Circuit Overview

(From www.solarbotics.com)

The heart and soul of the SolarSpeeder is the high-performance Solarengine. The three
components that are most responsible for the increased performance of the Solarengine are the
0.33 Farad capacitor, the 1381 trigger, and the coreless motor.

The 0.33 Farad capacitor is deceiving power dense for it™s small size. To put it in perspec-
tive, this storage cell holds 100 times the power of regular capacitors 5 times the physical size.
These capacitors are specially designed for low-voltage, high power applications - perfect for
Solarollers!

The coreless motor is a very small, efficient device that is specifically designed to run at
approximately 1.5 volts. Since the Solarengine is designed to run at a maximum of 2.5 volts, this
places the motor almost exactly in the range we want it to run. And being so small and compact,
it is ideal for BEAM applications.

The 1381 voltage trigger is a small three pin integrated chip (IC) that looks much like a
transistor. It was originally designed to detect low voltage levels in the batteries of portable
electronic devices, like cellular telephones and portable computers. It uses very little power to
monitor the voltage, making it much more efficient than older trigger devices like zener diodes
or flashing LEDs.

Because of the 1381 voltage trigger, your SolarSpeeder will not run until there is sufficient
charge stored up in the 0.33 Farad capacitor. This means that you can expect to get much more
action in direct sunlight than under an incandescent or halogen desklamp. This doesn™t mean
that you are restricted to placing it under concentrated light, as your SolarSpeeder will be able to
trigger in light levels that are still bright enough to read by (but you will have to be patient).

Diode
 Solarengine Rosetta Stone ©
The Freeform 1381 Solarengine
You will need a 2n3904 and 2n3906 transistor, a

2.2k resistor, a Panasonic 1381 trigger, a storage

1 2N3906 Transistor
capacitor (1000 to 4700µF), and a motor and
90° to the Side
solarcell (solarcell must generate 3V MINIMUM).
90° Up

The 1381 triggers are commonly available from

Digikey or Solarbotics, and are available in voltage

flavours from “C” (2.0V) to “U” (4.7V). An “E” Bend the centre lead of the 3906 up at a 90° angle,

trigger is a good starting value and the left lead 90° to the left side.

2 2N3904 Transistor 3 1381 Trigger

90° Up

90° to the Side

90° Up

90° to the Side

Bend the right side lead 90° up, so it points at you. Just like with the 3906, bend the centre lead of the 1381up

Bend the left side lead 90° to the left side. at a 90° angle, and the left lead 90° to the left side.

4 1381 =Solder point

5 Transistor Assembly
/ 2N3906
3906

2.2k resistor
2N

3906
2N
1381

1381

=Solder point

Solder the diode to the 1381 left leg, THEN to the 3906 transistor Solder the middle lead of the 3904 to the right lead of the 3906 with about

5mm (3/8") overlap. Solder the right leg of the 1381 to the left leg of the
as shown, with the 1381 middle leg connected to the 3906 left leg,
3904. Solder the resistor across the two vertical legs, and trim the excess
and the 1381 left leg connected to the 3906 right leg.
off.

6 Circuit Assembly =Solder point

7 Final Assembly
Solder the Solar Cell in

place, observing the polarity. 2N 1381

3906

3906
2N
3904

Mount the
2N

1381

transistor assembly
Solder the motor leads as
across the capacitor 3904

shown.
2N
leads as shown. Make
sure the striped (-)
capacitor lead is on the bottom.
Trim any excess wire.

VERY IMPORTANT: none of the leads can touch each

You are now DONE!
other except where you have soldered them.

=Solder point

Copyright © Solarbotics Ltd, 2000