Three Ways to Power an Arduino Off-Grid @ Voltaic DIY Solar!
We get a lot of questions about how to run an Arduino off of solar panels. We decided to do a bit of testing and came up with three pretty simple ways to run an Arduino even if you aren’t near your computer or an AC plug.
Direct to a Solar Panel – We plugged our 2.0 Watt, 6 Volt panel into the Arduino’s 5.5mm x 2.1mm DC Jack via our Generator Circuit Box. On a hazy day and through a screen, it lowered the basic blink application. Of course, this will only work when there is sunlight and your application can work with extended downtime. The circuit box set has two outs so you can send power to another part of your application if needed. The panel is also available from Adafruit.
Editor’s Note:
If you’re coming to Maker Faire Bay Area, we’ll have these panels the Maker Shed, so be sure to come by and check them out!
