Educational Solar Products
&
Solar Toys

chargers+gadgets

Playing and learning should be the same thing. The kits chosen on this page do exactly that; introducing friendly clean modern (solar) technology, important principles of science in a fun and interactive way. Take your pick!

If you know of new and exciting educational solar products, please send us a link or at least a description, and we will include it in the solar shop & products review.
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Power House: Experiments in Future Technics

Price range (USD)*: $143
To buy from retailer EdmundScientifics, click on the image.
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Power House: Experiments in Future Technics provides an engaging introduction to regenerative energy sources while teaching basic concepts and principles in physical science. The kit focuses on the heat and light energy from the sun, the energy from the wind, as well as with electrochemical and plant energy. You will learn how to transform and use these forms of energy.

With this Power House kit you can build a model house complete with solar panels, windmill, greenhouse, and desalination system, build and operate an electric train, solar cooker, solar hot water tank, hygrometer, electric motor, power hoist, sail car, and more! Plant watercress, prepare sauerkraut, and make chewing gum.

The thoughtfully designed series of experiments were developed by physicist Uwe Wandrey. Professor Wandrey creatively integrates physical science and technology lessons with the adventure of building a home and living on a remote island. To survive, you must learn how to harness the power of the sun and the wind as well as tap the energy of other physical forces. The storyline follows the experiments in a stepwise fashion. Easy-to-follow activities make it fun to build models and use them for your experiments.

Many toys nowadays have all the bells and whistles already built in, overloading even the most curious young brains with visual and sound signals.

This well designed kit firmly stimulates your thinking creating those "whistles" inside your mind and that of your children.

Have fun learning!

Energy From The Sun Kit

Price range (USD)*: $60
To buy from retailer EdmundScientifics, click on the image.
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Using a blank silicon slab and the other materials provided in this kit, you will build a working solar cell.

The kit then shows you how to use the solar cell to drive a pendulum, a small motor and a radio. In addition, the kit gives marvelous insight into the usefulness of solar cells.

Includes: a comprehensive manual and introduction to solar energy written by one of the co-inventors of the solar battery, Dr. Darryl Chapin.

(Please note: all materials required except heat-insulated bricks and asbestos sheets are included.)

Solar cells convert light into electricity. Fine, but how can they do that?

Ever looked inside one?

With this unique kit you can find out all the details while building them yourself.

Solar Design Studio v5.0 - CD-ROM

Price range (USD)*: $170
To buy from retailer Gaiam, click on the image.
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This CD-ROM contains a suite of 11 solar energy programs for professionals, involved educators, and interested individuals. These detailed simulations are practical and easy enough to be used by non-technical individuals.

Programs will design stand alone, grid-tied, or water pumping PV systems, as well as solar hot water systems. Accessory programs deliver world climate info, sun path simulations, and output curves for all types of PV modules. Windows-based on CD-ROM. USA.

This software package gives you the chance to simulate photovoltaic (solar electriciy) and solar hot water systems on your PC.

Very entertaining, very educational.

Educational Solar Panel Kit

Price range (USD)*: $26
To buy from retailer EdmundScientifics, click on the image.
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The cheapest way to learn about solar panels.

Investigate the difference between series and parallel circuits and observe the difference between well and bad designed photovoltaic systems on a small scale!

Recommended to children from 10 years on or any newcomer to (solar) electronics.

Solar Heating Kit

Price range (USD)*: $20
To buy from retailer EdmundScientific, click on the image.
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This kit offers better learning experiences than units costing several times as much.

Includes: collector, student study sheets and a detailed teacher’s manual.

A great and very cost effective way to educate yourself or your children about the technology and science of solar heating.

Solar heating is probably the most effective way to harvest solar energy.

Solar Car Kit

Price range (USD)*: $40
To buy from retailer SmartHome, click on the image.
Also seen at retailers: EdmundScientific
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Sleek, powerful, unearthly, and very cool... this futuristic solar car that you build yourself is an exciting way to demonstrate the use of alternative energy!

It features an aerodynamic sports car shell design, a 4-wheel chassis, a powerful 1.4 volt, 350 milliampere solar cell (included) and transparent plastic body that can be painted or left clear to display the car's inner mechanical construction. The steerable front axle, rear wheel and adjustable (directional/angle) solar panel mount are all independent parts, allowing for separate solar projects.

The Solar Car Kit is also convertible. For example, the two-way battery source allows you to use solar power, or an alkaline AA battery (sold separately). Other features include a multi-speed transmission. This is a marvelous educational science project for ages 9 and up.

