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Contents
1) Abstract ........................................................................................................................ 3
2) Chapter I ...................................................................................................................... 5
3) Introduction ................................................................................................................. 5
a) Background of the Problem .................................................................................... 5
b) Problem Statement .................................................................................................. 6
c) Hypothesis of the Study .......................................................................................... 6
d) Significance of the Study ........................................................................................ 7
e) Research Objectives ................................................................................................ 8
f) Scope and Limitations of the Study ........................................................................ 8
g) Definition of Terms............................................................................................... 10
4) Chapter II .................................................................................................................. 11
5) Review of Related Literature ................................................................................... 11
a) The Conversion of energy from light into electricity ........................................... 11
b) Potential of Solar Energy ...................................................................................... 12
c) Computing for Efficiency ..................................................................................... 13
d) Analysis of the Related Literature and Related Studies........................................ 14
6) CHAPTER III ........................................................................................................... 15
7) Methodology .............................................................................................................. 15
a) Kind of Research................................................................................................... 15
b) Research Design.................................................................................................... 16
c) Efficiency Test ...................................................................................................... 17
d) Experimental setup................................................................................................ 17
e) Measurement of the output currents and voltages for both chargers and tabulation
of results ................................................................................................................ 21
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Abstract
Aside from being portable, a Solar-powered Phone Charger is as efficient as the Wall
Phone Charger
Kirby Cabrillos, John Vingem Geaga,
Reg Vincent Natividad, Ryan Ceazar Santua
October, 2013
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as a wall charger. With this problem, an experiment was conducted to check if a solar
charger is as efficient as the wall charger. Efficiency test was conducted with the solar
charger and the wall charger. With the result obtained from the experiment, the solar
charger that has 69.33 % efficiency is close to the wall charger that has 71.85 %
efficiency. The result indicates a positive response and researchers conclude that solar
charger is indeed efficient as the wall charger. Also, the time for a 1220 mAh battery to
be fully charged using both chargers was calculated. The result indicates that it takes 2
hours and 40 minutes to charge the battery much longer compared with the 2 hour time
recorded for the wall charger.
The experiment shows that the world is now a bit closer to the perfection of solar
technology. Further studies on solar technology would help for the study on renewable
energy.
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Chapter I
Introduction
This chapter presents the background of the problem, problem statement, and
hypothesis, significance of the study, and the scope and limitations of the study.
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worthiness of a solar charger boils down to how quickly it transmits a charge, and how
much power it gives off to the phone or how efficient the solar charger is.
The Websters dictionary defines efficiency as the quality or degree of being
efficient. Technically, efficiency refers to as the ratio of useful energy delivered by a
dynamic system to the energy supplied to it. Efficiency is simply derived by the total
output over the total input.
Problem Statement
This research deals with the examination of the efficiencies of both solar-powered
phone charger and the wall phone charger. Specifically, the study should able to answer
the question if a portable solar-powered phone charger is as efficient as the wall phone
charger.
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Studying about solar technology would be very essential for the worlds
nonrenewable energy resources are already diminishing. The future of this technology
relies on such studies that involve reviewing the present solar technologies.
Examining if a single solar charger could charge a cellphone efficiently as the
wall phone charger, would determine on which areas on solar technology have to
improve.
Research Objectives
This study aims to examine the efficiencies of a solar charger and a wall phone
charger and be able to analyze the results and conclude that a solar charger is as efficient
as a wall charger.
comparison. This, however, would mean more time, money and resources which
researchers didnt have.
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Definition of Terms
Amperes unit of current, milli-Amperes Amperes over 1x10^-3 (mA)
Complete charging time- the time required for a battery to be fully charged
Current rate of flow of electric charge, can be calculated by voltage divided by the
resistance.
Efficiency- The quality or degree of being efficient. In this research, it is referred to as
the relationship of voltage and current by output power. It is given as the output power
divided by the input power.
Kilowatt hour (kWh) - a unit of work or energy equal to that expended by one kilowatt
in one hour.
mAh- milli Amperes-hour. Battery rating.
Photovoltaic (PV) cells semiconductor material such as silicon that generates voltage
when light strikes at it.
Power- needed to turn on a mechanical or electrical device.
Power (solar input) - product of voltage and current coming in of the circuit.
Power (solar output) - product of voltage and current coming out of the solar cell.
Voltage- Electric potential or potential difference expressed in volts.
