Topic
Solar solution to recharge laptop, please help.
Forum Posting
A Membership is required to post in the forums. Login or become a member to post in the member forums!
Home › Forums › Gear Forums › Gear (General) › Solar solution to recharge laptop, please help.
- This topic is empty.
-
AuthorPosts
-
Aug 6, 2010 at 6:14 pm #1635509
So guys the last I seen of any netbooks small enough in design and internal spec to recharge via solar was the Gyy but all I can find are year-old press releases. Google doesn't even seem to index the Spanish company's site anymore.
So instead I find a how-to – here
I don't know much about electronics offhand but for those who are is such a system possible?
I appreciate those enthusiasts who are probably horrified at taking all this electronic junk but for me personally I *need* to bring a machine, not for staying in touch but for saving data etc while out in the wilderness.
Aug 6, 2010 at 9:49 pm #1635567The first question that comes to mind is: is a laptop the right device?
Hugo, you said you wanted to use Google Earth coupled with a GPS device. Can you use Google Earth in an offline mode without access to the Internet and still have the map detail you need?
Secondly, I think an iPhone or iPad could meet your needs but I'm guessing you don't want to spend $500 for the solution.
Mike
Aug 18, 2011 at 7:51 pm #1770957Hi Nick:
I am very interested in your comment on a tent trailer with solar that allows you to be self-contained indefinitely. Could you please provide a company name, or any additional information? Thanks! I travel self-contained by bicycle indefinitely, so this would be great for me! DianeAug 19, 2011 at 6:56 am #1771048If you have a tent trailer with a lead acid battery, you can get a solar panel intended for home use – maybe 50 watts, $200, 3 feet x 2 feet, battery is maybe 50 amp hours so it takes maybe a couple days to charge, you can connect it directly to the battery – at least that's what I do – you have to disconnect it during the night or if it gets fully charged – helpful to have a volt meter to see when battery is charged fully so you don't over-charge
Find an article in some RV magazine
Aug 19, 2011 at 12:55 pm #1771166If you are going to use a solar panel of 50 watts, then you really want to hook it up to the battery with a charge controller. That way, you don't need to fool around with night disconnections, volt meters, and all that.
It works like a voltage regulator.
–B.G.–
Aug 19, 2011 at 4:28 pm #1771225I will be trying this out labor Day weekend. I will post up my thoughts. They do claim that their recharge rates are based on real world experience, not simply specs.
Jan 13, 2012 at 12:52 am #1824148@ Brady
Did you ever get the three solar panels to work in series?
http://www.bgmicro.com/PWR1241.aspxCurious if you have any instructions for the rest of us looking to do something similar :)
-
AuthorPosts
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
Forum Posting
A Membership is required to post in the forums. Login or become a member to post in the member forums!
Our Community Posts are Moderated
Backpacking Light community posts are moderated and here to foster helpful and positive discussions about lightweight backpacking. Please be mindful of our values and boundaries and review our Community Guidelines prior to posting.
Get the Newsletter
Gear Research & Discovery Tools
- Browse our curated Gear Shop
- See the latest Gear Deals and Sales
- Our Recommendations
- Search for Gear on Sale with the Gear Finder
- Used Gear Swap
- Member Gear Reviews and BPL Gear Review Articles
- Browse by Gear Type or Brand.