I'd love to have a solar powered table fan...

[Cassandra]

and can only find kits sold in the UK when googling. Anyone know if there exists such a thing here?

[Trillo]

1. If the fan is inside, then how can it possibly get enough

light to operate efficiently, presuming that the solar cells are built into the fan. Are you planning on operating the fan's solar cell from the light produced by indoor light bulbs?

I believe that all you really need is a solar panel, mounted outside somewhere in the the sun or natural light (even a cloud covered sky will work during daytime, but the output of the cell is less), and an inverter that converts the solarcells' DC power to alternating current, then any typical fan will work. There used to be a lot of this kind of electronic information available on the Internet, how to set up such solar-cell systems was not particularly concealed, at least that was true a few years ago.

[Cassandra]

2. I live in a rental apartment...

so I can't just stick a solar panel outside. I have a solar powered light from LL Bean, which powers up from sunlight and stores enough energy to run the light for hours. I was hoping that there might be a table fan that could do the same thing.

[ensho]

3. I remember reading about one so I think its out there somewhere

I'd like one too!

[Trillo]

7. It wouldn't surprise me, presuming that PVcells are less than 100% efficient,

(they are less than 100%), that plugging a regular fan into the wall outlet would use less electricity, than trying to convert indoor bulb-produced light to power a fan. If there's enough natural light inside, by increasing the area² of the solar cells (more cells), you may be able to generate small amounts of 12V DC.

If your apartment has a balcony, even if there's little direct light, you could try putting the solar cells out there, and running some wires inside. The last time I looked, a 12 volt photovoltaic panel that's approximately 2' x 4-5' (it's a standardized size), runs anywhere from $150-$500. There are smaller sizes available, but I believe that's the most area² for the buck.

Then, all you'd need is a 12 volt fan, or an inverter to convert the 12V DC to sine-wave 120V AC, and some wiring to power a regular table-top fan. (I think you may need a diode of some kind in the wire, but I'm not sure about this, it may not be needed if you don't have a battery storing the electricity) Some inverters are square-wave instead of sine, the more costly ones should provide sine instead of square. I've seen cheap inverters for little more than $30. The most costly sine-wave type tie into the dwelling's power at the circuit box and synchronize the sine wave produced to what is supplied by the power company, these are known as grid-tie inverters.

What I'm saying is that these PV systems are simpler in design than you may have been led to believe.

[Cassandra]

8. I emailed Sollight...

the company that made the light I bought from Bean, and made the suggestion. The responded that they would look into making one while they are expanding their product line but that it might be smaller than I'd want.
I appreciate all the detail in your response but, although I'm mechanically minded, I do better with new information when I can have someone show me rather than tell me, which was why I was hoping that someone had already created what I'm looking for.

[Ian David]

4. Go to a store that sells recreational vehicles, boats and accessories.

I'm pretty sure I saw one there a few times.

Also, you may be able to re-purpose a solar powered attic fan.

[ensho]

6. boats! that's where I read about it

nt

[Ian David]

5. Found one on Amazon.com, but it got very bad reviews

Works only in bright direct sunlight. You barely feel just a little air when it runs. Not worth the cost.

<snip>

The fan works under direct sunshine only. And it's so weak that you can't feel anything. I think the CFM is about only 1 or 2. You can't use it to draw hot air out of even just a 3 x 4 restroom.

http://www.amazon.com/Solar-Powered-Window-Ventilator-Adjustable/dp/B000SZV8I0