solar power

zachzachz · 09-07-2003, 10:16 AM

Has anyone made or seen a solar powered rc car? Is it even possible? Like would it get enough power to actually make the car go a significant speed? Are solar panels expensive?

Randy Caster · 09-07-2003, 11:11 AM

No. No. No. Yes.

Cole Trickle · 09-07-2003, 11:20 AM

If it's for non-racing, I think it should could be done. But it will be way slower than a true tourer. Could be fun though, to build one by yourself.

utieh · 09-07-2003, 12:11 PM

Tamiya made one a long time ago.

Grizzbob · 09-07-2003, 01:53 PM

Yeah, they made a scale version of a real solar race car(those cars they make for distance runs, look like a giant teardrop that was flattened & have nothing but solar cells on the top of it). It apparently worked pretty well, but was VERY expensive(I think it was well over $400 for the kit)......

zachzachz · 09-07-2003, 02:46 PM

hmmm, I was just thinking about it because like k'nex has solar powered things.

jbackslash · 09-07-2003, 05:26 PM

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXBFS9&P=7

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXHA32&P=7

These aren't rc, but I'm sure you could rig it with a micro servo and receiver. Not too expensive to play with.

WC · 09-07-2003, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Randman
No. No. No. Yes.

Yes: Tamiya 56101 Solar Eagle SRC-6000 (RC), Discontinued.

Yup.

Yes... haven't seen one run, but I'm told it does a decent trot.

Expensive? Depends on what 'efficiency' you're looking for.
If you want the same mil-spec ones that NASA uses...

Don't forget too they're very fragile.

Randy Caster · 09-07-2003, 09:07 PM

Seriously though, solar panels dont provide much energy, you'd have to run a crappy motor, with some crappy speed control (propably mechanical) on a car with no performance technology behind it. Why would anyone want to do this?

WC · 09-07-2003, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Randman
Seriously though, solar panels dont provide much energy, you'd have to run a crappy motor, with some crappy speed control (propably mechanical) on a car with no performance technology behind it. Why would anyone want to do this?

Haha... "because the geeks can do it"... heeheehee.

Tamiya is the only one who's actually made anything as
interesting as a working RC solar car, a authentic scale model
none the less. (they also have smaller nonRC running models)

Think the Solar Eagle come with everything you need - cells, battery,
ESC, drivetrain etc... all you need is a 2ch radio, RX & 1 servo.
But no, don't even think of putting any 540 in it.

Sooo.... who's gonna be first put a FUEL CELL in their lekky car??

Randy Caster · 09-07-2003, 11:39 PM

It just seems so stupid to me, look at how little power solar panels (except huge ones) actually provide. You could get the car up to maybe 1mph?

NightKidZ · 09-07-2003, 11:40 PM

WC :
HPI just displayed a fuel-cell powered Micro RS4 a couple of months back

Cheers

utieh · 09-08-2003, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Randman
It just seems so stupid to me, look at how little power solar panels (except huge ones) actually provide. You could get the car up to maybe 1mph?

they are some people who arn't just looking for speed.

Cole Trickle · 09-08-2003, 01:36 PM

First of, I think it would be fun, just to see if it could work. It's about seeing the challenge. Second, some kind of competition could easily be arranged - who can drive the longest distance in XX time? This would include speed, thus technology, durability etc.

zachzachz · 09-08-2003, 02:16 PM

Well if you can make a super light car with solar panels on it, and turn the solar power into forward momentum you got it. But what I've been reading from you guys is that it wouldn't get enough power to turn a 540 motor.