Yoshi and I have been talking about building a new oval track that can be taken anywhere and used regardless of an electrical connection. Now, with my 2007 Escape Hybrid I can run 120v electrical items, but we're talking about a totally green solution. Solar cells.

Sunlinq makes a 12v 25 watt solar charger for car batteries that we're thinking of somehow adapting to run the track. Essentially it will plug into an inverter and once laid out the track will run off the power on it. It will be regluated by Xantrex Xpower Powerpack 200, which a standard G-Jet power pack will run from.

The cells charge the inverter, we use that power to race with. If we're reading the info correctly and if the G-Jet power pack draws 25 watts or less we can run a short 2 hour program with an hour of practice. If we can charge with the solar cell at the same time we use the inverter we can go a bit longer since it fully charges with cells in 4-6 hours.

Now we're talking about running a $200 slot car track with about $500 worth of solar equipment, but this is equipment that can also be used elsewhere when the track isn't using it. The goal here was to be able to run the track anywhere the sun shines. And since I live in California, that means about anywhere. Imagine slot car racing at Pismo Beach....ON THE BEACH, without upsetting the neighbors with a running generator.

I wanted a direct solar source for the track, i.e. solar cells permanently mounted in the infield. Yoshi suggested this instead. Any thoughts or someone more technically minded who undertstands watts vs. amps could help with suggestions.

Yoshi and I have been talking about building a new oval track that can be taken anywhere and used regardless of an electrical connection. Now, with my 2007 Escape Hybrid I can run 120v electrical items, but we're talking about a totally green solution. Solar cells.

Sunlinq makes a 12v 25 watt solar charger for car batteries that we're thinking of somehow adapting to run the track. Essentially it will plug into an inverter and once laid out the track will run off the power on it. It will be regluated by Xantrex Xpower Powerpack 200, which a standard G-Jet power pack will run from.

The cells charge the inverter, we use that power to race with. If we're reading the info correctly and if the G-Jet power pack draws 25 watts or less we can run a short 2 hour program with an hour of practice. If we can charge with the solar cell at the same time we use the inverter we can go a bit longer since it fully charges with cells in 4-6 hours.

Now we're talking about running a $200 slot car track with about $500 worth of solar equipment, but this is equipment that can also be used elsewhere when the track isn't using it. The goal here was to be able to run the track anywhere the sun shines. And since I live in California, that means about anywhere. Imagine slot car racing at Pismo Beach....ON THE BEACH, without upsetting the neighbors with a running generator.

I wanted a direct solar source for the track, i.e. solar cells permanently mounted in the infield. Yoshi suggested this instead. Any thoughts or someone more technically minded who undertstands watts vs. amps could help with suggestions.

buy 2 optima gel car battery use the cell to charge it, then to add charge wile in use should work out well.

Hook a gen to a staitionary bike and start pedaling ya granolas!:p

Cool idea Pete, perhaps we can adapt the system to run on rainfall up here.

buy 2 optima gel car battery use the cell to charge it, then to add charge wile in use should work out well.

I was just about to say something similar. Determine how long you can run the track with one battery. Based on that and how long it takes, get the right number of batteries to cover the charging time (since I think this will be the longer of the two times). Starting using battery 1 to race with using the same inverter and setup. When that battery is depleted, switch to battery 2 and put battery 1 on the solar charger. Battery 1 will charge while you deplete battery 2 and if necessary battery 3 and/or 4, before you begin to reuse battery 1 again. If you time it right, it would be just like electric R/C racing - you have enough battery packs to qualify/race while the first pack is charging and getting ready for the final round.

I think this would give you what you need. Also, look at various solar chargers - some of them are just trickle chargers vs. full chargers, if I'm not mistaken. We use the solar panel systems to run wireless routers that have no access to AC power and these things are made to stay running 24x7 - I'm not sure who manufacturers them as we use them in China and get them from there, but they are running great in an oil field there.

Good luck with this project Pete! Sounds awesome!

Now you just need to figure out how to keep the track from warping.

PD2:thumbsup: