Alt-BEAM Archive

Message #01071



To: beam@corp.sgi.com
From: Justin jaf60@student.canterbury.ac.nz
Date: Mon, 01 Mar 1999 01:55:26 +1300
Subject: [alt-beam] Solar cell question


While we're discussing the finer points of solar cell use, I have a
question.

Imagine that I have a cell that gives out sufficient current for my
task, but not sufficient voltage. Traditionally, you raise the voltage
by adding extra cells in series. Are there drawbacks to doing this with
much smaller cells?
(Extreme example: I want 2.8V, I have a _large_ panel giving me 30mA -
heaps of current - at 2.5V, and I raise it to 2.9V with the addition of
a _tiny_ 1/8th" photo-diode solar cell (1.4mA) in series. What are the
drawbacks in doing this? (I have my guestimates, but I'd like to have
them confirmed or debunked :-)

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