Question re solar cells, amps and volts and watts
Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2023 8:03 am
My 12 year old daughter is working on a science fair project using solar cells. I’m trying to help her understand how amps and volts work. She understands the concept that amps are like the amount of water going through a hose and volts are the pressure of water going through a hose.
The question is about watts. If you have 12 volts and 6 amps which equals 72 watts is that the same as 6 volts and 12 amps which also equals 72 watts? You end up with the same amount of watts in both cases, but is it the same?
She is wiring together solar panels and trying to charge lithium batteries in an rc plane while it’s flying so it could fly indefinitely or more likely to at least extend flight time. I understand the difficulty of the solar plane scenario, but she is very excited, and I think going through the process is a worthwhile experience.
My other question is why do some solar panels have 7.2 volts and only 100mA and other panels have .6 volts and 6 amps? How are solar panels made with such a variation in volts vs. amps?
Thank you for any help.
Hope
The question is about watts. If you have 12 volts and 6 amps which equals 72 watts is that the same as 6 volts and 12 amps which also equals 72 watts? You end up with the same amount of watts in both cases, but is it the same?
She is wiring together solar panels and trying to charge lithium batteries in an rc plane while it’s flying so it could fly indefinitely or more likely to at least extend flight time. I understand the difficulty of the solar plane scenario, but she is very excited, and I think going through the process is a worthwhile experience.
My other question is why do some solar panels have 7.2 volts and only 100mA and other panels have .6 volts and 6 amps? How are solar panels made with such a variation in volts vs. amps?
Thank you for any help.
Hope