Week 2

Derick:

Over the weekend, I was able to charge a battery to its maximum capacity. The maximum voltage was 8.60 V. Voltage peaked and any additional further charging did not provide a noticeable voltage increase. The same problem occurred when sunlight was blocked or interrupted for a short duration. The problem was identified to be the charger and its lack of a self-resetting algorithm. Other compatible chargers with a function to reset itself can used to remedy this problem. With a short deadline, this issue will be low priority.

Further design with the racking system incorporated the two T-bar pole mounts. Modifications were made to the rack that includes attachment points to the two T-bar mounts. The four existing T-bar for the pair of solar racks will require adjustment slots in order to compensate for the play made possible from the swaying of the poles or uneven pavement surface. The attachment points on the solar rack lack the dimensions necessary to compensate for the play, therefore the four T-bars was determined to be modified.

A design for a box to store the charging components was created. The basis of this design is to be able to slide a folding box from underneath the charging rack and provide access to the components regardless of the tilt rotation of the solar rack. The tilt rotation of the solar rack is fixed when placed on to the two support poles. With the solar rack removed and spun around in 180 degrees, the rack will be able to tilt in the opposite rotation. The design will provide easy accessible to the components regardless of the orientation of the tilt of the solar rack.