Solar Schoolhouse Product Catalog www.solarshoolhouse.org Solar Cell Classroom Set Solar Cell Classroom Sets have all the equipment to allow hands-on explorations of solar power and electricity. They contain enough solar cells, motors, and equipment to engage a classroom full of students. The User Guide explains how to use and maintain the equipment, and includes a number of student exercises for developing an understanding of basic electric theory and the photovoltaic effect. “When I saw how interested kids were, Activities using the Solar Schoolhouse Solar Cell Classroom Set it lit a fire under me to educate them about range from kindergarten classes experiencing the photovoltaic conservation and green energy.” effect (sunlight makes the motor spin) to colleges and trade schools plotting the IV curves of solar modules. Students can ­­—Randy S., Construction Instructor, build simple circuits to power a variety of electrical loads. Radios, motors, a water pump, even model cars and homes can be Brawley High School, CA powered with the Solar Cell Classroom Set. Some classes make solar power plants to run miniature “utility grids” in their classroom. Using this set, students develop their scientific observation skills, meet the standards while studying electricity, and learn about Solar Cell Student Set renewable energy sources. Most importantly, these activities The Solar Cell Student show students positive alternatives for our energy future, and Set includes equipment for foster optimism, excitement, and a sense of purpose. individual, hands-on exploration of various solar Solar Cell Classroom Set Includes: electric circuits. Using this set, • 30 Solar Cells (0.5V/0.4A) • Assorted DC loads: students can build simple DC • 4 Solar Modules (3V/1A) buzzer (4.5V), fan (5V), series and parallel circuits, and fan (12V) can test the performance • 16 Motors (0.5V–5.0V) • 10 Jumper Wires with characteristic of silicon solar • Assorted fan blades and wheels alligator clips cells. They can also practice that attach to the motors matching a solar voltage • Sturdy Storage Case • 1 Radio with speakers (3V) source to a load by building a • Users’ Guide solar-powered music circuit. • 1 Digital Multimeter The set includes a complete User Guide including solar electricity theory, project guides, plus 1 Set: SCS-3 troubleshooting and equipment maintenance information. Additional solar modules, motors, wheels and fans also available for purchase separately. 1 Set: SSH-SCSS 2 For pricing information and to order go to: www.solarschoolhouse.org Solar Power Monitor Set The Solar Power Monitor is a Plexiglas circuit board with input ports for Solar Power Lunch Box connecting solar modules, and output This portable, standalone, solar power supply is designed to provide ports for attaching direct current power when you need it for charging your cell phone, mp3/ipod music player, or powering a custom LED night light. loads. It has an ammeter and a voltmeter to simultaneously measure The Solar Power Lunch Box Kit contains (3) 1.25 watt @ 12vdc solar current and voltage. There are three DC loads (a light, fan and laminates, (1) 12vdc (1.4ah) sealed rechargeable battery, project box, water pump) included in the set. Using the monitor, students wire terminal, (2) 12vdc auto sockets, USB car charger, a metal lunch box, and a white LED light assembly. The Lunch Box comes with get a feel for how the sun can produce electricity and what mounting holes pre-drilled. This nifty emergency preparedness kit even volts, amps and watts are. The Solar Power Monitor Set is an has room for a few sandwiches! excellent companion to the Solar Cell Classroom Set. Some tools required for assembly. Solar Power Monitor Set Contains: 1 Kit: SSH-SPLB3 1 Solar Power Monitor, 8 Solar Modules (3V*1A), 1 Blower Fan, 1 Potentiometer, 1 Pump (12V) with 2 feet of vinyl tubing, 1 Fuse Light, 10 Jumper Wires with alligator clips, 4 sets of Stackable Jumper Wires with alligator clips, 1 each: Compass, Protractor, Ruler, User Guide Additional solar modules, motors, wheels and fans also available for purchase separately. 1 Set: SPM-3 Basin not included. Solar Fountain Sculpture Set Basic Kit Solar fountains are a great way to show the Advanced Kit with Music Circuit (decorated) relationship solar electric modules have with sunlight. As the solar modules are tilted Solar Whirlygig Kit more toward the sun, the water pumps The solar whirligig projects are a great opportunity for students faster. Casting a shadow on the modules to learn about solar cells with an opportunity to add their own slows or stops the water flow. These Solar creativity. The Basic Solar Whirlygig Kit includes a CD, CD Fountain Sculpture Sets include a 12 volt DC water pump and a mailer box, and a solar education kit with solar cell, motor, large assortment of clear pipe and connectors to build a wide wheels, wire & fan. No soldering required. Glue gun optional. variety of fountain designs. The components are slip-fit for quick You provide pipe