Repaired Radio – solar conversion
Details:
Following a comment by Bobby Tectalabyss, i’ve converted the radio to also run directly on solar.
2x solar garden light panels, connected in series – output 4.2V at approx 25mA.
A Germanium diode is connected from the Positive panel output to the Positive battery terminal. It halts backfeed from batteries being charged and only drops approx 0.2V to do so.
Volume is good to around half way later in the aftewrnoon, whereupon the radio will quit if the sun isn’t direct. Lowering the volume switches the radio back on. Half volume is perfectly comfortable to listen to and guarantees that the radio won’t be overdriven at midday.
Being able to run at 5.30pm was the test I wanted to have it readied for, to make sure of a full afternoon of listening if wished.
The old rechargeables are now in and will mean zero costs listening from tomorrow onward.
