found this short, basic howto for running computer via DC instead of AC. http://www.wikihow.com/Run-Your-Desktop-off-DC-Power On Mon, Jul 27, 2009 at 4:46 PM, Trent Shipley wrote: > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- > Hash: SHA1 > > Joshua Zeidner wrote: >> I wonder if its possible to bypass the PC power supply? By using an >> inverter you are essentially converting from DC to AC and back to DC >> again (bound to be inefficient). This hold true only if your system >> is specifically for the PC. >> >> -jmz >> >> On Mon, Jul 27, 2009 at 4:25 PM, James >> Finstrom wrote: >>> 3 Steps to this >>> >>> 1. Use the correct hardware, something atom based and low power. >>> >>> 2. Determine requirements for 12V at about 5A solar panel cells/regulator >>> >>> 3. Add a battery in to the mix matching the same above stats 12V 5A >>> >>> The hardware would run off the battery and the solar panels would charge the >>> batteries. This will help for low light ang in general power conditioning. >>> Straight solar would be too dirty and would cause hardware failure pretty >>> rapidly. >>> >>> Note this is just for the PC requirements for a monitor etc would increase >>> needs. >>> >>> With all of this in mind go wwith a netbook that has insane battery life >>> anyway and one of these: >>> >>> http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/10/7-portable-solar-laptop-chargers-worth-considering.php >>> >>> >>> On Mon, Jul 27, 2009 at 3:50 PM, Trent Shipley wrote: >> 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. > - --------------------------------------------------- > 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 >>> >> --------------------------------------------------- >> 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 > > Can we modify the computer to run on ONLY DC or does it have to run on > AC and wall power? Does it need to function internationally? > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- > Version: GnuPG v1.4.9 (GNU/Linux) > Comment: Using GnuPG with Mozilla - http://enigmail.mozdev.org > > iEYEARECAAYFAkpuPFgACgkQ61EDkX3myXpBNACfcp8riScSjefnRE3Zr9ov4nvy > Z3kAnj4NwdcIO/4C/6eFV8IEANZm+7RY > =uhOY > -----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 >