Solar Battery Charging

Lead Acid Battery
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Intended Grade Level(s):
7-12
Learning Goal(s):

Students will build series, parallel, and parallel series circuits from a schematic diagram. Students will master the basic concept of battery charging. Students will be able to plan and build solar battery chargers for a given battery system. Intermediate students will calculate time to charge a depleted battery to its full capacity given specifications of a solar module. Students will be able to explain how a solar cell works with diagrams and words. Students will use a digital multi-meter to measure voltage, current, resistance, and diode polarity.

Estimated Activity Length:
9 hours
Relevant Common Core Standard(s):
Description:

Students will become familiar with circuits, cells, batteries, and photovoltaic cells, then plan, build, test, modify, and re-test a small solar battery charger designed to maintain batteries from a particular device. 

Science Kit Material(s) Used:
2-Volt, 500mA Solar Modules
LEDs
Multimeter
Other Material(s) Used:
Diodes, halogen work lamps, 2-volt mini incandescent bulbs, fuses, solar cell fragments at least 1 cm^2, battery packs, various sizes of batteries