Powering my laptop

[oshirowanen]

I have a laptop which I would like to power for free. On the power supply it has the following details

input 100-240v~ 1.5A 50-60Hz
output 19V 4740 mA

I live in a low wind, low sunlight area.

How can I power this laptop for free?

[Cloxxki]

I have a laptop which I would like to power for free. On the power supply it has the following details

input 100-240v~ 1.5A 50-60Hz
output 19V 4740 mA

I live in a low wind, low sunlight area.

How can I power this laptop for free?

In conjuction with getting that much fitter.
Convert a bike trainer, to make it charge a larger battery as well as the laptop's own. An hour's workout should give you 200-300W (before losses) on average. A daily one hour bike ride just might suffice for convenient laptop use?

But really, in case of low winds : larger windmill. Low sun: larger panels, or add mirrors to channel beams onto the panel you got.

[everwiser]

Simply multiplying the output numbers you get a power requirement for the laptop of just over 90 watts (90.06 to be exact). Voltage to the laptop needs to be as close to 19V as you can get but as long as you get within +/- 1 volt you should be golden. A 100 watt solar panel in conjunction with a large capacitor could probably be used during daytime hours. If you want night time functionality you'll have to add a properly sized battery system and voltage regulator/controller for outputting 19V and able to support occasional full load current (4.740A). I would design the system to feed the laptop DC directly rather than go through its charging/running adapter (more losses).

There are multiple ways to do what you want but you'll have to make sure you meet the voltage/current/wattage requirements.

[nvisser]

I have a laptop which I would like to power for free. On the power supply it has the following details

input 100-240v~ 1.5A 50-60Hz
output 19V 4740 mA

I live in a low wind, low sunlight area.

How can I power this laptop for free?

That`s about 100W.
You can,t

[oshirowanen]

In conjuction with getting that much fitter.
Convert a bike trainer, to make it charge a larger battery as well as the laptop's own. An hour's workout should give you 200-300W (before losses) on average. A daily one hour bike ride just might suffice for convenient laptop use?

But really, in case of low winds : larger windmill. Low sun: larger panels, or add mirrors to channel beams onto the panel you got.

So if an hours workout gives me 200-300W, how long will that charge last?

[oshirowanen]

Simply multiplying the output numbers you get a power requirement for the laptop of just over 90 watts (90.06 to be exact). Voltage to the laptop needs to be as close to 19V as you can get but as long as you get within +/- 1 volt you should be golden. A 100 watt solar panel in conjunction with a large capacitor could probably be used during daytime hours. If you want night time functionality you'll have to add a properly sized battery system and voltage regulator/controller for outputting 19V and able to support occasional full load current (4.740A). I would design the system to feed the laptop DC directly rather than go through its charging/running adapter (more losses).

There are multiple ways to do what you want but you'll have to make sure you meet the voltage/current/wattage requirements.

Sounds interesting. Could you please posts some links to the hardware I might need?

[oshirowanen]

That`s about 100W.
You can,t

Even with a converted bike trainer?

[Cloxxki]

Even with a converted bike trainer?

I think with proper batteries and decent generator efficeincy, and less than my daily computer use, you'll come a long way.
How could would a handlebar mounted laptop be? Foil over it of course, sweat is nasty stuff.
If you dig into it, I'm sure you'll find lots of energy saving information. I can imagine the laptop casing to make the fan less efficient. If you just use the laptop at home, open it up! :-)

I can't help you with build specifics, I'm afraid to zap myself even with AA batteries in daily appliances.

[Stealth]

Battery capacity seems to be the best choice for powering your laptop. Charge with solar panels during the day and wind whenever available. The only other option you have right now is to use a Tesla switch setup. 19 volts is no big deal with a transformer. You can convert 12 vdc to 19 vdc with no problem. Any electronic store can sell you the necessary components to do this. Study the Tesla switch posts on this website to get a better idea of how to set it up. Soon other options will be available, if you can wait for them to come about. Good Luck. Stealth

[theremart]

Before dropping all the money into a charger..

consider switching to a net book. both my 19 " monitor and my net book pull 30 watts of power together. Will take much less to keep it running than the watts you are using now, will be faster probably than what you have now and run longer, my EEE book runs well over 6 hours on a charge.

