Conrad Course material 10025 14 years and over 10025 Benutzerhandbuch

13.  Step: Influence of the temperature on the solar module 

Experimental set-up: solar module, patch panel, motor or LEDs, 100 Ω resistor, black film or 
cardboard, thermometer 
 

For the following experiments, you need a bright light source (or full, direct sunlight) for the solar 
module. 

 
In this experiment you can deal with the influence of the ambient temperature on the output of the 
solar module. 
 
The solar module should be oriented directly toward the sun; the motor or an LED can be used as 
output indicator. Black paper or cardboard temporarily placed on the solar module will heat it more 
intensely. If no thermometer is available, you can also feel the temperature with your finger. 
 
Fig. 44: Experimental set-up – what influence does the temperature have on the solar module? The 
temperature sensor of a surface thermometer was attached to the back of the module with an 
adhesive strip.  
 
If you do this experiment on a warm, sunny summer day (favourably), of course you don’t need any 
black cardboard. It would intensify the warming effect. A black surface absorbs the heat more quickly. 
Construct this experimental set-up in direct sunlight and pay attention to the output of the motor or the 
plugged-in LED. Feel the surface temperature of the solar module with your hand. 
 
The reason for the blue surface coating of the solar module is that as much light as possible is 
absorbed and as little as possible is reflected. The disadvantage: the surface accordingly heats up 
intensely. With direct sunlight, heating on the top of the module to over 60 °C is no rarity. 
 
By means of the experiment you can learn the following: the consumer connected to the solar module 
runs somewhat slower with increasing heating of the solar module. Put the module in the refrigerator 
for half an hour and repeat the experiment with the solar module at the same solar intensity and with 
the same connected motor. 
 

14.  Step: More solar energy through mirror technology 

Experimental set-up: solar module, patch panel, mirrors (e.g., reflective metal, reflective tiles, cosmetic 
mirrors, reflective foil, etc. – the mirror should be at least as large as the solar module). 
 

For the following experiments, you need a bright light source (or full, direct sunlight) for the solar 
module. 

 
The experimental set-up with the solar module and the motor is identical to those in the previous 
experiments. When positioning the mirrors, you can see the reflected light on the table, on the wall or 
on the solar module, depending on the orientation of the mirror. The solar module should not be 
shaded by the mirror. If the reflected light also directly strikes the solar module, observe what the 
motor does. 
a) 

Mirror position in front, below the solar module. By changing the inclination angle of the mirror 

to the module, twice the amount of light can be directed onto the module. 
 
Fig. 45: A reflective tile was placed below the solar module in the experiment. 
 
b) 

With two mirrors on the right and left sides and with good orientation of the mirror to the 

module, up to three times the amount of light can be directed onto the module. 
 
Fig. 46: The mirror principle: The light beams reflected by the mirror onto the solar module bring 
additional energy. Note that the angle of incidence onto the mirror is the same as the angle of 
emergence to the solar module. 
 
If the mirror is oriented to the solar module at the correct angle, the light output to the solar module is 
increased by the reflected portion. The electric output of the solar module can thus be increased in a 
simple manner.