KateCanada
Inactive
Does this work??
Testing..........Running laptop off generator power
- Thread starter KateCanada
- Start date
Scott Mayland
Senior Member
I guess you can say that you are really burning the midnight oil?
KateCanada
Inactive
Cool! you saw me and I see you!
Thanks for responding!
Generators too loud!! That scares me!
Thanks for responding!
Generators too loud!! That scares me!
LoupGarou
Ancient Fuzzball
Generators are fine, but rather noisy and not efficient if all you are running is a laptop. You might want to look into a DC-DC converter for your laptop. I use both a Sony version with my Sony laptop as well as a Radio Shack (recently discontinued so you may find one near you for under $10, check http://www.radioshack.com/product/i...origkw=273-1827&kw=273-1827&parentPage=search and have the site search your local stores). It comes with the adapters/tips that fit most laptops and if your laptop takes less than 60watts DC and is in the 12-27 volt range, it will work fine. A DC-DC converter like these will allow you to run off of a deep cycle battery (Sams, <$50), and then you can recharge the battery either by solar, by generator, or by house current once it is back on.
If TSHTF, a generator is NOT your best choice, because everybody that hears it (and once the power is out, things get quiet), may come to visit you...
Loup Garou
If TSHTF, a generator is NOT your best choice, because everybody that hears it (and once the power is out, things get quiet), may come to visit you...
Loup Garou
KateCanada
Inactive
Thanks Lou, that helped!
hitssquad
Inactive
Generators vs batteries for laptop power
Batteries have issues, though. Most types of batteries need to be vented while they are being charged. There are other battery issues, and therefore a generator may be a simpler solution. I would consider using one of these:
epinions.com/hmgd-Lawn_and_Garden-Power_Tools-All-Honda_Generator_EU1000i/display_~reviews
The Honda EU1000i runs for 13 hours per gallon of gas, if the electrical load is light.
If I needed to run it outside (as opposed to its own vented, secure, generator hut), I would prefer to bolt it down or put it in a small steel bolted-down cage. Several steel chains locked-together can substitute for a steel cage. I would prefer to use American-brand high-security locks. Yes, a generator can attract a home-invasion, but I think that during the average regional disaster in which FEMA would be involved in a big way, it would be more-likely to simply attract a generator theft.
Also I would think you could make it even quieter by constructing a semi-open green-glue-damped drywall box to go around it:
http://www.greengluecompany.com
Batteries have issues, though. Most types of batteries need to be vented while they are being charged. There are other battery issues, and therefore a generator may be a simpler solution. I would consider using one of these:
epinions.com/hmgd-Lawn_and_Garden-Power_Tools-All-Honda_Generator_EU1000i/display_~reviews
The Honda EU1000i runs for 13 hours per gallon of gas, if the electrical load is light.
If I needed to run it outside (as opposed to its own vented, secure, generator hut), I would prefer to bolt it down or put it in a small steel bolted-down cage. Several steel chains locked-together can substitute for a steel cage. I would prefer to use American-brand high-security locks. Yes, a generator can attract a home-invasion, but I think that during the average regional disaster in which FEMA would be involved in a big way, it would be more-likely to simply attract a generator theft.
Also I would think you could make it even quieter by constructing a semi-open green-glue-damped drywall box to go around it:
http://www.greengluecompany.com
Rastech
Veteran Member
Kate you can pick up a secondhand simple UPS very cheap. Even new they aren't bad these days. Look for one with a decent wattage capability, so it doesn't overwork anything, and it should be reliable. You will get a nicely shaped waveform that's surge and spike free too.
I had an UPS running off a few heavy duty tractor batteries, with a heavy duty charger that had a Voltmeter wired in, and that was driving an ordinary PC. As soon as the voltage dropped to 11v, I'd recharge the batteries.
Discount tractor batteries can usually be had very cheap, and as long as you watch the voltage, and don't deep discharge them, they can last very well. Mine lasted about 8 years of constant use (a particularly severe Winter finished mine off, so a sheltered storage that's fairly warm would help in that area).
