*whispers* Jeanette, he's English,

british please

Seems easy enough to read, all resistors are marked with the values as is the pot.

It is easy to read, I did not understand why the American standard wasn't used. Iron Raven explained it to me.

Jeanette Isabelle

I found a floating pool light on discount that I snapped up for the quality panel that was in it, haven't built anything out of it because I already have the solar gadgets I need. The plan was to buy a second car charger for my cell phone and cut the tip off and wire it "directly" to the panel (adding any resistors and whatever) to make a pocket size phone charger.

Since I already have two solar panels and one or more dynamo gadgets able to charge the phone the frugal side of me won't spend the money, but good luck to you, and let us know what works out.

C'mon! Consider yourself drawing the American resistor sign in MS Word or Paintbrush with only your mouse... Note then, how much time it took (1-5 min) and divide that by how neat and professional your resistor looks on a diagram (1 to 5), that's the amount of frustration you get...

[rant on]
American standard... Its roots are in the Imperial standard, which purpose was to complicate things so much that they are less accessible for the poor people, I believe. I.o.w., who can't pay for higher education or/and for a pair of compasses.
[rant off]

Back on topic. I'd get some PowerFilm scraps instead (I did already actually). Much more powerful than what could be found on any garden lights. Much smaller, lighter, shatterproof, waterproof. The current required to light a diode is nothing compared to what a Li-Ion battery needs to replentish its juice.

Why would anyone draw a schematic using MS Word?

Jeanette Isabelle

Because usually people have at least MSOffice Basic available on their computers preinstalled. And that's usually the only vector graphics editor readily available for quick schematics drafting (suitable enough for sharing ideas on forums for example). OrCAD would be overkill for that.

For quick schematic sketches, I suggest the free ExpressSCH software. Its meant to be used with the free PCB layout software which is meant to be used to order quick turn PCBs.

The catch is that the format only works with their service, it is only really suited for the hobbyist. I use Eagle serious stuff but I still use ExpressSCH for quick sketches.

Back on topic, I suspect they use a CdS cell for the light sensor. The circuit shown by AFLM will work buy the LED will come on gradually as the ambient light dims. I would use a comparator with hysteresis so that it snaps on at some point. Actually, I'd use a little microcontroller that sleeps for most of the time and just wakes up to check the light level once in a while.

But that's just me.

Granted, not everyone has a CAD program installed on their computer. On the other hand, not everyone is able to read schematics, not to mention draw them.


A CAD program is the right tool for the job.

Jeanette Isabelle