top of a shoe box, maybe 2 X 6, and come with a cigarette lighter cord attached. A 2 volt model at 500 ma, or /2 amp, works out to about 9 watts, assuming the 2 volt nominal voltage panel is actually optimized for 8 volts, as most of them are. These devices are designed to sit on the dash board of your car and keep your battery charged if you leave the car for a long period of time, like at the airport for a week in the winter. They actually work for that, we've used one before. What are you planning on doing with it? Charging a battery or running a device directly? Remember if you hook it straight to a device, and the current requirements of the device are less than the available sun will develope with your panel, the voltage may climb to a level too high for your device. If you're charging a battery, this does not cause a problem. Another option is to build your own. It can be a lot of work for just one panel, I've not done it myself, but there are videos on the subject. That device in real goods is a flexible panel, known in the solar world as, Amorphous. They are still a bit experimental, the ones they made a few years ago did not hold up as well as the solid ones, and they are expensive. You can get a /2 amp maintainer for around $25. Good luck Jeff, and take care, Rudydoo
