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<j...@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. > --------------------------------------------------- > 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