cleaners, energy beads, & other items to assembly and disassembly, and for easy adjustment of designs. decorate the CD. The Advanced Solar Whirlygig Kit Sets include a complete User Guide with directions for building requires some soldering and use of hot glue gun. A music fountains and instructions for beginning and advanced solar sound module (like those found in greeting cards) is included, electricity projects. along with a dedicated Copper Indium Diselenide (CIS) solar cell. Standard Set can be used with a variety of solar modules you provide. A silicon solar cell powers the motor and CD. Deluxe Set includes 4 solar modules (3V* 1A) not pictured. Basic Kit: SSH-WGB Advanced Kit: SSH-WGA Standard Set: SSH-SFSS1 Deluxe Set: SSH-SFSS2 For pricing information and to order go to: www.solarschoolhouse.org 3 Boom Box Kit Make your own external speakers for your solar charged ipod/ mp3 music player. Two speakers + ear buds + a box of your choice, add your creativity = your custom boom box. No external Solar ZipCharger Kit power is required, with your music player providing the audio Build your own cell phone or mp3/ power, and regulating volume. Some soldering required. ipod charger. Any small device that Speakers come in two sizes: has it’s own rechargeable battery 40mm: SSH-BB40, 100mm: SSH-BB100 can be powered with the ZipCharger. Two 1.25 watt @ 12vdc solar laminates come together in this zippered travel wallet, with an auto socket for charging cell phones. A USB car charger is included to power devices with USB cords (eg. ipod). Wallet colors will vary. Cell phone auto adapter not included. 1 Kit: SSH-ZC1 ‘Steampunk’ Custom Solar Module Kit We call this the ‘steampunk’ solar module 1.25 watt Solar because the redwood frame creates the illusion that solar modules were common in Laminates the Jules Verne era. By combining 10 small We’ve acquired a large quantity of small solar electric modules solar laminates (each rated at 1.25 watt @ (laminates). These 1.25 watt (12vdc nominal, 0.09A) modules 12Vdc) in parallel, a 12.5 watt solar were originally designed to charge a small battery to power a module is created, strong enough to remote GPS signal. The modules have no frame, hence the term power a small fountain, or for use as a “laminates.” The construction represents modern solar module battery charger. The kit includes: precut construction, with mono crystalline silicon solar cells, tempered redwood frame components, (10) 12.5 glass top, standard water tight encapsulation, and 7 ft wire watt @12vdc solar laminates, wire leads with a waterpack connector. Great for solar projects like terminal, wood screws, alligator clips, the Solar Lunchbox, ZipCharger, and Steampunk projects shown and instructions. on this page. Dimensions: 210 x 85 x 4 mm (8 5/16 x 3 3/8 x 1/8 inch ) 1 Kit: SSH-CSM10 1 Laminate: SSH-PV1.25w-1, Box of 50: SSH-PV1.25w-50 4 For pricing information and to order go to: www.solarschoolhouse.org Solar Schoolhouse Online Academy “The online course was fabulous.” Solar Schoolhouse Academy provides online courses that make learning about —DeAnn K., Teacher, solar and clean energy easy and fun. The concepts are presented in short, easy to understand lessons, with plenty of color illustrations, video clips and simple Twin Rivers USD, Sacramento animations. Included in the courses are several hands-on projects to experiment with. Many of these projects teach real-world principles using simple materials like cardboard, tape and tin foil. So many ways to use the Online Academy: • Perfect for an extra credit project or independent study • Use as an enhancement to classroom curriculum • Educators increase their knowledge, prepare to teach solar, and earn CEUs Visit the Academy at http://classroom.solarschoolhouse.net “The course is great. I really enjoyed the video incorporation into the lessons, the visuals are great and the information interesting.” ­­—Miriam W. Instructor, CSU Monterey Bay For pricing information and to order go to: www.solarschoolhouse.org 5 Celebrating our 10th Year in 2012! Summer Institute for Educators Teachers attending the summer institute will learn about the science and history of heating, cooling and powering our homes with the Sun. Participants will build solar cookers, model passive solar homes, solar electric fountains, custom solar panels, a portable solar power station (Lunchbox!), and more. Held at Rahus Headquarters in Sebastopol, the workshop is completely solar powered. We’ll evaluate several solar and energy efficient technologies and design strategies incorporated onsite including: two types of Photovoltaics, heat pump water heater, heat pump heating/cooling, active external shading devices, thermal mass wall, daylighting. In addition to learning the science of proper building design (e.g. thermodynamics, electricity, seasonal changes) and how to fit these exercises into your curriculum, participants will walk away with practical knowledge (and solar equipment!) that they can apply in their own lives.