GB2381964A

GB2381964A - Weatherproof portable solar power supply

Info

Publication number: GB2381964A
Application number: GB0126892A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jason David Brown
Original assignee: Nighthawk Electronics Ltd
Current assignee: Nighthawk Electronics Ltd
Priority date: 2001-11-08
Filing date: 2001-11-08
Publication date: 2003-05-14
Also published as: GB0126892D0

Abstract

A portable power supply device 10 comprising a solar panel 11 for converting solar energy into electrical charge and a casing 30 having a compartment which is sealable to prevent meteorological conditions affecting the integrity of a device. The compartment is provided with a charge storing device 31 mounted therein in electrical connection with the solar panel for storing the charge generated by the solar panel, a pressure regulating means 34 for regulating the pressure within the casing and a connector, electrically connected to the charge storing device and/or to the solar panel for electrical coupling, in use, to a device to be powered.

Description

PORTABLE POWER SUPPLY This invention relates to a portable power supply device and, in particular, to such a device which is solar powered.

An increasing number of tools, outdoor devices, communication devices, entertainment systems and the like require some form of electrical power which cannot always be provided in remote locations from a mains power source. Whilst, for the most part, the requisite power can be provided by some form of portable battery or else a petrol generator, such a power source only has a finite amount of usable power and, even when not in use, that power can decay over a lengthy period of inoperation.

For example, In the case of mobile phones, it is known to provide a portable recharging means which, in an emergency, can supply a short charge to the phone to enable a short telephone call to be made. However, such a device does not provide sufficient power to enable prolonged charging which could replenish a mobile phones battery so that it can be utilised for any lengthy period of time. Furthermore, such a device also only has a finite amount of power and itself would need replacing at some undefined future time. This type of device and regular use thereof is accordingly expensive and inconvenient as the device may not provide adequate power when needed.

Accordingly, it is necessary to provide some form of portable power supply which can be utilised to enhance, or take the place of, the power supply provided to a particular device.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a portable power supply which overcomes the above problems.

According to the present invention, there is provided a portable power supply device comprising: a solar panel for converting solar energy into electrical charge; and a casing having a compartment which IS salable to prevent meteorological conditions affecting the integrity of a device, the compartment having; a charge storing device mounted therein in electrical connection with the solar panel for storing the charge generated by the solar panel ; a pressure regulating means for regulating the pressure within the casing ; and a connector, electrically connected to the charge storing device and/or to the solar panel for electrical coupling, in use, to a device to be powered.

Thus, the present invention provides a power supply device which utilises a power source which is free, does not require replenishment, and which is readily available in most locations. Furthermore, the provision of a battery or other charge stonng device ensures, once charged, power can be supplied even when it is dark.

Additionally, the pressure regulating means ensures that normal pressure is maintained within the casing during use so that the operation of the device is not disrupted.

Preferably the pressure regulating means is immersion proof, i. e. its operation is not affected by being placed in a liquid.

The solar panel may be mounted on a surface distant from the casing or alternatively on a stand separate from the casing so that it can be advantageously positioned depending upon the location of the sun. Alternatively, the solar panel may be mounted on a top cover of the casing or on a hinged lid or flap fixed to the casing such that the cover can be angled towards the sun to improve the performance of the solar panel. In this arrangement, the battery and any other electrical devices may be provided in an independently sealed compartment within the casing to ensure that they are not affected by meteorological conditions.

The solar panel may be larger than the casing and may therefore be foldable and detachable from the casing to facilitate easy storage, when not in use, and may be stored inside the casing itself. Alternatively the solar panel may be comprised of a number of sections which can be assembled side by side in use and then separated and stacked for storage.

The casing may be provided with an additional compartment in which the device to be powered, such as a laptop, may be stored for example during transportation.

The casing may also be provided with a charge regulator, in electrical communication between the solar panel and the battery. Alternatively or additionally, the casing may be provided with a voltage regutator, e. g. of the zener diode type, to prevent the charge storage device discharging through the solar panel when in the dark.

The casing may be provided with one or more cable glands through which electrical cabling can be passed for connecting the power supply device to other electrical items while maintaining the integrity of the casing. The casing may also be provided with a fuse holder which can be accessed from the outside of the casing when the casing is sealed.

