[pct-l] ultralight solar cells

[binghamstehekin at starband.net (Dick and Adele Bingham)]

Uh, regarding ==>

Message: 10
Date: Thu, 16 Oct 2003 20:39:47 -0700 (PDT)
From: Ilja Friedel <ilja@cs.caltech.edu>
Subject: Re: [pct-l] ultralight solar cells
To: <pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
Message-ID:
<Pine.LNX.4.33L0.0310162035380.25822-100000@orchestra.cs.caltech.edu>
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

Hi Hayduke,

On Thu, 16 Oct 2003, Hayduke wrote:

> all of those applications are high powered (except maybe the boombox
> depending how load)

1kW of electricity (as mentioned) would be high powered. Enough to cook.
Imagine a 8x10 tarp made of these plastic sheet solar cells. Right now
this would cost a fortune, but prices drop steadily. And many hikers are
gearheads willing to shell out serious money.

> Electricity to heat is not a very efficient exchange. Trying to convert
> sunlight to heat via electricity as intermediate could never be as good as
> using the sunlight for heat directly ;-)

Well, I suggested to generate electricity during the day and store it for
the night. If you have a lightwight chemical alternative not involving
electricity - let me know. I've read the Soviets had tiny nuclear
batteries. Not sure if you can get them in the US...

Ilja.
===========================================================
Above Hayduke wrote "Electricity to heat is not a very efficient exchange....."
This is not true! This is how electric hotwater heaters work and it is a VERY
efficient conversion....

Dick - W7WKR
Stehekin, WA