BrevardBioDiesel Blog

We'll be present at:

First Annual Solar Music Fair
Earth Day, Friday, April 22, 2005
Noon until 4 p.m.
Florida Institute of Technology
150 West University Blvd.
at/near the Panther Plaza

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Florida Tech's Green Campus Group will present their First Annual Solar Music Fair on Earth Day, Friday, April 22, 2005 from noon until 4 p.m. at the Panther Plaza on campus. This may be the first solar-powered
music fair in Florida, judging by the lack of Google responses.

The Solar Music Fair uses solar and wind energy to power the instruments
of various local musicians. Also visit environmental displays at the
Plaza to learn about local organizations (like Sierra Club) that work to
protect wildlife and increase public enjoyment of nature. See student
projects demonstrating solar distillation of water and solar cooking.
Learn about renewable energy and find out the answers to your questions."

Some technical details on the wind/solar equipment:
The Department of Marine and Environmental Systems uses its Wind/Solar
Instrumentation Field Station (on a trailer) that provides 120Vac from a
700-volt-amp invertor. The 400-watt-rated wind turbine extends upward on a 35-ft
tower, and is augmented by a 300-watt solar panel. Four large deep-cycle
batteries store available energy for use at other times (night, for example). A
special purpose, datalogging computer captures wind and solar data for later
processing and analysis. This Florida Tech system was also designed for public
events educational displays, thus it incorporates CD, DVD, and AM-FM radio, and
can play computer presentations on a TV screen. At night, a video projector
could show a large image.

For large-scale entertainment, a multiple input mixer blends signals from
various microphones and instruments. The combined signals then drive a 340-watt
peak amplifier that powers external speakers to entertain an extensive audience.
While capable of loud sound, we run it just loud enough to preserve the nature
of the outdoors setting. This event isn’t intended to be a loud concert reaching
adjacent homes!