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Chapter II
This chapter presents a synthesis of facts that supports the following topics: The
conversion of energy from light into electricity; the solar energy potential; mathematical
approach in determining efficiency; and calculating the time for a battery to be
completely charged.
sunlight
solar panel
charger
circuitry
ba4ery
Just as Law of Conservation of Energy states that Energy cannot be created nor
destroyed but can only be transformed from one form to another. This is where the idea
of solar energy came from, to transform the suns raging light into lifelong, unharmful,
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and sustainable energy source for the human beings. An online journal, HowStuffWorks
explained the process on how sunlight is converted into electrical energy. Light basically
from the sun is absorbed by the Photovoltaic (PV) cells (made of semiconductor material
like silicon) or commonly known as solar cells, and directly converts into electricity.
When light strikes the semiconductor material, a certain amount is absorbed
which means energy from the source is transferred into the material and magnetic field
causes electrons to flow in a certain direction that now produces the current. The power
generated by the PV cells flow through a circuit design to charge the battery.
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solar electricity generation up to 13.6GW (80% of which will be from photovoltaic cells,
and the rest (2.4GW) from solar thermal plants). However, this amount will not exceed
6% of the total electricity production from non-hydro renewable energies. It is worth
noting that passive solar technologies for water heating, not included in these statistics,
represent a fairly large amount of power. IEA estimates a power production of 5.3GW in
2002 and an increase up to 46GW by 2030.
!"#$"# !"#$%
!"#$% !"#$%
or
!"
!"
. Each battery
has a rating. This rating refers for how much a particular battery can hold charges. An
iPhone 3gs battery for example has 1220 mAh. Computing the time to completely charge
!"##$%& !"#$%&
a battery is given by the formula, hours = !"#$%#&"&' !"##!"#. Continuous current refers to
as the current running in a single direction of the battery.
A recent study about the power generated from the transformer-rectifier circuit
was published by an online journal, righto.com (2012). Based on their study, the average
power output of the transformer-rectifier circuit is around 6.5 Watts.
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CHAPTER III
Methodology
This chapter presents the kind of research and research design used for the study
as well as the procedures of the experiment. The procedure used in this study was based
on the study conducted by Porter, et al (2008) regarding the Energy Efficiency Battery
Charger System Test Procedure that was commissioned by the Pacific Gas and Electric,
California Energy Commission-Public Interest Energy Research Program, and Southern
California Edison.
Kind of Research
The kind of research used in determining whether a portable solar-powered phone
charger is as efficient as a wall phone charger was experimental research.
Experimental research is a design in which an investigator manipulates and
controls one or more independent variable or more variables for variation concomitant to
the manipulation of the independent variables (Kerlinger, 1986). Experimental research
has been considered by Travers (1978) as the most prestigious method of advancing
scientific knowledge.
V. Ardales (1992) stated that the ideal true experiment study is the best done in
a laboratory setting where the researchers have full control in manipulating study
variables and ruling out confounding ones.
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In this research, the independent variable was the input power of both solar
charger and wall phone charger since it was on their specification to deliver such amount
of power. And the dependent variable was the efficiencies of the solar charger and the
wall phone charger. While the extraneous variables were the time which the experiment
was conducted, the type of the weather on the date of testing, the type of solar panel used,
and also the number of trials conducted.
Research Design
The research was divided into two parts, the efficiency test and the calculation for
the time in which batteries will be completely charged. In efficiency test, currents and
voltages were measured for the output side of the chargers. The test for the solar charger
was conducted with a direct sunlight and with a shade to compare the output power.
The test for solar charger was conducted in four trials with an interval of one hour
starting at 11 oclock in the morning. The test for the wall charger was also conducted at
the same time. The test was replicated four times to determine its average power.
The calculation for the time in which the battery will be completely charged was
done after completing the efficiency test. With the given formula, hours
!"##$%& !"#$%&
= !"#$%#&"&' !"##$%&, the time can now be drawn by the quotient of the battery rating over
the continuous current.
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Efficiency Test
Experimental setup
Figure 3.1: all materials were prepared for testing.
All materials for testing were prepared such as the multi-tester, pen and paper for
recording, one kilo ohm resistor, the two chargers, and a 1220 mAh battery. For the solar
charger, a new ROHS P2600 TM solar charger was used for the experiment. The solar
charger was tested without more than 5 times of regular use. Meanwhile, an original boxtype iPhone charger was used as the wall phone charger. The wall charger was connected
to a 220V power source.
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With the following specifications provided by the manufacturers, the input power
for both chargers was considered as the independent variable. For the solar charger, the
input power was at six Watts and for the wall phone charger; the input power was at 6.5
Watts. The dependent variable was the calculated efficiencies for both chargers. While
the extraneous variables were the time and the weather during testing, the type of solar
panel used for the solar charger, and the number of trials conducted.