So.. currently I run 3 of these net books and 3 19 " monitors at home, and the total is 30 * 3 = 90 watts of power. I am using as much as you but I am getting 3 X the output ( computer geek lol )

I have just ordered a 5 mph wind mill from Windblue power. I will let you know how it works out as my location average wind speed here is 6 mph.

The rule when you go off grid is always have more than one source of power. Consider a diesel generator running on used vegi oil, first check to see if you can get a supply, in my area all 14 restaurants I checked already have the oil spoken for, so not an option for me.

Make methane to run a generator. I am now experimenting with this from what I have read a 55 gallon barrel producing can make enough to run a 1 horse power engine for 1 hour. I am starting to experiment with this but takes time for the bacteria to start growing ...

Cheers

[nvisser]

Maybe it is possible
John bedini said a while ago on the tesla switch thread that you can charge batteries from a solar panel in moonlight.
I purchase myself a 1W panel today. So far it can drive a SSG with the panel in the shade with its output connected to a capacitor. The voltage over the cap read about 4v. On the ssg I just put a 1k resistor on the base circuit and give it a spin and it start to self oscillate
It will charge a battery although it will take some time. Of course if the sun comes out for a while it will charge faster. The nice thing about it is that your battery are going to become conditioned by never getting charged by brute force and will probably last a long time.
Tonight I will check if moonlight gives any usable voltage
Then again notebook batteries has got some delicate electronics inside and you will have to open the battery pack and temporarily bypass that electronics to charge it with a ssg

[rickoff]

Have you considered a Hamster Wheel?
YouTube - Hamster Plus Nanowires Equals Power

Of course it would take several hamsters to do what you want. Hmmm, let's see, how much hamster power = 1 horsepower? It would probably take quite a few unless you can come up with a super hamster breed.

On the other hand, though, you might try a cat wheel, which can develop considerably more power.
YouTube - cat going faster on wheel As you can see, these cats use a relay system whereby one takes over as the other tires out and rests. To motivate these cats to run even faster, and take less breaks, perhaps a hamster (or mouse) could also be placed into the equation (kept just out of reach, and safe, of course).

Still not enough power? How about a human hamster wheel? This one is adapted to do exactly what you want - power a computer.
YouTube - Giant Hamster Wheel Powers Your PC - Systm

And if still more power is desired (to operate a desktop computer), how about a larger wheel?
YouTube - HUGE HUMAN HAMSTER WHEEL!


In all seriousness, there are countless ways that you can accomplish what you want to do. It just takes some imagination and innovation.

Rick

[sodpa]

Peddle Power

Here you go from the students at MIT:

YouTube - Christian Science Monitor Video

This guy has been using peddle power for over 30 years:

David Butcher: Pedal Powered Generator - DIY Plans

[oshirowanen]

Thanks for all the replies, they have been very helpful.

I would like to try out something like this

YouTube - Christian Science Monitor Video

Before moving onto wind and solar power.

Would someone be able to list all the components I would need to make something like this?

YouTube - Christian Science Monitor Video

[sodpa]

Pedal Power

Thanks for all the replies, they have been very helpful.

I would like to try out something like this

YouTube - Christian Science Monitor Video

Before moving onto wind and solar power.

Would someone be able to list all the components I would need to make something like this?

YouTube - Christian Science Monitor Video

I'm sure there are many ways to go about this. Are you able to get a car charger for your laptop or will you need an inverter?

Here is one way to go about it with some sources. It will give you an idea of the parts needed and cost:
Free Plans To Build your own Bicycle Generator Pedal Power Station