Dimensions: 5.7" x 8.8" x 1.75" (14.5 x 22.5 x 4.5cm). Arrives non-painted.

Electric cars may well be the standard of the not so far future. This cool looking electric car model can be powered by batteries or directly by sunlight.

Idea! You could also experiment with charging the battery (rechargable batteries not included) somehow with your panels. See and observe what happens!

Another Idea! Get a small solar panel kit and add more panels for more power. Alternatively use only the motor and electrics of this car to power you own car (made of wood, or lego...) or convert it into a boat...

Amphibious Solar Vehicle Kit

Price range (USD)*: $40
To buy from retailer SmartHome, click on the image.
Also seen at retailers: EdmundScientific
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The included solar cell can be powered by sunlight, or virtually any intense mobile light. A multiple function switch (solar [1.4 volt, 350mA] or battery) allows the amphibious vehicle to be energized day or night, indoors or outdoors.

The builder will learn what materials solar cells are made from and the characteristics of solar cells, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of solar power. Altogether this land and water vehicle is the perfect way for kids to explore different types of energy conversion.

Body Size: 6.5" x 3" x 9.5" (166 x 79 x 240 mm)

After building and playing with this amazing allterrain vehicle you may want to try tuning it up with more panels more batteries.

Later you could take it´s technical components to put togeter a completely new design (boat?), perhaps add a servo and receiver to control with a remote and add a little water canon (using a tiny electrical waterpump) to impress the ducks at a nearby lake...

This promises a lot of fun!

Klutz Solar Car Book

Price range (USD)*: $22
To buy from retailer Gaiam, click on the image.
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From the Klutz books editors. A complete build-it-yourself working solar car kit with parts, instructions, and a whole lot of pain-free, often highly amusing science.

Comes with wheels, axles, motors, wires and a genuine one-volt solar cell. No glue, no nails, no tape and no batteries required (unless you really want to cheat).

Build this car today, and it will run forever, thanks to that big solar battery in the sky. Great fun!

44 pages. For ages 8 and up. China.

A cool car with a book full of fun and interesting stuff. Again nobody says you have to stop thinking/playing after building it.

Attach bigger wheels, bigger panels, a large lense (?), mirrors.

Let it wind up a rubber band, then (automatically!?) cover & uncover the solar panel and see what happens.

Solar Boat Kit

Price range (USD)*: $25
To buy from retailer Gaiam, click on the image.
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Plans include a speed boat, an air boat, and a submarine. You supply empty soda or water bottles and scissors. Sunshine does the rest!

Note: kit will assemble one boat at a time. USA.

Great kit for the boat freak!

Explore at least 3 different ways of how to power a boat. You can certainly add a battery for extra power.

The challenge will be to charge an empty battery while you have enough sun.

Try to get it to run for at least 3 min without sun!

Why not try a helicopter or little plane (use Balsa wood)!

Solar Shuttle

Price range (USD)*: $9 (inc. 2 shuttles)
To buy from retailer EdmundScientific, click on the image.
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Just tie one end of the balloon with the attached wire, run with the mouth of the balloon open to inflate to 10' x 2', then tie the other end shut and affix the tow line. Weight: 2 oz.

A very impressive gadget to demonstrate the effect of solar heated hot air.

Can your Zeppelin carry a little solar cell with a little LED light or even a fan - what happens?

Cybug - Solar Fly

Price range (USD)*: $50
To buy from retailer EdmundScientifics, click on the image.
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This solar powered Cybug is easy to build and educational! Very active in direct sunlight, its sensitive infrared eyes continually cause this Cybug to move toward the brightest object it sees. Its feelers help it navigate its way around obstacles and even has short-term memory about objects it comes in contact with!

Its long vertical antennae can draw energy from other sources such as homemade "feeding stations" described in the kit. Requires basic hand tools, soldering iron, and approximately 2 hours to complete. Skill Level III

A solar energy powered vehicle that moves towards every light source.

Can it follow/find your flashlight? What happens if you cover the light source with coloured transparent foil - is it more sensitive to red or blue colour?

Use mirrors to show it the way! Can you design a track using lights and mirrors so that it can find its way around obstacles in a predictable way?

Solar & Battery Powered Puppy Robot Kit

Price range (USD)*: $22
To buy from retailer EdmundScientifics, click on the image.
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This motorized robot model puppy kit powered by solar energy offers a do-it-yourself project plus motorized robot in one! Construct a motorized do-it-yourself project using power from a solar cell or one "AAA" battery (not included).

