| Author | Message | ||
     JEFFREY HARRIS |
I BUILT THE THREE PENNY RADIO AND MADE IT SO I COULD USE THE SOLAR PANELS OR 1.5 V BATTERY. [SWITCH BETWEEN -ON OFF ON SPLITING THE NEGITIVE SIDE] IT DIDNT SEEM TO WORK WELL IN LOW LIGHT SO I PUT 4 .45-.275 SOLER CELLS AND IT WORKS GREAT IN LOW LIGHT.......BUT...NOW WHEN I GET IN BRIGHT SUNLIGHT IT OVER POWERS THE RADIO. WHAT CAN I DO TO REGULATE THE POWER UP AND DOWN AS I NEED TO? IVE GOT IT MOUNTED IN A SLIDE TOP BOX AND CLOSING THE LID WORKS , ITS APAIN THOUGH BECAUSE I WASNT THINKING AHEAD AND THE TUNING CAPACITOR IS ALREADY MOUNTED INSIDE THE BOX DUUHHH... HEEELLLPPPP ME!!! LOVE THIS SITE !!! | ||
| Simon Quellen Field (Sfield) |
Simply add a switch that shorts out one or more of the extra cells.  | ||
| JEFFREY HARRIS |
I WAS THINKING OF THIS SWITCH FOR SOLAR PANEL ON THE THREE PENNY RADIO EARLER BUT JUST SLIGHT VARIATIONS IN THE TOP OF THE BOX MAKES ABIG DIFFERENCE IN RECEPTION. IS THERE ANY WAY TO LIMIT IT AT A 1.5 V CONSTANT OR ANY WAY TO TURN IT UP AND DOWN JUST AS YOU WOULD A VOLUME POT? ITRIED USING APOTENTIAMITER BUT IT DIDNT WORK AT ALL. AS YOU CAN TELL I AM JUST STARTING TO LEARN!! REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR FEEDBACK. | ||
| Simon Quellen Field (Sfield) |
There are two ways to use a potentiometer. One way allows you to vary the current. The other way (called a voltage divider) allows you to vary the voltage. I suspect you were varying the current, when you meant to vary the voltage. To vary the voltage, connect each of the outside terminals of the potentimeter to the power supply (in this case, the solar cells). Then connect the radio to the negative terminal of the power supply, and to the wiper of the potentiometer. Now when you move the wiper (turn the potentiometer), you will be controlling the voltage, which is what you want.  | ||
| Simon Quellen Field (Sfield) |
Another idea is to use a Zener diode to regulate the voltage. A cheap green LED ought to work fine. Try it in parallel with the radio. | ||
| Jose Huerta (Rapfiki) New member Username: Rapfiki Post Number: 1 Registered: 6-2006 |
Hey could it be poisible to make it insted of al scrabeld around that it could be made a little more compact | ||
| Simon Quellen Field (Sfield) Senior Member Username: Sfield Post Number: 1269 Registered: 12-2004 |
Would you kids PLEASE learn to spell, or at least use a spell checker? |
