Question Drive Desktop PC with solar energy?

[solaar]

Hello,

I am new to this forum and a "hardware noob".

Basically, I am currently producing too much solar energy during the day from solar plants in the garden, on the roof etc. and I plan to charge a battery for my computer work or gaming hours during the night.

Can someone point me into the right direction what I need to buy? While googling I found out you can purchase Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) units + batteries. According to my solar app, my PC consumes around 300 Watts and I need energy for around 8 hours (if possible).

 

[USAFRet]

Currently, where and how is your solar energy stored?

 

[zinkles]

Hello,

I am new to this forum and a "hardware noob".

Basically, I am currently producing too much solar energy during the day from solar plants in the garden, on the roof etc. and I plan to charge a battery for my computer work or gaming hours during the night.

Can someone point me into the right direction what I need to buy? While googling I found out you can purchase Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) units + batteries. According to my solar app, my PC consumes around 300 Watts and I need energy for around 8 hours (if possible).

List your PC specs so I can see if it's actually 300w consumption under load. (aka.. playing a game)

Rather than a UPS, you could go with a proper rechargeable battery backup unit.
Compared with a UPS, they are used for high power applications, so it will last you a long time when gaming, and unlike the UPS, it's built for this use, so they are portable, rechargeable, have bigger capacity and runtime, higher wattage ratings, etc. They can also be used to power other household items as well which require even higher wattages too.

I'm no expert in these stuff, so some of the terms I used may be incorrect, but the idea is, such a battery backup would be a better option (although expensive) than a UPS which are meant for emergencies and won't suit your needs.

 

[solaar]

List your PC specs so I can see if it's actually 300w consumption under load. (aka.. playing a game)

This is my PC (currently power saving enabled in Windows 11, if that matters)

https://imgur.com/a/vy3QEsm

View: https://imgur.com/a/vy3QEsm


https://pastebin.com/1AuUG4WT

Thank you in advance <)

 

[solaar]

Currently, where and how is your solar energy stored?

In a 4 Kilowatts battery but it reaches zero (from 100%) pretty fast with other stuff in the household consuming power as well. ^^

https://imgur.com/a/yMx921q

View: https://imgur.com/a/yMx921q

 

[Unolocogringo]

Does your system allow you to link another power bank/battery? or add another battery in your current enclosure??

 

[geofelt]

Seems simple to me.

With any ups, run as normal plugged in during the day.
The ups will get fully charged.
At night, simply switch off the wall power to the ups and run on battery.
To figure how large a ups you need, go to the APC web site and they have an app that will help you configure the needed size of ups.
They have a monitoring app called PowerChute.
It will tell you your power draw and will warn you to shut down if you come close to losing full power.
At that point, then just switch your power to the UPS back on.

It might be worth a call to APC to find other/better options.

 

[solaar]

To figure how large a ups you need, go to the APC web site and they have an app that will help you configure the needed size of ups.

I installed PowerChute Serial Shutdown but cannot figure out how to enable the monitoring without a connected UPS. Are there any instructions? Thank you

 

[geofelt]

I installed PowerChute Serial Shutdown but cannot figure out how to enable the monitoring without a connected UPS. Are there any instructions? Thank you

PowerChute operates only with an APC ups.