12V DC brushless fan – I want to run it directly off a Pv Solar panel – but what size panel?
I have a 12V DC brushless fan, rated at 0.16 Amp, 1.92 Watt (extracted from a dead desktop PC). I want to run it directly from a solar panel (not via a rechargeable battery), so that it will only operate during daylight hours and when there is a reasonable amount of light from the sun (i.e. not at times of heavy cloud).
I would like to know what size or type of PV solar panel (that generates – presumably – about 2 Watts of power in full sunlight and peak efficiency) I would require to run the fan and, perhaps just as importantly, how to calculate the size required.
The panel would be located on a 45 degree, south facing roof at 51 degrees North (UK).
Finally, is it feasible to run a fan directly from a solar panel or would more sophisticated electronic hardware be additionally required?
N.B. I want the fan to boost the output of a thermo-syphon solar air heater:
http://www.reuk.co.uk/Make-a-Simple-Solar-Air-Heater.htm
Due to inefficiencies, you would most likely prefer to slightly oversize the solar panel. That provides more operating headroom during hours when the sun is not peaking, like in the winter and outside 10 am to 2 pm.
Based on the 2 watt rating, somewhere around 5 to 10 watts for the panel rating is reasonable. If the motor is okay with slight over voltage (like 15 V) it should be okay to directly connect it.
However, during evening hours when there is, say, only 0.25 watt available, it would be wise to interrupt the circuit so the motor won’t be damaged by low current which is insufficient to turn, though that should not be a problem due to the smarts of most BLDC motors.
The easiest way to protect the motor would be to use a voltage regulator, a simple electronic component (like this http://parts.digikey.com/1/parts/612657-ic-regulator-12v-1a-to220fp-ba12t.html ) available at electronic component outlets. Choose one rated for at least three times the highest expected current. Most regulators require a filter capacitor, and a choke wouldn’t be a bad idea either since stepper motors tend to generate power supply noise.
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