DYI Solar-Powered PC Solar Components

[p3ng3]

They used 12 volts because there is a loss(heat) of power when you step up 12 to 230 and then another loss(the heat your psu makes is a loss of power) when they step the 230 back down to 12. They save them self anywhere from 30 to a whooping 50% power by keeping the system 12 all throughout.

What PC do you have that needs 600 watts?

My system takes 330 watts from the wall(would be a good 20% less if i did the 12 volt trick they did...more so if i went solar panel step up to 120[the voltage here] and back down to 12. that would put me in the 30-40 percent range)

Here is the system i speak of:

Case: Antec 900
PSU: OCZ 700watt
Board: P35 DS3R
CPU: Q6600 @ 3.00
CPU cooling : Zalman 9500 @ 500-2200 rpms(PWM)
Memory: 2x 1024MB ,2X 512MB @ 4,4,4,10
Video: 8800GTX 600(core) 1400(shader) 900 x2(memory)
Storage:
2x WDC 250gig (Raid0)
2x Seagate 320gig(Storage)
2x Seagate 500gig(Storage)
1x 500gig Seagate (Backup-external) - Not in the power count
Optical drive: Samsung SH-W162
KB/Mouse: Logitech Elite wireless(MX 700 out of service), G9 Mouse
TV card: PVR 250
Sound: Creative SB Audigy 2zs
Screen: Samsung 950b (LCD)(not included but it takes 30 watts)
Speakers: Altec Lansing Select 641(12-30watts for average listening)

You may get away with less power then you think....the trick is to store enough power in the batteries for night time...and have at least an extra panel to charge and run things on cloudy days....

hi
i'm not calculating my watt only i thinked this is the maximum
You have a great configuration
My configuration is same like your.

PSU: Mercury 550 watt
Board: m2n31-sli deluxe
Cpu: amd x2 4600+ (2.4 ghz)
Cpu cooling: what was in the box but i want to change to zalman (to hot the cpu)
Memory: 2x512(kingston CL5) 2x1gb (kingston cl5)
video: Ati sapphire x1650xt 256 600/1400 mhz
Storage: 2x 200gb maxtor
optical drive: nec dvd-rw nd-3540A
kb/mouse Logitech MX revolution
TV card: Leadtek winfast 2000xp global
sound:1 i mainboard and 1 c-media 5.1(for tv card)
screen: - fujitsu siemens LCD 19" L-191
- 15" crt (for tv card)
speakers: Genius SW-HF 5.1 5000

Exist some kind of software what calculating my pc watt usage or i need to add all component one by one?
thanks for the help

 

[p3ng3]

i want to build solar system but i don't now what voltage use 240 or 12.
240 would be perfect but you sayd to much the power loss.
i thinking how i can resolve to workin my pc in 12 volt (i need to look up for 12v monitor )

 

[nukemaster]

The best way to get your current PC power use is with something like a Kill A Watt meter, they sell then at most hardware stores.

now for the Why 12 in more detail

When toms did there solar PC. They wanted to use as little power as they could. That is why they went with 12 volts. you can use 240 is you want. There are some advantages that i will talk about later.

Have you ever noticed that power bricks get warm or even hot to the touch. This is because the transformer(the part that is turning your household power from 240 volts to lets say 5 for lets say your phone)looses some power in the form of heat. This also happens when your solar system converts(steps up) the 12 volts to 240. So if you loose 15% stepping the power up to 240 and then your PC's power supply looses another 25 percent to step that 240 back down to 12 you have to generate(with more solar panels) 40% more power to run the same PC

Now running 12 volts has some limmits. For one this it will only run your PC and maybe an LCD(if like toms you have one that runs on 12 volts) screen. To run the CRT or anything other equipment(desklamp ect) you will need to step the power up to 240.

Another thing you have to do with 12 volts is run VERY large cables(think car jumper cables or even bigger). This is because at 12 volts you need many times more amps to get the needed wattage

700 watts at 12 volts is 58.3333333333333333(well you know lots of 3's), So lets say 59 amps
700 watts at 240 volts is only 2.9166666666666.....7. So lets call that 3 amps

so while 700 watts at 240 volts needs a AWG 14 or 16 wire at 12 volts that same power needs a AWG 6(smaller numbers mean bigger wire)

The best of both would be to run 12 volts to the PC and run 240 to a plug for one or 2 other devices(this will limit the loss to only what you plug in...and not your PC, but the more you run the more power you need)

Disclaimer: Check local code for AWG ratings. how do i know what its is over there

Now on the the 12 volt PC

A pc does not run on 12 volts alone. It also uses 5 and 3.3. So what ever psu you get it has to take 12 and convert it to the need 5 and 3.3 also used by modern PC's. There may even be some -5 or -12.

a quick Google shows up this

http://www.powerstream.com/DC-PC-12V.htm

I am sure there are many more out there.

Just know that you have a rather big job ahead of you to begin with. you will need your panels and battery system to store for overnight use.

While you are looking at alternative you may also want to look into wind. The advantage there is that even at night you should be able to generate power. This only works well if you can get it into an area with enough wind(think fairly high)

Some kind of a site serve may be needed to check the wind at different altitudes and times.

If you do chose to undertake this massive project. post your results so others can learn from what you have done....

good luck

 

[p3ng3]

thanks a lot your help

 

[GeorgeH]

Muk ---

I noticed that there was a bit of initial math for computing the amount power and solar area and all ...

It should have been easy to design a system that would function in a more usable manner. (After all we know that solar power works well enough to power remove equipment full time.)

I agree with others that a lot of poor choices were made. Enough that the entire project looks like a high school kid did the work.

 

[dextercath96]

I agree that all of the solar power components are working properly in the area whereas it is good to absorb solar power energy.

 

[energy2greenreview]

I like the concept but why not just build a 12 volt panel (about 36 monocrystalline cells) and you can plug five such computers into it all day and even take it outside.