The portable power supply device of the present invention can be utilised to supply power for a number of different applications such as powering or charging a mobile phone or powering a laptop computer. Alternatively, the device may power low

power loads for extended periods of time such that the solar panel powers the load and charges a battery during the hours of daylight and the battery powers the load the remaining time.

Medium to high power loads may be powered on an intermittent basis, for example, if illumination is required periodically such as when a remote site is monitored on a infrequent basis. In this example, the load can be higher than the solar power alone can supply as the power stored in the battery over several hours can then be utilised for a short period of time.

The device could be used as an emergency power source for example, in the case of mains power failure. The device could be used to power a"night tight"such that the charge storage device is charged during the day and used to power the illumination at night. The solar panel may act as a light sensor such that it controls when the lights are turned on and off.

Infrequent power requirements can be catered for by the selection of suitably sized batteries and panels and could be utilised in an outdoor work building such as a garden shed.

The device could be used as a source of mains power in a caravan, a boat, a car or when camping.

Examples of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic representation of one example of the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a second example of the present invention; and Figure 3 is a schematic representation of the layout of a casing for use in the present invention.

Figure 1 shows a schematic arrangement of a first example which is a 240V power supply. The portable power supply device 10 is provided with a solar panel 11 electrically connected through a charge regulator 12 to a conventional rechargeable battery 13. Although not shown in these figures, the charge regulator 12 may have some means, such as one or more LEDs, located in a wall of the casing for indicating the charging conditions and battery conditions to a user of the device 10. Independently of these connections, a mains inverter 14 is connected to the battery 13 to generate the 230V/240V AC output which is supplied through a standard mains-style socket 15. A fuse 16 is connected between the charge regulator 12 and the battery 13 and can be accessed from the outside of the casing when it is sealed. An on/off switch (not shown) could also be provided.

A second example of a portable power supply device IS shown in Figure 2. The portable power supply device 20 could typically be used a mobile phone charger and, due to the low power output of the solar panel and the typically stand-by usage of the battery, a simpler charge circuit is required. In this example, a solar panel 21 is connected through a simple charge circuit 22 to a battery 23. The charge circuit 22 typically is a simple voltage regulator, such as a zener diode type, with a diode to prevent the battery 23 from discharging through the solar panel 21 in the hours of darkness. In this example, no switch is required on the output side of the battery as the unit will either charge a phone when one is connected or charge the battery when there is no phone connected. The phone can be charged via charger leads 24 connected to the battery 23.

Figure 3 shows a typical arrangement of components within a casing used in the present invention. A casing 30 includes a battery 31, a charge regulator 32 and an inverter 33. The casing 30 is a polycarbonate IP6 ? sealed enclosure with an IP67 fuse holder 35 and cable glands 36 used to maintain the weather proofing of the casing. A pressure valve 34 is incorporated to prevent pressure build-up within the casing 30 due to heating or gasing of the sealed battery 31 which could be of the lead/acid type.

In this example, space 35 is provided inside the casing for additional components. The number of cable glands 36 required would vary according to the requirements of a particular application but could include, for example, a gland for a network cable, connections to a solar panel (not shown) and a connection from the equipment to an antenna when used to power a wireless repeater unit. The connections to a solar panel may be made via a short length of cable leaving the box, at the end of which an IP67 rated inline connector is provided so that the panel can be disconnected from the casing 30 when required, e. g., for transportation.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A portable power supply device comprising: a solar panel for converting solar energy into electrical charge; and a casing having a compartment which is salable to prevent meteorological conditions affecting the integrity of a device, the compartment having; a charge storing device mounted therein in electrical connection with the solar panel for storing the charge generated by the solar panel ; a pressure regulating means for regulating the pressure within the casing; and a connector, electrically connected to the charge storing device and/or to the solar panel for electrical coupling, in use, to a device to be powered.
2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the solar panel can be folded and/or detached from the casing to enable easy storage.
3. A device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the solar panel is mounted, in use, on an upper surface of the casing.
4. A device according to either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the solar panel is mounted distant from the casing.
5. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a mains inverter to generate a 230/240V AC output.
6. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising indicating means in a wall of the casing for showing the charging conditions and/or battery condition.
7. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the casing includes a further compartment for additional storage.