Solarpowering computers

[caro]

Can anyone advise how one changes computer to be solarpowered? And if so is it the same process for a mac?

Thanks, would appreciate any info

[hairyape1]

Converting the computer or laptop would complicate things somewhat...
So normally the computer is powered from the mains (230V ac) which is then transformed to 12v dc inside the computer....
So two main options really.....

1) Use panels to charge 12v batteries, then use these with an inverter to invert up to mimic mains supply (230v ac) then run the computer as normal... which would probably be the easier, but then less efficient with the solar power as the inverter may only be about 50% efficient...

2) Use the solar power to charge batteries, and then connect the batteries to the 12v side of the computer (inside the computer there is a box that the mains cable connects to, the other side of this should be 12v) this method would be more efficient with your solar energy, however more risky to the computer as I’m not sure about what you would have to do to regulate the power.... as you have the potential of high amps that would destroy the comp.... and also you need to be sure that the comps runs on 12v....

If it was me, I would opt to set up the first system...using the inverter... as this will basically be like any socket in a house, which gives you the opportunity to use the plug any normal device.
It will be less efficient.... but gives much more flexibility and also much lower risk of going wrong and damaging the computer.

Just to clarify.. an inverter is a devise that connects to a dc supply (any voltage but usually 12 or 24) and then converts this into 240v ac and normally has a normal plug socket to connect to.

Sorry if this is unclear...
Good luck!

Benji

[Matt-M]

Static equipment, such as a desktop (or any other direct mains appliance) would be best powered by solar using a solar panel, regulator, leisure battery and invertor.
When using this method, it is important to check all of your values to ensure you match up the wattage etc. Many people underestimate the consumption of devices. It is also suggested to read up on the equipment itself. When buying the parts make sure you ask any questions you need to.

To highlight, i've seen the aftermath of a youngster trying to power a 300w heater from his car on a 45w invertor. On the other side there's a gent of 72yrs, who runs all of his electrics from solar panels affixed to his garage and shed.

To power a portable device such as a laptop (mobile, handheld, gps etc) there are masses of portable solar chargers on the market. Some are quite universal for the smaller units, others are quite specific based on either size, consumption and output.

[MicMcMitsi]

Good advice.

I would say, reduce the overall need for wattage and voltage use. IE getting a small netbook that uses < 11 watt is easier to supply battery energy from solar charge to.

peace

[caretaker]

We are on Solar Power only and runing 3 computers and 2 laptops. ON all 3 computers I build my own PSU's to convert them to 12 volt, since 12 volt is the highest volage used it's easy, and the Lapys I just use Car converters also easy to get a hold of and cheap.

[donski]

Hi there, I just saw this post, Wicked Can any one tell me where i can find/trade, or buy any old solar pannels please? any info would be great, Thanks, Don.

[donski]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1212005/Teenager-invents-23-solar-panel-solution-developing-worlds-energy-needs-human-hair.html


just thought i'd post this up! some dude using human hair to make solar pannels


Need some more info, some sort of wiring diagram! so i can try to build one

[Eco_AL]

Firstly people need to understand the problems involved with converting electricity from one voltage to another.

When you use a transformer (A wall block) or an inverter, a large percentage of the electricity is lost in the form of heat. This can be as high as 30% loss. This happens EVERYTIME you convert the voltage. So if you are converting 240v AC mains to 12V DC to run a small electrical item. 30% of the power is lost. This doesn't mean that there is 30% less power available to run the item. It just means that it will draw 30% more power.
(This is also true of charging batteries. A percentage of the power from a solar panel, wind turbine or any other generating source will be lost when charging the battery.)

So in the above methods of running a PC (or any other electrical appliance) you must think about losses through conversion. It is much more efficient to run electrical items directly from the PV panels while they are generating rather than draw it from the batteries later. So do as much as you can during the daylight and only runs lights and essentials at night. This iwll also help your batteries last longer.

Back to the original problem: powering a pc via solar. If you are using a desktop PC this is actually very cheap and easy to do and doesn't need an inverter. Pc's run on DC voltage and their power supply typically takes 240v AC and converts it to various DC voltages to supply the parts of the computer.
As a solar PV system is already DC voltage when you use an inverter you are wasting power in several different ways:
1)charging the batteries
2)In the inverter to convert from DC to AC
3)Then you are loosing again in the computer power supply converting back from AC to DC.

In a very inefficient system like this you could be wasting 90% of the PV power collected through conversion and charging! That isn't very clever to say the least. In reality it shouldn't be that bad, but it could be.

The solution is to convert the 12V dc directly to the DC voltages used by the computer. This is done with a DC to DC converter. You can find one by doing a quick search on that well known Auction site They cost around £25. These replace the Power supply in the computer (desktops, not for laptops) and plug directly into the motherboard where the psu connector usually goes.

As far as the monitor goes. There is many models available that run directly from 12v DC. Alternativley, you can get 12v flat screen TV's that will either directly take a computer cable input or can be used with an adaptor.

Additionally you can save power by using a solid state hard drive instead of a motor driven drive. These are actually much quicker than standard drives (but more expensive ) So get the biggest you can and then use flash drives to expand drive space rather than buying or replacing Hdd's.
Also if you use it for music, burn cd's to the hard drive and play it from there.
Ideally use an 'all on the motherboard' type of pc rather than one that has individual sound, video and network cards. These allin1 types are much more energy efficient.

Hope this helps

[mrresonate]

nice 1 peeps for the info, will look into this