Figure 3.2: experimental setup for measuring output current and voltage of the solar charger under
indirect sunlight.
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Figure 3.3: experimental setup for measuring output current and voltage of the solar charger under
direct sunlight.
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There were two setups for testing the solar charger. The first setup was placing
the charger in an open but shaded area. Sunlight does not strike directly to the solar panel
of the charger. While for the second setup, the charger was placed in an area that sunlight
hits directly the solar panel of the charger. These two setups were done consecutively
with a one-hour interval. At exactly 11am, the first set of measurement was conducted,
and the second set was done after one hour that was 12 noon. This process was repeated
until it reached the fourth set measurement that was 2 pm. The output current and voltage
were measured with the following conditions: (a) at 11am with indirect sunlight (b) at
direct sunlight, (c) at 12 noon with indirect sunlight, (d) with direct sunlight, (e) at 1 pm
with indirect sunlight, (f) with direct sunlight, (g) at 2 pm with indirect sunlight, (h) with
direct sunlight. The results were then recorded for calculation.
Meanwhile for the wall charger, current and voltage were measured
simultaneously with the set of measurements for the solar charger. The following flow
were done in measuring for the output current and voltage of the wall charger, (a) at 11
am, (b) at 12 noon, (c) at 1 pm, (d) at 2 pm.
For calculating the time of complete charging under indirect sunlight, the 1220
mAh battery was connected in series with the one kilo ohm resistor, multi-tester
(ammeter function), and the charger. The resistor doesnt affect in the measurement since
it is connected in series. Whatever current is flowing in the connection is the same when
connecting any value of the resistor. During charging, current flowing was measured
through the multi-tester connected. The same setup was used for the solar charger under
direct sunlight and the wall charger.
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Measurement of the output currents and voltages for both chargers and tabulation
of results
At 11 am, the output current and voltage were measured and recorded for the
solar charger under the shaded area, after the measurement, the charger was then brought
directly into sunlight and again, current and voltage were measured and recorded. After
the measurements for the solar charger, the next step was measuring for the wall charger.
Output current and voltage were measured through the output terminals of the charger.
The readings were then recorded for calculation. The process described above was
repeated every one hour for four trials which means, researchers repeated this step at 12
noon, 1 pm, and 2 pm.
The 1200 mAh battery was then charged using both chargers. The terminals of the
battery were connected in series with the one kilo ohm resistor, multi-tester, and the
charger. The current flowing in the connection was measured and recorded for both
chargers.
trial was multiplied to the voltage of the second trial. The procedure was repeated until
the fourth trial. For the shaded area, all power calculated were added together and was
divided by four to get the average power. The same procedure was used in getting
average power under the direct sunlight. The same procedure above was used for
determining the average output of the wall charger.
The calculated power under the shade was divided by the input power of the solar
charger that was six Watts. This is now the efficiency of the solar charger that was
exposed to indirect sunlight. The calculated power for the direct sunlight was also divided
by the input power of the solar charger and was labeled as the efficiency of the solar
charger at direct sunlight. The average output power of the wall charger was divided by
the input power of the wall charger that was 6.5 Watts. The result was then labeled as the
efficiency of the wall charger. All efficiencies calculated were multiplied by 100 to
obtain the efficiency percentage of each device.
With the experiment conducted, researchers obtained the following results that
were used for analysis: (a) efficiency percentage of the solar charger that was placed to
indirect sunlight, (b) efficiency percentage of the solar charger that was placed into direct
sunlight, and (c) efficiency percentage of the wall charger.
procedures in measuring the current flow, researchers obtained the following results: (a)
current flowing through the solar charger under indirect sunlight, (b) current flowing
through the solar charger under direct sunlight, and (c) current flowing through the wall
charger. The continuous current divided the battery rating and the result was the time for
the battery to be completely charged.
Method of Analysis
All gathered information was recorded and presented in both tabular and
graphical form. The results from each test were then reviewed for any error in
calculations.
The efficiency of the solar charger under indirect sunlight was compared with the
ones that was placed under direct sunlight.
The efficiency percentage of the wall phone charger was multiplied by 0.05
(based from the 5% difference hypothesis of the researchers) to get the magnitude of the
range. The success of the hypothesis as well as the study relies on this result. If the
absolute value of their difference fits on the range, the study is therefore successful.
