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Creating Sustainable Energy
Solar-Charged Outdoor Lighting
Design Direction-
To create a self-sufficient lighting system for public, private, or commercial outdoor areas such as walkways, driveways, or building facades at night. To be self-sufficient, this system must be powered by a natural element, such as wind, solar, etc.
A connected leaf structure that can house solar panels and lights, and can blend into existing natural elements. Solar power would be able to be saved during the day, and then used to light up the surrounding areas at night. All while keeping a natural look to a park or walkway.
Chosen Design -
Not Final Design ( Proto 1)
First steps -
Started to understand the workings of solar panels and how to wire them together. When I started to get electrical feedback from an ammeter, I then could continue on with innovating.
Design Phase
Created a leaf-shaped housing unit in SolidWorks for two solar panels (double-sided) and entrance/exit holes for wiring.
Inserted solar panes into housing units and wired all together.
Connected lithium (rechargeable) battery for excess power storage and tested on an ammeter for electric current.
test results came back at 22 watts from a 5-leaf chain.
Each solar panel collecting ~ 5 watts each.
The "Vine" + lights
I then connected string lights to the wiring. They ended up working, but as the lights only required 5 watts to be powered and the leaf chain was generating 22 watts, I added a capacitor in between the lights and the power source to transmit the electricity at a slower rate and reduce the risk of blowing a fuse.
I chose to run the lights and wiring through 3 feet of surgical tubing, as it is durable enough to protect, flexible enough to mimic a vine, and transparent enough for light to shine through it
Final step -
It then came down to securing the wiring and leaves into the surgical tube to create the finished product
System working on its own:
Open wiring system
Closed wiring system
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