Sharp EL-826
Distinctive features: An early solar cell powered calculator, with a more efficient solar cell.
It has a footprint fractionally bigger than a credit card.
Technical details:
Display is 8 digits, LCD.
4-function, %, memory, square root.
Size: (slightly bigger than a credit card) 54 x 96 x 5 mm (2.1" x 3.8" x 0.2").
Made in Japan.
Introduced: 1980.
The IEEE citation "Milestones:Commercialization and Industrialization of Photovoltaic Cells, 1959-1983"[1] says "Sharp released the world's first PV-installed [PV = Photovoltaic = solar cell] calculator EL-8026 in 1976 using PV-cell S-225. Following this calculator, Sharp developed "ultra violet" PV-cell acting on fluorescent light with much reduced surface area, which yielded a series of wallet type PV-installed calculators EL-826, EL-835, EL-838SE, and so forth, in the early 1980s".
In 1976 Sharp had introduced the first calculator with solar cells, the EL-8026 "Sun Man". However, this was not purely solar powered because the calculator used rechargeable batteries and the solar cells were on the back of the calculator and were used just to recharge the batteries.
The early solar cells were inefficient and so large. By increasing the efficiency of the solar cell the size of the calculator could be reduced.
Also see the Teal Photon, one of the first solar powered calculators, and the Sharp EL-825 with its very large solar cell.
Reference
Text & photographs copyright, except where stated otherwise, © Nigel Tout 2000-2025.
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