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Solar energy motor and Fan

Posted: 04 Dec 2020, 13:00
by bigmack
We got these out yesterday and they did not work ...only one apparently .
OK to be fair , it was overcast and wet ,so the teacher used a couple of microscope lamps .
We have done this in the past and it is usually enough to get them spinning if you hold the lamps right up to them .

So I got them out today as it was very sunny . Sure enough , they wouldn't work .Then after sitting in the sun for a few minutes there was a bit of twitching and they one by one started working. After 5-10 minutes in the sun they were all going full steam .

I could now use them as normal .
so it would be a good idea if you need to get these out , to test them first .It seems they don't like being stored in the dark for a long time .
Solar energy Fans.jpg
Also of interest is that the very old (16 year) one took the longest to come around , but worked fine after a bit of sunshine .

Re: Solar energy motor and Fan

Posted: 04 Dec 2020, 14:26
by Merilyn1
That's interesting Bigmack. Thanks for sharing. I have an old solar powered music box my brother bought my mum in the 1970s - you can imagine how magical that was then! I thought it had conked out but I might sit it in the sun for a bit too.

And these little guys would fail as labbies - don't we all feel like we're kept in the dark? :giggle:

Re: Solar energy motor and Fan

Posted: 04 Dec 2020, 14:31
by bigmack
Woow, 50 years old ,worth a try Merilyn .....but may be more to that one though :whistling2:

Re: Solar energy motor and Fan

Posted: 07 Dec 2020, 06:46
by Merilyn1
Mum had it stored away so we'll see how it goes. Even if it no longer works, I'll hold onto it.