[Yr7-10it] charging laptop off solar etc?

[Costello, Rob R]

Hi Tony 

thought you might have some ideas on this 

i know the XO is designed for this but not a feasible solution in my case :)  

i take your point on efficiencies - the steps in converting to AC and back to DC etc 

sounds like still harder than i hoped

might need to look at generator 

thanks 

Rob 


-----Original Message-----
From: yr7-10it-bounces at edulists.com.au on behalf of forster at ozonline.com.au
Sent: Thu 3/25/2010 10:40 PM
To: yr7-10it at edulists.com.au
Subject: Re: [Yr7-10it] charging laptop off solar etc? 
 
> hello all
> 
> anyone know any good shelf solutions for charging laptops from solar etc?
> 
>   (for extended usage over several days at location with no power)
> 
> is adapter off  lead acid battery (ie stand alone car battery?)  a possible solution? - i know it works in car but not sure how it would last without recharging - instinct says laptop is a trickle feed so should be ok if battery was in good nic?

You will get 2-4 hours out of a car battery. A solar panel produces approximately the equivalent of 4 hours a day at its rated power so you would need quite a big panel. 

All the efficiencies multiply, panel x battery x inverter x laptop charger x laptop battery so if each was 80% efficient theres still not much left at the end.

Need aggressive power management, minimum hard drive time, minimum backlight etc. A netbook might be lower power. The OLPC XO laptop has been designed specifically for this application.

Tony
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