Here’s the presentation that Kate and I gave in Jeff Feddersen’s Sustainable Energy on the second prototype for Solar Botanicalls. This version includes battery monitoring circuitry that creates a text message asking the user to change the batteries. We figured that while the plant makes phone calls when it needs something, electronics needs should be kept to an entirely separate notification system. The project has benefitted both from Jeff’s recommendations and from the results of directly testing various different PV panels.
Kate and I finished the prototype for Solar Botanicalls. It uses an array of solar panels for battery boosting power and as a sensor for light. Here’s the presentation we gave in class, and a movie of the prototype in action.
Full Botanicalls circuit with solar sensor battery boost
Kate Hartman and I are working on augmenting Botanicalls with a solar panel that will act as both a light sensor and a battery charger for each plant in the project. The full circuit schematic is above with a detail showing the solar charge and sensor connections below. We’re planning to try a 3 Volt rechargeable battery with a low-drop voltage regulator for our power supply. Click on each of the images for a full-size graphic.
Detail of solar sensing and battery boost sub-circuit
The next project steps will be to build the sub-circuit on a test breadboard, to see how well different panels are able to charge various batteries while sensing light values using the Arduino microcontroller.
Initial Sketch for Project Icons
The ITP Solar Powered project will channel power into many of the small electrics on the ITP floor, using energy created by our rooftop solar panel. The aim of the project is to create high visibility for sustainable power while fully utilizing our limited clean energy resources.
Currently the solar panel is set up to charge two 60Ah lead-acid battery packs in alternation. While one battery drinks up sunny delight on the 12th Floor, the other is wheeled down to the 4th Floor for use. There its built-in inverter will power a set of AA and 9-Volt battery charging units. The small batteries, once loaded with solar-sourced electricity, will be able to power microcontrollers, motors, art projects, remote sensing systems, cameras, sound recorders and anything else with modest electrical needs. If enough capacity remains, video cameras, iPods and laptop computers could also plug in and take a drink from our nearest star. Because rechargeable batteries are reused rather than being thrown away, the project will also save the materials used in creating alkaline batteries while removing their toxic products from our waste stream.
Batteries are pretty small and the power inside is invisible. There needs to be a clear indication of which projects and devices are running off the sun, so that this project can pave the way for bigger things. Visibility, labeling and signage will be as important as the power and technologies that are used. The main battery charging station should be in a high traffic location with clear signs and attractive color graphics. It needs to be obvious to members of the ITP community so that they are reminded to use it, and for visitors so that they can learn more about our sustainability endeavors. Rebecca Bray will be creating the graphic designs for the project. Gallery exhibits and show pieces will be able to feature an ITP Solar Powered logo on their signs and web sites. Stickers and hang tags will be available for anyone who uses solar juice in their camera, recorder or iPod. To expand the initiative, similar identification materials will be available for projects that are human-powered, recycled, reused or otherwise “green” in nature.
It is hoped that this small beachhead for clean power can be useful as a demonstration of our commitment to sustainable energy, support expansion of our rooftop solar system, and continue the promotion of sustainable practices at ITP and NYU.
I built several motors from the handy Make Magazine HowToons instructions from Issue #1. They’re easy to build and fun to watch. All that was required was some magnet wire from Radio Shack and a few permanent magnets. Todd Holoubeck was kind enough to lend me a few of the powerful magnets that he collects.
Here’s the two motors in action:
Click to Play Movie
Click to Play Movie
On Saturday, February 3rd we braved a cold New York morning for the Green Roof Tour at Silvercup Studios in Long Island City, Queens. It was co-sponsored by the Wagner Environmental Policy in Action (WEPA) group and UPSA. Silvercup Studios boasts the largest green roof in NYC over the buildings where they shot The Sopranos, Sex and The City and are now shooting 30 ROCK.
Here’s a view of one of the roofs:
Each roof is made up of planter-box modules. The modularity made it easier to install and maintain:
The Green Roof is monitored for temperature differences between the plantings and bare roof:
The tour ended below the landmark Silvercup bakery sign:
Green roofs are somewhat controversial. Proponents tout their energy-saving and runoff-reducing qualities, along with their aesthetic beauty. However there are others who point out that energy savings could be acheived simply by painting the roof white, and that the expense for aesthetics are wasted on a roof where nobody can see it. Street trees would be much less expensive and much more available. These are interesting arguments and certainly worth considering. I personally like the idea of green roofs because they increase habitat that has been lost to development. Birds, animals and native plants need a place to live. Bio-diversity cannot be enhanced simply by painting the roof white. For me this alone would be reason for planting greenery on the roof.
Update:
See also this interesting article by Michon Scott on research by Gaffin et al.
The prototype push charger is now complete. Starting where I left off on the disassembled remote-control car, I added a diode bridge between the wires coming from the gearhead motor and the battery compartment. The diode bridge ensures that the battery always receives the same polarity of current. Even if the push charger is being pulled backwards, voltage will always flow in the same direction.
Diode bridge:
Completed push charger, with diode bridge covered by insulating shrink-wrap:
Pushing sticks made from reused bamboo, attached to the push charger:
Leif, the local beast of burden, charges my batteries:
I started the power generation monorail project by trying out a quick LEGO prototype. First I created a conveyor system using their instructions:
It worked:
Continue reading ‘Monorail: Lego Prototyping’
For the kinetic energy project, I’m prototyping a human powered battery charging system. ITP has very long hallways, so I’d like to take harness the traffic up and down the halls to power projects. The end product is envisioned as a monorail tramway type of system. A handle dangles from the overhead tramway, and tugging that handle will pull the tram down the hall, charging a battery as it goes.
The initial prototype won’t be suspended. To quickly mock it up, I’m taking apart a remote control car, purchased at Goodwill, and turning it into a push-charger. The first job is to get access to the geared motor, figure out the wiring and hook it up to a multimeter to check the voltage and amperage generated.
Here’s the car:
And here’s the main body with the decorative casing removed:
The innards with all the radio electronics won’t be needed, so those are removed:
Continue reading ‘Car Charger Testing’
