Having to rely on mains power can frequently limit the usefulness of the devices we make. Being able to power them continuously from the sun using a solar panel in combination with a rechargeable battery is an cheap and easy solution.
In this tutorial, I give a basic explanation of the process of harnessing energy from the sun using solar and an example circuit which you could use for your own small scale projects.
The parts used for this project can be found here:
TP4056 Li-Ion Battery Charge Controller:
https://www.banggood.com/custlink/KGmmYIsB5L
TP18650 3.7V Li-Ion Battery (2600mAh):
https://www.banggood.com/custlink/KKDmESs4HB
6V 4.5W Mono crystalline Solar Panel:
https://www.banggood.com/custlink/GvD3YIs0PU
5V 1A USB Step Up Converter:
https://www.banggood.com/custlink/mvK3ESN6SK
Coming Up I will be using the theory presented here to create a Solar Module for my wireless moisture sensor to provide a hopefully near continuous supply of power so I can monitor my plants all through the summer season.
