Reproducing Solar light

[beerbaron]

Hi, I have solar panels without specifications to test and I'm trying to reproduce the solar light or a light that would give me as much power output from the solar panel then if it is facing the sun.

So far I built a cube of 18"x18" with 4x40W Compact Fluorescent + 1x70 Metal-Halide and mylar as reflective surface. I tough this combination would have given me an adequate spectrum and intensity to reproduce sunlight. But it does not produce the expected results since I can only get 50% of the power that I get when I make it face the sun. The intensity of the box is around 85 000 lux right now.

What would you guys suggest?
Should I get rid of the compact fluorescent and replace them with 150W HPS?

Thanks
BeerBaron

 

[wareagle]

The light level on a bright sunny day is about 10,000 fc.
One lux is equal to one lumen per square meter. One lux equals 0.0929 footcandles.

 

[beerbaron]

Thanks for the reference points. But to produce light with a solar cell we do not only need intensity, we also need wide spectrum since Sillicium reacts more to certain wavelenght.

Regards
Frederic Boucher

 

[nbucska]

Unless you live on the North Pole I think it would be simpler and faster to use the Sun...



----------------------------
Please read FAQ240-1032
My WEB: <

http://geocities.com/nbucska/>

 

[itsmoked]

I believe the standard for sunlight simulation is usually a xenon arc tube. We used those in physics. You could smell the ozone whenever it was on because the UV generated it in the air.

Keith Cress
Flamin Systems, Inc.-

http://www.flaminsystems.com

 

[beerbaron]

Nbucska, unfortunately if I have to wait a week for the sun to come out I'm loosing a week of potential results and It's stalling the designs. Also, going outside at -20 degrees celcius to do some tests is not what could be considered fun...

That's what we have been doing so far but at the expense of wasting valuable time.

BeerBaron

 

[jghrist]

The trouble with fluorescent or HID lamps is that certain wavelengths are missing altogether. You might have better results with incandescent lamps and filters. Get a color temperature meter at a camera store and experiment to get 5500K (sunlight).

 

[kenvlach]

See GE Lighting's Specifying Light and Color Lighting Applicaation Bulletin. It gives a table & shows spectra of sunlight & their various lighting bulbs. From table: Fluorescent bulbs SPX50, CWX and C50 reproduce outdoor sunlight. C75 simulates overcast sky conditions. From the color spectra, C50 & CWX look more natural reproduction of the sunlight curve -- high baseline spectrum (rather than adding blue, green-yellow & red peaks as with the SPX50).

http://www.gelighting.com/eu/resources/learn_about_light/spec_light_color_final.pdf

Also, many info links on their 'Learn About Light' page:

http://www.gelighting.com/na/business_lighting/education_resources/learn_about_light/

 

[advidana]

Check with a solar manfacture on methodes to test solar panels.