General Information

Serial #

N/A

Part Number

1

Total Parts

3

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

ALUMINUM/ SILICON CELLS/ PLEXIGLASS

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

300.0 cm

Width

47.5 cm

Height

15.0 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Industrial Technology

Category

Power sources

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

PHILLIPS

Country

Canada

State/Province

Ontario

City

Toronto

Context

Country

Canada

State/Province

Ontario

Period

1978-1982

Canada

PART OF AN EXHIBIT LINKED TO THE 'RENEWABLE ENERGY DEMONSTRATION PROJECT' SEPT 1978 - NOV 1982 IN A BUILDING AT THE RIDEAU FALLS FUNDED BY NRC; DEPT. OF ENERGY, MINES & RESOURCES; & PUBLIC WORKS. REFLECTS CANADIAN CONCERNS ABOUT ENERGY CONSERVATION FOLLOWING ENERGY CRISIS OF 1973.

Function

TO CONVERT SOLAR ENERGY INTO DIRECT ELECTRICAL CURRENT. THESE PANELS WERE USED TO POWER A TV SET, A RADIO, AND A TAPE DECK IN THE NRC EXHIBIT (SEE SIGNIFICANCE TO CANADA FIELD)

Technical

IN 1839 IT WASDISCOVERED THAT SUNLIGHT COULD PRODUCE ELECTRICITY. THE FIRST SOLAR CELLS WERE MADE ABOUT 1890. HOWEVER, IT WASN'T UNTIL THE 1950'S THAT A MORE EFFICIENT CELL MADE OF SILICON WAS DEVELOPED. IT STILL COULDN'T COMPETE WITH CONVENTIONAL ELECTRICITY BUT HAD SOME USES IN REMOTE AREAS.

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

STICKER ON EACH UNIT READS: 'BPX 47A/ 84 [WITH TWO ADDITIONAL DIFFERENT DIGITS ON EACH ONE]'

Missing

ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS

Finish

METAL FRAME MATTE GREY PAINT/ BLUE VOLTAIC CELLS

Decoration

N/A