-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 Joshua Zeidner wrote: > 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 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. >> --------------------------------------------------- >> PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us >> To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: >> http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss >> > --------------------------------------------------- > PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us > To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: > http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss > > > Will the power be clean enough? I'd expect a typical inverter to be noisy. -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.9 (GNU/Linux) Comment: Using GnuPG with Mozilla - http://enigmail.mozdev.org iEYEARECAAYFAkpuLukACgkQ61EDkX3myXoN0ACgwiR9Ht91UwkJtA9ahtU871CO sYQAoKOG8tHQWu1M7FsyscRy3mwcUL0w =BBoh -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- --------------------------------------------------- PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss