Re: Has anyone made a solar power setup for a computer?

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<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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Will the power be clean enough? I'd expect a typical inverter to be noisy.
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