PV Gap

Ben Said:

90 degrees and no power. Need solar fans or something else.?

We Answered:

There is a project that several groups at GVSU have been trying to perfect for a couple of semesters now involving a fan that operates on hanging weights. It is difficult to describe in words, but basically a gear reduction slows down the speed of the dropping weight so that it lasts for at least a half hour or more on every "charge". The system they're working on is being designed for similar applications in Central America, and the prototype has been built using mostly discarded parts: used rebar, old fabric, bike sprockets etc.

Guy Said:

Alternative ways to power a laptop?

We Answered:

Here is a site with solar chargers for laptops. No sun for a few days may become a problem.

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/10/…

You could build a small windmill that will turn an alternator or generator for power. Just find a place where the winds blows almost every day.

Find a place near a flowing stream or river and you could build your own Hydro-electric generator.

It appears that life in the past may not have been so romantic.

Have fun in your new anti-social lifestyle. When you become lonely for companionship be sure to don't try to befriend bears. They will kill you and eat you. Just ask 'The Bear Man'. He definitely proved his dad's statements of 'you'll never amount to fecal matter' wrong.

Donald Said:

How can I charge a laptop and other electronics from a solar power charged 12 volt car battery?

We Answered:

use your lead acid battery as the main charger
1 battery gives you 12v
2 batteries gives you 24v ( connect the battery in series of course)
now how to make the voltage drop to suit your required voltage? use high wattage diodes. One diode drops the voltage by 0.7v. Two in series will give you 1.4v drop.
e.g. your lap requires 19v dc to charge, you connect 7 diodes in series and wire them to the 2 batteries with 24v output total. Final output voltage will be 24-0.7x7=19.1 roughly

You can ask your pal back home to send you 10-20 diodes (low voltage, high current 3A-6A) which only cost a few US cents each..

Your portable DVD also runs on DC, check the DC voltage and adjust the battery voltage by diodes as described above.

Of course the simplest way is to buy the inverter