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DIY: Solar-Cell Rechargeable Batteries

February 23, 2009 By 13 Comments
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Energizer Bunny beware!

Knut Karlsen has created a solar-cell charging battery prototype using flexible solar cells from IFE and some older NiMH rechargeable batteries. The batteries are being coined as “SunCast” batteries and work much like a trickle charger.

I’m not sure leaving batteries in the sun for an extended period of time is a great idea. But this is a pretty good first start.

Check out the full post: Rechargeable Batteries with Solar Cells

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About Jerry James Stone

Jerry is a web developer, part-time blogger and a full-time environmentalist. His crusade for all things eco started twenty years ago when he ditched his meat-and-potatoes upbringing for something more vegetarian-shaped.

He currently works at Care2 and also blogs over at Treehugger. His passions include green tech, eco politics and smart green design. And while he doesn't own a car anymore, he loves to write about those too.

Jerry studied at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, CA. During his time there he was a DJ at the campus station KCPR and he also wrote for the campus paper.

Jerry currently resides in San Francisco, CA with his cat Lola.

You can stalk him on Twitter @jerryjamesstone.

  • http://www.opelforum.com/ Marc

    This is not a good idea because if its a Lithium-ion battery it would burn and a Nickel-cadmium battery would explode if you don’t stop charging after its fully loaded.

  • http://www.batteryblaster.com Best Rechargeable Batteries

    I’d be worried about the heat, and also I don’t see it as a very viable option. The cost per unit multiplied on a large scale would make this highly inefficient when compared to using a standalone solar powered battery charger. This is a neat idea, but I don’t think it is realistically viable.

  • http://www.batteryblaster.com Best Rechargeable Batteries

    I’d be worried about the heat, and also I don’t see it as a very viable option. The cost per unit multiplied on a large scale would make this highly inefficient when compared to using a standalone solar powered battery charger. This is a neat idea, but I don’t think it is realistically viable.

  • Grandunifier

    OMG! make these, The US market will eat them up, offer them for sale at walmart.

    Use a temp stable bat compound like solid Li-Poly, which doesn’t have the memory charging issues. They’d be expensive but should last.

    Of course the first post on all groundbreaking technologies which would threaten existing markets are negative, I have never seen a cooler product which would touch upon more markets than this one. Hey dude- Make a website and start selling them. Recharging your batteries on the windowsill is awesome.

  • Grandunifier

    OMG! make these, The US market will eat them up, offer them for sale at walmart.

    Use a temp stable bat compound like solid Li-Poly, which doesn’t have the memory charging issues. They’d be expensive but should last.

    Of course the first post on all groundbreaking technologies which would threaten existing markets are negative, I have never seen a cooler product which would touch upon more markets than this one. Hey dude- Make a website and start selling them. Recharging your batteries on the windowsill is awesome.

  • saeed

    is this available for buy now?

  • saeed

    is this available for buy now?

  • CrankyMerlin

    better idea. solar cells on the roof, bank of batteries, power monitors and charge the entire house all day long. not a good idea to leave batterys out in the sunlight as they tend to burst.

  • CrankyMerlin

    better idea. solar cells on the roof, bank of batteries, power monitors and charge the entire house all day long. not a good idea to leave batterys out in the sunlight as they tend to burst.

  • http://www.ubuntu.com Bruce Arkwright, Jr.

    Yea, this is not doable, batteries do not like HEAT or cold for that matter. You do not put any battery in the sun. Plus, it would be better to but the solar cells in a place where the product can use them will the battery is hidden inside what ever product.

    That is pretty funny, the batteries we use like the same temperatures as humans, do you think batteries have human DNA?

  • http://www.ubuntu.com Bruce Arkwright, Jr.

    Yea, this is not doable, batteries do not like HEAT or cold for that matter. You do not put any battery in the sun. Plus, it would be better to but the solar cells in a place where the product can use them will the battery is hidden inside what ever product.

    That is pretty funny, the batteries we use like the same temperatures as humans, do you think batteries have human DNA?

  • David Diez

    As with a lot of stuff I see on here, this is just wasting energy overall (it takes energy to mine materials and manufacture the solar cells). Instead of buying these, which will take days to charge, why not use solar cells to their full potential by putting them where they will always be generating energy when the sun is out? i.e. on a roof or somewhere else hooked into the grid. the same problem arises with solar cells on any small electronics, all of which is gimmicky.

  • David Diez

    As with a lot of stuff I see on here, this is just wasting energy overall (it takes energy to mine materials and manufacture the solar cells). Instead of buying these, which will take days to charge, why not use solar cells to their full potential by putting them where they will always be generating energy when the sun is out? i.e. on a roof or somewhere else hooked into the grid. the same problem arises with solar cells on any small electronics, all of which is gimmicky.