PiJuice Solar Panel - 40 Watt

As South Africans, over the past couple of years, we’ve slowly adopted the idea that energy is something that needs to be saved, since the wasteful use of energy can actually lead to very frustrating dilemma such as loadshedding. Fortunately though, this idea is a good idea to have, no matter where you live or how much power your country or city produces, but for us it’s more of a personal issue, and with that in mind it totally makes sense that so many SA Makers are equipping themselves with reliable Solar Power alterative solutions, so as to not only alleviate some power waste that we cause, but also to ensure that our projects can keep no matter whether we have power from the grid or not.

These PiJuice 40 Watt Solar Panels from Pi Supply are impressively designed to provide a beefy level of power for portable projects, and are ideal for not only powering Electronics, but can actually be used for some serious power while camping or in other relatively remote locations. In addition to a rather rugged and functional design, these Solar Panels feature dual USB outputs that can supply up to 2.4A @ 5V DC simultaneously, as well as a handy 19V DC Jack output so you can really utilise the full power of these panels. Just bear in mind that you may also want to consider getting yourself one of the reliable Solar Power Managers that we stock for that 19V DC jack, just to ensure that all of the high power coming out there is safely regulated, and safe for your devices, batteries or anything else you want to plug in.

Of course, although these solar panels are supplied from Pi Supply, who are renowned for making some serious unique (and seriously cool) Raspberry Pi Accessories, they are quite diverse in their functionality since they are ready to deliver way more power than any single microcontroller could need. However, with that being said, if you love the idea of having portable power at your disposal, and you also love electronics and playing with Arduino and Raspberry Pi, then there are few solar panels that can offer this much goodness all in one single package. So, whether you’re an avid camper, enjoy setting up sensor networks in your garden, want to equip a remote location with some electronics on your farm, or simply love the idea of harnessing the power of the sun to make your projects work, this PiJuice 40W Solar Panel is an amazing tool that certainly won’t let you down.

Typical Applications for these PiJuice 40 Watt Solar Panels:

As with all of the other Solar Panels from Pi Supply, these panels are specifically designed to complement the awesome PiJuice HAT, as well the PiJuice Zero pHAT, although we must admit that the 19V DC jack means that this panel is far more powerful than necessary for just that application. As such, we often consider this to be the perfect solar panel for applications like camping or equipping a relatively remote electronics workshop with much needed power.

However, with that being said, you certainly won’t be disappointed if you get this panel specifically for Raspberry Pi applications, as it can easily be used with two PiJuice HATs simultaneously to keep two important projects powered throughout the night and day, while the extra power reserve in the top-end can accommodate for cloudy days, or when the sun is “weakest” in terms of solar power in some seasons. So as you can see, this awesome panel is more diverse than it may seem from the outset, and is a great investment if you love working with electronics, solar power, or simply if you want a backup supply for times of loadshedding or other unexpected power outages.

Pi Supply is a fantastic brand that truly personifies the open-source movement. Having been founded by a single individual with a passion for electronics and audio, and growing into a world-recognised brand that now supplies specialised expansion boards to a global community, the humble hobbyist beginnings of Pi Supply began with the simple need for a convenient power-switch for a Raspberry Pi board stored under a bed.

Since their humble beginnings, Pi Supply have grown to be a full team of passionate Makers who truly live up to the name of “The Maker Emporium”, with over 7 different product ranges launched over Kickstarter, and a growing catalogue of over 800 items now available – all with fantastic after-sales support, which is something that we consider to be extremely valuable.