running equipment using a small solar panel

[jazzactivist]

Hi there. I bought a small ultrasonic cleaner (40W) for my jewellery stall, but there won' be any electricity there. I am interested in seeing if I can operate it using a car battery and a small solar panel, as I think that it would be a useful and interesting thing to have on display. I have seen some small solar panels for sale quite cheaply at about £30, and assume that they need an inverter and car battery, but don't know how to connect it all up, or whether it's even possible. The ultrasonic cleaner has an ordinary mains lead and no batteries. Anyone have any ideas as to how I could do it?

[Crocus]

Hi jazz, OH says that the car battery and the solar panel get connected to the inverter which in turn connects to the ultrasonic cleaner. However, additional devices are required to control the solar panel and charge the battery. You will need a voltage regulator between the panel and the inverter. The voltage regulater will ensure that the battery is charged correctly. These diveces can be found on the internet and some from caravan shops. x

[souter girl]

It's funny how you can mis-read a title - I thought "running equipment" like a running machine, then "solar panel" made me think of energy and until I opened the thread I was thinking of some giant hamster wheel to generate electricity...........! Must have late onset dyslexia (or need to cut back on the red wine)

[dragonfly]

Me too SG. I thought it was a running machine, for exercise, and Jazz wanted to be economical and run it on solar power.

[Pippa]

I had visions of Jazz on a large hamster type wheel running to light up a bulb!

[souter girl]

Come on Jazz - run faster the lights are dimming!!!

[Crocus]

Oh dear, seems she fell off the running machine.:eek: Where are you ...........Jazz.......?

[jazzactivist]

Actually you know that isn't a bad idea... I have been at environmental events where people have to take turns on bicycles to juice up the generator to keep the lights going! Can you picture someone asking me to clean their jewellery and me paling at the sight of a big, old antique necklace, and then swinging my leg over my bike with a sigh and getting going... At least the stall is by the breezy seaside, and I'll have the slimmest legs in Cumbria...

Thanks for the info from Mr C crocus, it sounds like this will be more complicated than I thought, all for a piece of equipment half the size of a show box! Do-able though.

[Crocus]

Perhaps I could come help with the running, I would like to have thinner legs .......