Eye-Opening Solar Energy Experiments
The fall equinox last week signaled the official end of long, sunny days in the Valley. For some kids, especially those interested in science, less sun can mean more incentive to try to “capture” it, or at least its power. Kits to build high-tech solar collectors for school experiments or to fuel toy airplanes and water mills are now available at selected toy stores in the Valley.
One Canoga Park firm, Sun-Mate Corp., the largest U.S. company that specializes in making solar-powered toys and educational devices, has hooked up with the famous public-TV science teacher, Bill Nye, to market an array of gizmos and experiment kits that enable kids to grab and make clever use of even the dimmest ray of sunshine.
These kits contain photo-voltaic cells similar to those used in solar-powered calculators. By connecting them with the electric motors, thermometers, volt meters, stroboscopes and liquid crystal display panels included in a science kit, kids can do more things than basic arithmetic.
Rami Ben-Moshay, president of Sun-Mate, enjoys describing the reactions of kids who have assembled one of the company’s model-airplane or windmill kits. “When they get the whole thing together and it starts to work, they can see the relationship with the sun as an energy source,” he said. “It’s an eye-opener.”
Another eye-opener for these kids is Nye, who can be seen brandishing solar equipment daily on his after-school TV show. It’s distributed nationally from Burbank by the Disney Corp. and airs locally on KCET. According to TV Guide, “Nye’s natural nuttiness . . . fits right into the science craze among grade-school and junior-high viewers.”
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When unleashed on the topic of solar energy, Nye can really fuel this craze. He wants kids to know: “I’ve always thought solar power was cool. It uses the sun to make things happen . . . no gasoline, no nuclear power plants, just pure, clean sunshine.”
The Sun-Mate solar-powered windmill, for instance, doesn’t use wind to produce electricity, but sunlight to power an electric motor to make wind.
One real-world application of this technology, in some cities, is the production of power to run air conditioners. This utility service is now being offered to homeowners by several big California utility companies on an experimental basis.
In these cases, the power company installs on the roof a large version of the thing kids are getting in their science kits. It can also be linked with a battery rig to run your lights, TV, refrigerator, etc. The home application is experimental because, though nonpolluting, using solar energy is a more expensive way of generating electricity than is the burning of coal or oil.
Another real-world application of solar energy--and one in which Ben-Moshay’s company is directly involved--is the linking of photo-voltaic cells to run radios. The line of sun-powered portable radios that he regularly sells to various California municipal airport authorities--for emergency use--can be purchased by any kid who wants to use one to listen to rock stations. The sun is used to keep the radio’s rechargeable batteries going. There is even a neat little built-in crank to generate power in case the user is stuck in a sunless bunker, or whatever.
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Parents note: These paperback-sized solar-powered radios, about $30, don’t subsequently require an unending supply of batteries.
And “no batteries required” is good for the environment, as any science-crazed 7-year-old will tell you, because you’re avoiding putting used batteries in the landfill.
And photo-voltaic cells should eventually catch up price-wise with conventional means of generating power for homes.
When that day comes, you can bet Bill Nye will announce it on his show. You’ll know the day. Because your kids will then pester you for the money to buy a monster-sized Sun-Mate kit, or something like it, to put on your roof--and some rechargeable batteries to store juice for nighttime. But that will be OK, because after the initial bite out of your wallet, you’ll never get an electric bill again.
DETAILS
* FYI: Solar-powered toys and science kits from Sun-Mate Corp., bearing the endorsement of PBS’ “Bill Nye the Science Guy,” are available at Valley locations of Fry’s, Intelliplay and other stores that feature education-oriented products for kids. Or call Sun-Mate at (818) 883-7766.
* HOT STUFF: For information about utility companies that offer solar equipment on an experimental basis to generate electricity for the home, call the Solar Energy Industries Assn. (800) 225-7799.