As you build the SolaPuppy, you will not only have a ton of fun, but you will also learn how motors actually work. The SolaPuppy has a switch to select sun power or battery operation.

The kit is supplied with solar cell, plastic body, gears, shafts, motor, and all necessary parts to assemble a cool sun-powered SolaPuppy robot. Also included are easy to follow instructions and the best part is the kit is solder-free! Recommended for ages 10+.

A fun solar powered pet/puppy for scientists of age 10+.

Build it, play with it! No soldering.

Try to control it remotely with your flashlight/ torch.

Photon Solar Racer Kit

Price range (USD)*: $25
To buy from retailer EdmundScientifics, click on the image.
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A fast solar racing car for the youngest.

Try using its components for your other vehicles - also boats!

Never throw away a solar panel that works - you can always use it for something else if you get bored with your current toy!

Try collecting them and CONNECTING them to gain even more power and faster or stronger vehicles!

Add little LED lights and a rechargable battery for fun at night!

Solar Tracker Kit

Price range (USD)*: $30
To buy from retailer EdmundScientifics, click on the image.
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This brillant kit will give you a realistic taste of what is meant by "practical applications of solar power". Contains solar cell array, motor, gear train, case and instructional booklet with plans for many unusual solar projects.

Have you ever wondered how much more energy a solar panel converts when it follows the sun´s path in the sky rather than just sitting there?

You can study this on the small scale with this kit in much detail. Try to calculate the theoretical benefits and see if your result matches the experiment.

Do you gain more energy even though you need more to power the tracking mechanism? It´s easy to find out once you have it in front of you.

I would recommend a small multimeter to measure current for the very accurate researchers...

Solar-driven Wood Kits

Price range (USD)*: $25
To buy from retailer EdmundScientifics, click on the image.
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I must have made really big eyes when I finally got hold of a little piece of a solar cell at the age 12. It was a miracle how this shiny piece of something could make a lamp glow or motor turn without any noise.

See the eyes of your little scientists when they see the blades of the helicopter turn after shining light on the little solar panel.

Obviously you can use wood to build all sorts of things... think about it!

Solar Electricity Kit

Price range (USD)*: $10
To buy from retailer EdmundScientifics, click on the image.
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This kit consists of an encapsulated solar cell array, a miniature motor, a wind propeller, an optical illusion disc, and an instruction manual.

With these componenets and the included instructions, you can study the impact of artificial light versus sunlight and learn the basic principles of solar cell energy generation.

Observe how you can change the speed of the rotating disc.

Try different light sources, distances (double the distance from the light source and count rotations!), cover half the panel with paper...

Large Fresnel Lens For Solar or Optics Projects

Price range (USD)*: $30
To buy from retailer EdmundScientifics, click on the image.
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!!Caution!! A fresnel lens generates high temperatures when used under direct sunlight. Parent or teacher supervision required for educational demonstrations. Make learning safe!

Fresnel lenses are much thinner than normal lenses but do the same thing - they focus light at a certain distance to become one little spot.

Because they are thinner, they are also much lighter. You find them e.g. on car lights or even as magnifying foils to cover an entire newspaper.

Such a lens can be used to concentrate sunlight for heating or to focus it on small solar panel such that the panel supplies as much power as if it was the size of the lense!

Try it with a panel which you cover with paper except a little spot where you focus the light on.

Solar Energy Lab

Price range (USD)*: $11
To buy from retailer EdmundScientifics, click on the image.
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Comes complete with solar energy collector, solar heater, energy focusing lens and thermometer.

Easy to assemble. Includes instructions for more than 25 experiments. Ages 8 and up.

Invest very little money but some time to explore the many ways of harvesting solar energy.

Solar water heating is particularly interesting and effective.

It is used a lot for room heating (floor) but also for pools, showers etc.

There are tricks how to get higher temperatures - see if you find out!

Solar Oven

Price range (USD)*: $50
To buy from retailer EdmundScientifics, click on the image.
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· Use the sun to fry, bake or broil food.
· Experience and learn about solar radiation.
· Great for Hunters, Hikers or Campers.

Oven has reflective surfaces that concentrate heat radiation in the central chamber, resulting in temperatures up to 350 degrees or more.

Bake brownies, potatoes, hamburgers, etc. Caution: Recommend parent/teacher supervision as heat could reach 450 degrees. Ages 14 and up.

This is a real solar cooker.

Play games with your friends to see who can get higher temperatures or cook their sausages faster!

Once you see how it works - perhaps you can build a better one using e.g. aluminium foil?

Can you modify it to become a solar "baker" to bake break..?