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Chapter IV
Research Findings
This chapter presents the data gathered from the efficiency test and the calculation
for the time required for a 1220 mAh Li-ion battery as well as the analysis of the results
and the analysis and interpretation of data.
The main purpose of this study was to determine the efficiency of both chargers
and prove that solar charger is as efficient as the wall charger.
A very simple experiment was conducted by the researchers. They used a battery
with a rating of 1220 mAh as the unit for calculating the time required to charge
completely.
Efficiency test
With the procedure to measure currents and voltages described in the third chapter
of this study, following results were obtained.
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Trial
Solar charger
Direct/Indirect
Wall charger
1
2
3
4
Ave.
1
2
3
4
Ave.
Input (independent)
Voltage
Current (mA)
(V)
1000
6
1000
6
1000
6
1000
6
1000
6
NA
NA
NA
Output
Current (mA)
Voltage (V)
765/753
767/750
767/756
764/750
765.75/752.25
953
960
957
958
957
5.5/5.4
5.3/5.3
5.5/5.3
5.4/5.3
5.43/5.33
4.8
4.9
4.9
4.9
4.88
Table 4.1: Summary of measured currents and voltages (Note: the interval for each trial is in 1hour)
Table 4.1 shows the summary of the measured currents and voltages for both the
solar charger and the wall charger. Since the input power for a wall charger was already
given at 6.5 Watts, its current and voltage values were not needed anymore. The input
current for the solar charger was 1 Ampere and its input voltage was 6 Volts which gives
six Watts as input power. The output current of the solar charger under indirect light is
smaller than the output current of the solar charger under direct light. With the average of
765.75 mA, solar charger under direct light gives off a larger current than the solar
charger under indirect light that just only gives an average of 752.25 mA. Also, the
output voltage for the solar charger placed directly into sunlight has a higher value with
5.43 V compared with the solar charger under indirect sunlight that just only has 5.33 V
value.
The wall charger has a high output current of 957 mA but a low output voltage of
only 4.88 V.
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Calculating for the power and the efficiency of both devices, these data were
gathered:
Solar
Charger
(D/I)
Wall Phone
Charger
Input Power
(Pi=IiVi)
Output Power
(Po=IoVo)
% Efficiency
(Po/Pi)x100
6 Watts
69.33 / 67 %
6.5 Watts
4.67 Watts
71.85 %
Table 4.2: Calculated Input and Output power, and percentage Efficiency
Table 4.2 shows the calculated input and output powers for both devices. The
efficiency was also derived with the calculated output and input power.
The average output power for the solar charger under direct sunlight was 4.16
Watts, and the output power of the solar charger under indirect sunlight was 4.01 Watts.
While the output power of the wall charger was 4.67 Watts. The Output power of the wall
charger was a bit higher compared to the solar charger. However, the input powers of
both devices were not the same. Solar chargers input power was given by 6 Watts
meanwhile the wall charger has 6.5 Watts. Calculating for their efficiency, the solar
charger under direct sunlight provided the value of 69.33 % and for the charger under
indirect sunlight was 67 %. This means that the solar charger under direct sunlight uses
only 69 percent of its input power. The percentage efficiency obtained from calculating
from the wall chargers input current and voltage was 71.85 %. The efficiency of the wall
charger is a bit higher compared to the solar charger.
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0.8
0.7
Output power
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.2
Input power
Figure 4.1 Efficiency of the solar charger (blue) and the wall charger (orange)
Figure 4.1 shows the linear relationship between the output and the input power of
a solar charger and wall charger. The 5 % difference can be calculated by taking the 5%
of the wall charger efficiency or by simply multiplying 0.05 to the 71.85 % which would
yield a difference of 3.59. Subtracting the difference from the wall chargers efficiency
would give the minimum range of the 5% difference that is 68.26. Meanwhile, by adding
the difference to the efficiency would give the maximum range of 75.44. Now that the
range at which the researchers assumed to conclude that solar charger is as efficient as
the wall charger is 68.26 % to 75.44 %. Efficiencies that fall under this range are
considered as efficient as the wall charger.
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Calculation for the time required for a 1220 mAh battery to completely charge
Charger used
Solar Charger
(D/I)
Wall Charger
Continuous current
458 / 430mA
Battery rating
1220 mAh
615 mA
The current flowing through the terminals of the battery and the solar charger
under direct sunlight was measured and the result was 458 mA and solar charger under
indirect sunlight was 430 mA. The result for calculating the time was 2.66 hours or 2
hours and 40 minutes, and 2 hours and 50 minutes respectively.
