Solar Boy Scouts Rod Wheeler WA6ITC c.1992 Rod Wheeler For the last three years I have been teaching Electricity & Electronics Merit Badges at summer camp. In previous years the facilities at Camp Emerald Bay on Catalina Island provided grid power to my teaching facility. This year I spent three weeks at Holcomb Valley Scout Ranch near Big Bear City, California. The teaching facilities there were basically the same except the closest grid power was 400 feet away. Much too far for an extension cord. The only answer was PV. Going Solar I had an old Hoxan 40 watt panel that could be used and I had just purchased a PowerStar 1300 watt inverter for a future project. All I needed was a battery and the problem would be solved. A quick trip to the local battery store netted a 105 a/hr deep cycle marine battery. An ASC- 8 regulator does its job too. Being Prepared So before heading to camp I assembled the cables - 25' of #8 from the panel to the ASC-8 charger and a foot of #14 to the battery. The PowerStar inverter used two 30" #2 battery cables. 12VDC distribution is via a DC power cord to my Kenwood T5-4405 High Frequency Amateur Radio. The AC is distributed through a 6 outlet power strip with circuit breaker. The panel elevation is adjusted with a 3' piece of Jeffrey pine I found laying on the ground. Likewise manual Azimuth adjusting is used. Using Solar Power The AC provides power for soldering irons, a model railroad demonstration, lights in the tent and a neon sign transformer for a Jacobs Ladder display. The HAM radio was powered by the battery. Although none of the Scouts were Hams I demonstrated the Radio set-up by making contacts from South America, New York and Midway Island. Solar Scouting Some 100 scouts received either the electricity or electronics merit badge during the three week stay. The solar power system provided a model for the electricity merit badge and power for the soldering irons for the electronic merit badge. The camp hosted some 750 scouts and scouters those three weeks. Most stopped by to see exactly what the panel was powering. It seemed that everyone knew what the solar panel was. When I explained how it was being used, most could not believe how simple it was. It was a great opportunity to expose something new to them. They never realized how clear and direct the technology is to make power from the sun. Next year I plan on being at the camp for five weeks with the same set up. I am still getting positive comments on the merit badge classes. The overall response from kids and adults was excellent. I will be checking on the possibility of a Renewable Energy merit badge in the future. Access Rod Wheeler, WA6ITC, 428 G. N. Golden Springs, Diamond Bar, CA 91765