Source for cheap, small photovoltaic needed

[Kolesar]

I want to buy a small, ~12" x 12", PV panel at 6 to 12 volts. My application is to put it on the dashboard of the car and have it run the car's heater fan while it sits in the sun. I don't expect that I will get anything near the airflow the fan puts out with the current that a small panel will put out. I'll bet the fan uses >10 Watts, but a panel that I described will only yield one Watt. I expect I could use a lower output voltage than 12 Volts, since a DC motor will run at lower voltages. (They put a resistor in series with the fan to get lower voltages for a lower speed of operation).

I could buy something like this from Jameco, but I am hoping to find a surplus, scratch-and-dent, cheaper one. However, I am not connected with such suppliers. I would buy a thin-film or a traditional, glass plate one. Any leads?

[trotsky]

1. Over-engineering.

Why not just crack your windows?

[Kolesar]

2. C'mon

Let a nerd have some fun.

Actually, I heard this feature was implemented as a thin-film "moon roof" on an Acura model several years ago.

[catnhatnh]

3. You might check out JC Whitney...

...I've seen some solar stuff there or perhaps an rv or marine supply house since they often use solar panels as battery chargers and I have seen complete solar ventilating systems in several of these...Good luck

[4morewars]

4. This might work:

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jhtml?id=0031737416774a&type=product&cmCat=search&returnString=hasJS=true&_D%3AhasJS=+&QueryText=solar&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fsearch%2Fsearch-box.jhtml.22&Go.x=0&Go.y=0&N=4887&Ntk=Products&Ntx=mode+matchall&Nty=1&Ntt=solar&noImage=0&returnPage=search-results1.jhtml

Here's another:

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jhtml?id=0027632225939a&type=product&cmCat=search&returnString=hasJS=true&_D%3AhasJS=+&QueryText=solar&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fsearch%2Fsearch-box.jhtml.22&Go.x=0&Go.y=0&N=4887&Ntk=Products&Ntx=mode+matchall&Nty=1&Ntt=solar&noImage=0&returnPage=search-results1.jhtml

[tech3149]

5. I think this is just what you need

http://www.surplusshed.com/pages/category/solar_1.html

You could also use PC cooling fans since they draw very little current.

[Kolesar]

6. Oh, yes, >2Watts/$8

Thank you. http://www.surplusshed.com/pages/item/r3089.html

[jpak]

7. Here ya go

http://www.realgoods.com/renew/shop/product.cfm/dp/1000/sd/1006/ts/1011562

You'll also need a cigarette-lighter type 12 volt plug. Realgoods used to sell this kind of stuff a long time ago (but they don't any more apparently) - you might try Radio Shack.

on edit: here's a source for DC accesories...

http://www.cetsolar.com/cigplugs.htm

[Coastie for Truth]

8. I got my "trickle charger" from one of Stan's customers

Here's a link to Stan Ovshinsky's Energy Conversion Devices Solar Overview and to the and its like the Flexible Modules, which are flexible thin film devices.

<>

These are clearly flexible, thin film devices - extremely light weight.

Honesty disclaimer: I am a friend of Stan Ovshinsky's and have ECD-Ovonic Common Stock

[One_Life_To_Give]

9. Run the Heater "Blower"?

I don't think you will have enough power to get the armature spinning. You can try it with a lab supply, to see how much current you will actually need to get some airflow. But you will probably only be able to power a 12V fan, that you would have to adapt to your application.

[Kolesar]

10. Yes, that's a good idea

Use a variable voltage supply that has a current meter also. You may be right about being undervoltage and underpowered.