While the current flowing through the battery and the wall charger in series
connection was recorded at 615 mA. There, the time required for the battery to
completely charge using the wall charger is 1.98 hours or about 2 hours.
Charging a battery using a solar charger takes longer than using a wall charger.
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Chapter V
This chapter presents the summary of the study. Included in this summary are a
review of the purpose of the study, a restatement of the research question, the research
methodology used, and a summary of the study results, conclusions and discussion.
Recommendations for further research and possible studies conclude this chapter.
Summary
Purpose of the Study
The main purpose of this study was to examine the efficiency of a solar-powered
mobile phone charger and prove that it is as efficient as the wall phone charger.
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Research Methodology
There were two experiments conducted for this research. First, the efficiency test
which was testing the solar charger and recording the output current. Multiplying the
output current and output voltage provided the output power. And the input power was
given by the charger specifications. Dividing the output power over the input power
provided the value for efficiency. Multiplying the quotient by 100 provided the
percentage efficiency of the product. Using the same procedure above, the efficiency of
the wall charger was measured. The ideal efficiency of the charger was 100 percent.
An ideal charger refers to a charger which doesnt have power losses due to some
factors like heat and power absorbed by each components of the charger. An ideal
charger is not yet available today since all components of a charger is working, and work
requires energy, the energy is then the reason why it is impossible for now to achieve a
hundred percent efficiency for a device.
Results
The calculated efficiency of the solar-powered phone charger under direct
sunlight was about 69 percent, for the solar charger under indirect sunlight was at 67
percent, and the wall charger efficiency was at 71.85 percent. The time required for a
battery to fully charge a 1220 mAh using a solar charger under direct sunlight is 2 hours
and 40 minutes; using solar charger under indirect sunlight is 2 hours and 50 minutes.
Meanwhile for the wall charger, it takes about only 2 hours.
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Conclusions
The findings of this research indicate a positive response that solar-powered
charger is as efficient as a wall charger. The calculated efficiency of the solar charger
falls within the range which was assumed by the researchers to be 5%. With 69 % of
efficiency, solar charger is within the range of 68.26 % to 75.44 %. With this, the
portable solar-powered phone charger is indeed as efficient as the wall phone charger.
However, efficiency of the solar charger under indirect sunlight didnt fit into the
range. It means that the more sunlight, the more power it could give. Solar chargers are
dependent to the amount of sunlight they absorb. The more sunlight makes them to give
off more power and less sunlight makes them to give off less power.
The power generated by solar charger is 4.16 Watts and it can completely charge
a 1220 mAh battery for 2 hours and 40 minutes. While the use of the wall charger takes
only 2hours to charge the same battery.
With much higher efficiency than the solar charger, wall charger is still efficient
than the solar charger. However, the efficiency of the solar charger is not that really far
with the wall charger. They have a difference of 2.52 percent that can still be improved.
With these conclusions, the researchers are now able to conclude for the problem
of this study that a portable solar-powered phone charger is as efficient as the wall phone
charger.
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Discussions
These findings indicate the wall charger has a higher efficiency and it takes a
shorter time to charge a battery. However, it still indicates a positive result. Not all
energy are transferred but dissipated to other forms like heat.
There may be several reasons why the efficiency is not that high aside from the
power losses. The type of solar cells was not that really new and it may have also low
efficiency (referring to the power absorbed from the sun).
The area of the solar panel also matters. The wider the solar panel, more light can
be absorbed. However, using wider solar panel breaks the portability of a solar charger.
This is why research on more efficient solar panel is really important. Improved
efficiency would mean that solar devices can perform as what electrical devices do.
Recommendations
After obtaining the results discussed above that answer to the problems presented
in determining if the solar charger is as efficient as the wall charger, the researchers have
arrived at the following recommendations to further improve the study:
1. The study has focused only on the efficiency of a single solar charger. In lined
with this, researchers highly recommend using other varieties of solar chargers as
well as considering some other factors like the amount of light present during the
experiment. It is recommended to use light that their output light can be controlled
such as varieties of lamps.
2. If the future researchers may come into the probability of making efficient
chargers, researchers recommend using highly efficient solar panels and design a
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stable circuit with lesser but effective components. Using more electronic
components means that energy is not delivered well since components absorb it to
use for their own purpose.
3. Moreover, future researchers are recommended to use varying amount of light to
consider the effects of brightness in charging.
4. Lastly, for future studies, it is recommended to use brand new products and much
newer materials. It is also recommended to focus more on the possibilities of
utilizing the solar energy as future energy sources for any electrical devices.
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