Building the Sun Mirror Device

Overview

A popular circuit known as Solar Engine is used by this solar powered artbot Sun Mirror which consists only of two transistors, one capacitor, and one flashing LED.

Details

The assembly of the project commences as the parts gets connected on a protoboard so that the parts are ensured to be working together. The circuit can allow some changes in component values where different values of capacitors and resistors can be tried. The completed artbot was placed in a glass canning jar as the 2N4401 and 2B4403 transistors were used. Instead of using the metal canning jar lid, a clear view top for the solar cell was made. To prevent any kickback voltages that can damage transistors, a diode was added across the motor.

The base was constructed out of a PCB business card. The circuit above the blue capacitor is the tiny piece of perfboard which is held by wires to the capacitor. A plastic cap plug on a placer holds the motor as the thin aluminized mylar mirrors are super glued to the motor end. The solar cell has a holder made out of a clear packaging plastic with second circle sandwiched.