Im interested in this topic as well.  If you manage to build this,
please let us know how it goes.

  -jmz

On Mon, Jul 27, 2009 at 3:35 PM, Josef Lowder<joe@actionline.com> wrote:
> Have any of you made a solar power setup for your computer system?
>
> I've recently begun researching this and it seems very feasible.
>
> At one website, a writer claims one can make a solar power generator for less
> than $300 -- www.rain.org/~philfear/how2solar.html -- in summary he says:
>
> 1. Run a line out the window to an 8" x 24" panel on the roof.
> Solar panels cost about $100 rated 12 volts or better at RV store or
> at Greenbatteries.com. Powerfilm R15-300 Rollable Solar Panel is $98.47.
> A 300 mah (approx 5 watt) solar panel comes with cable to connect to a
> battery. Internal batteries of wireless electronics can be charged by
> connecting a PowerFilm Rollable Solar Panel to a device's 12V adapter.
>
> 2. Get a deep cycle battery from Greenbatteries or Batteries.com for about $50.
>   Or a Xantrex XPower 1500 W/60 AH battery from GoGreenSolar.com
>
> 3. Buy a 12 volt DC meter. Radio Shack has them for about $25.
>
> 4. Buy a DC input - a triple inlet model, enough to power many DC appliances
> like fans, lights, laptops, etc. costs about $10. With the right cable will
> run straight off the box.
>
> 5. To run AC appliances, get an inverter to convert stored DC power in the
> battery to AC power for most household appliances. A 115 volt 140 watt
> inverter by Power-to-Go at Pep Boys is $50.
>
> 6. Attach the meter and DC input to the top of the box.
>
> 7. Attach the meter to terminals on the battery.
> Connect the solar panel to the battery.
>
> 8. Put solar panel in the sun. It takes 5-8 hours to charge a dead battery,
> 1-3 hours to top off a weak one. This will run many appliances for 5 hours
> continuous use at 115 volt AC. Add larger panels, inverters, batteries for more.
>
> Options: A pop-up circuit breaker between the positive terminal and volt meter.
> May add an ampmeter also. Some panels have built-in bypass diodes, or use a
> charge controller for panels without diodes. Another option is a
> voltage regulator.
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