Uploaded February 2013 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Though not actual real-time solar powered flight, this is my attempt to use completely free, sustainable, pollution-free energy for one small but extremely important part of my existence: my RC flying hobby.
Except in rare instances I will always use solar energy to charge every LiPo used for flight, FPV ground station, video transmitters and receivers, video goggles, camera batteries, control transmitter batteries, and accessories. I will use live solar power to operate the LCD screen, lighting, tools, glue guns, etc. that I use in the workshop to construct EA planes and shoot all manner of videos for upload to YouTube.
The solar panel kit is from Harbor Freight and cost $160 on sale in January 2013:
harborfreight.com/solar-panel-kit-45-watt-68751.html
The battery seen in the video is a 12 volt 20 amp hour sealed lead acid scooter battery which was $45 delivered. Even though the charge controller of the solar kit puts out a nominal 12v, a battery is needed to "buffer" the output and provide some capacitance, otherwise the charge controller will "hunt" across a voltage range in a way that is incompatible with certain loads, particularly a LiPo battery charger.
ebay.com/itm/290776682885?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649
Though not actual real-time solar powered flight, this is my attempt to use completely free, sustainable, pollution-free energy for one small but extremely important part of my existence: my RC flying hobby.
Except in rare instances I will always use solar energy to charge every LiPo used for flight, FPV ground station, video transmitters and receivers, video goggles, camera batteries, control transmitter batteries, and accessories. I will use live solar power to operate the LCD screen, lighting, tools, glue guns, etc. that I use in the workshop to construct EA planes and shoot all manner of videos for upload to YouTube.
The solar panel kit is from Harbor Freight and cost $160 on sale in January 2013:
harborfreight.com/solar-panel-kit-45-watt-68751.html
The battery seen in the video is a 12 volt 20 amp hour sealed lead acid scooter battery which was $45 delivered. Even though the charge controller of the solar kit puts out a nominal 12v, a battery is needed to "buffer" the output and provide some capacitance, otherwise the charge controller will "hunt" across a voltage range in a way that is incompatible with certain loads, particularly a LiPo battery charger.
ebay.com/itm/290776682885?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649
