On Sun, May 31, 2009 at 9:26 AM, Peter Harrison <cheetah...@gmail.com> wrote: > I thought I would provide some of my experience with using solar > power. My experience involves using a 12v panel. You can get 12v
Hi folks, Another source for our part of the world is jaycar.com.au you can select "batteries and chargers/chargers" and find a solar panel car charger. Also dc-dc converter many kinds, with prices. cheers, clare > panels from all kinds of places. In order to step down 12v to the > required 5v you will need an efficient dc converter: > http://us.100y.com.tw/PNoInfo/21207.htm > > Do NOT use a 5v regulator as you will dump half the power directly > into the regulator as heat. That is not only a waste of power but > potentially a fire risk. From there you can get a connector to the NEO > USB and simply wire in the power. I actually had a PhidgetServo board > and wired the power directly into it. To get my NEO to charge I had to > turn on the external charging and set to 500ma. > > The point here is that you will need 5v x 500ma = 2.5W in order to > supply that kind of juice. This power is only available in full > exposure. It also does not account for any conversion loss. I > recommend using a 5W panel. Obviously if you can get a 6v or 5v panel > you could use a basic regulator without much trouble. > > This is not a kind of panel you can carry around easily. Some > 'chargers' on the market have such low surface area they have no > realistic chance of supplying the kind of juice required for charging > in a realistic time frame. > > Here is panel I'm using: > http://www.dse.co.nz/dse.shop/4a21d7f801e681262741c0a87f3b06ee/Product/View/O3345 > > _______________________________________________ > Openmoko community mailing list > community@lists.openmoko.org > http://lists.openmoko.org/mailman/listinfo/community > _______________________________________________ Openmoko community mailing list community@lists.openmoko.org http://lists.openmoko.org/mailman/listinfo/community