Demonstrate how electricity can be generated from the sun and the wind, measure electricity use by appliances, make hydrogen and use it in a fuel cell to drive a model car, and use the sun to heat water with I-Renew’s energy education tools! 

Iowa Renewable Energy Association (I-Renew) has the following educational tools available to teachers and schools for check-out:

 

Mini Solar Panels (0.5v, 500mA)                                                        Quantity: 50

Solar photovoltaic cells are a primary renewable energy source.  There are enough solar panels in this kit for each of your students to experience how PV cells respond to sunlight (or other bright lights).  Mini solar panels encased in plastic and are complete with connection wires ready to clip to any electrical device. The panels can be connected in series and parallel to create larger voltages or currents.

 

Hand Operated Generator                                                        Quantity: 11

This generator is a low voltage power source that lets you create electrical current by simply turning a crank, simulating electricity production by a wind turbine.  (Similar generators also produce the electricity in hydropower, coal fired power plants, and nuclear power plants.)  The generator will produce 5 volts and approximately 200 mA of direct current. You can reverse polarity by simply cranking the handle in the opposite direction. And, when powered by another generator or low voltage power source, it acts as a motor.

 

Voltaic Cells with Electrodes                                                        Quantity: 14

Batteries are another source of electricity.  The voltaic cell is ideal for demonstrating how batteries work. The kit includes a plastic cup, porous cup, and 8 electrodes: one each flat aluminum, copper, brass, iron, zinc, nickel, and tin, and round carbon.  Experiment with different electrodes and investigate the electricity produced.  Instructions provided.

 

Digital Multimeter                                                        Quantity: 17

Compact, rugged, multimeter designed especially for students.  The digital multimeter features a large, easy-to read LCD screen and a single rotary dial for easily switching between testing modes. It comes complete with all necessary test leads and probes and one 9 volt battery.  Use these to measure voltage and current produced by PV panels, hand cranked generator, and voltaic cell.

 

 

Series/Parallel Bulb Board                                                        Quantity: 9

The solar panels and hand crank generator can be used to power these light bulbs, which can be quickly arranged in series, parallel, or complex circuits, simply by adjusting the Buss bars. 5 mini bulbs included.

                                                                                   

Intelligent Fuel Cell Car                                                        Quantity: 8

By using a reversible PEM fuel cell, which can work as both an electrolyzer and a fuel cell, the car is able to produce its own fuel (hydrogen and oxygen from distilled water) when plugged into a voltage source, such as the PV panels or hand cranked generator. When the fuel storage tank is full, flick the switch and the fuel cell is reversed to utilize the stored hydrogen and oxygen to power the vehicle. The components of the car are constructed so that in addition to being a working model car, many experiments can be performed. Contents include the Model car and a compatible solar, plus load measurement box (7 position resistance decade, lamp, motor, voltmeter, ammeter), a stopwatch, and longer cables to do all of the experiments.

 

Kill-A-Watt                                                        Quantity: 8

Plug any electrical device in the Kill-A-Watt – a computer, a refrigerator, or a lamp – and measure the amount of electricity the device uses.  Compare the energy a compact fluorescent light bulb uses to an incandescent bulb! Easy to use and portable.  Allows you to figure hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, yearly costs for running an electronic device.

 

 

Infrared Thermometer (Temperature Gun)                                       Quantity: 8

Measure the temperature of any surface from a distance.  This unit has a red laser sighting and a temperature range to 482°F (easily switchable to 250°C). Adjustable emissivity setting for precise calibration and a tight infrared cone distance to spot ratio (D:S) of 8:1.That means at a distance of 8 inches, you are reading an area just 1 inch in diameter. At a distance of 2 feet, the area is just 3 inches in diameter.

 

Global Sun Oven                                                                      Quantity: 1

The Global Sun Oven bakes, boils or steams any kind of food with the power of the sun.  No fuel needed!  The oven reaches temperatures of 360 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.  Safety is key, and the Global Sun Oven has no danger of fire.  The oven is extremely mobile, easy-to-use, and packs as a small suitcase.