I've been thinking of getting a similar setup for where I live now.
For what's available with UPS and some stuff to look out for, it might be worth dropping Tweakette a message? She has lots of network experience, and some of the big UPS units can be remarkably cheap secondhand. May even know of firms that collected all their old equipment?
Over here I have seen big units in working order, that cost 1,000's new, going for as little as £20 secondhand. They just needed to have new 12v batteries put in them.
Edit: For 12v ideas, look at the things that are availalable to people who constantly live with the stuff, like caravanners. For really durable high reliability gear, look at those who live with it full time, the yachting people. For instance a very good charger I know of is the Aerogen wind generator range. They do trickle charger models for those that just use their boats weekends, to get batteries recharged during the week, up to high output for those that 'live aboard'. The marine environment is very harsh, and gear that lasts there, will last much much longer on shore.
http://www.unlimited-power.co.uk/Aerogen_wind_turbines.html
To get the most output from wind generators, you need to get the blades mounted higher than about 30ft off the ground.
Also, lots of yachting people now use laptops to tie in with Satnav, etc., so may be worth a look at some yacht chandlers, and have a chat about what you need there.
Link to LVM shop:
http://www.lvmshop.co.uk/articles/about_lvm_generators/
I had an UPS running off a few heavy duty tractor batteries, with a heavy duty charger that had a Voltmeter wired in, and that was driving an ordinary PC. As soon as the voltage dropped to 11v, I'd recharge the batteries.
Discount tractor batteries can usually be had very cheap, and as long as you watch the voltage, and don't deep discharge them, they can last very well. Mine lasted about 8 years of constant use (a particularly severe Winter finished mine off, so a sheltered storage that's fairly warm would help in that area).
I've been thinking of getting a similar setup for where I live now.
For what's available with UPS and some stuff to look out for, it might be worth dropping Tweakette a message? She has lots of network experience, and some of the big UPS units can be remarkably cheap secondhand. May even know of firms that collected all their old equipment?
Over here I have seen big units in working order, that cost 1,000's new, going for as little as £20 secondhand. They just needed to have new 12v batteries put in them.
Edit: For 12v ideas, look at the things that are availalable to people who constantly live with the stuff, like caravanners. For really durable high reliability gear, look at those who live with it full time, the yachting people. For instance a very good charger I know of is the Aerogen wind generator range. They do trickle charger models for those that just use their boats weekends, to get batteries recharged during the week, up to high output for those that 'live aboard'. The marine environment is very harsh, and gear that lasts there, will last much much longer on shore.
http://www.unlimited-power.co.uk/Aerogen_wind_turbines.html
To get the most output from wind generators, you need to get the blades mounted higher than about 30ft off the ground.
Also, lots of yachting people now use laptops to tie in with Satnav, etc., so may be worth a look at some yacht chandlers, and have a chat about what you need there.
Link to LVM shop:
http://www.lvmshop.co.uk/articles/about_lvm_generators/
Last edited:
LoupGarou
Ancient Fuzzball
If you are just using your laptop to "hit the web" and simple word processing/office functions, there are other more efficient computers out there. I have a NEC Mobilepro 880 that I use for "hitting the web" (comes with a CE version of Internet Explorer), packet radio, and "office" (CE version, will work with PC versions) programs. It runs Windows CE, so it will NOT run the current PC software labels, but that is not why I wanted it. The difference is that it will run on 8 watts of electricity, less power than a fluorescent light! My Sony laptop, for comparison uses 55 watts. So I can take two of my small 5 watt solar panels, put them outside, run my cord inside and hook up either directly to the NEC (will accept voltage anywhere in the 11-16 volt DC range), or run the power through one of my small (<7AH) AGM batteries so I can also run after dark. The NEC is also much lighter than my Sony and "boots up" instantly. I have in mine a 1GB CF card that I use as it's storage drive and a wireless card so I can hit the wireless hotspots. It comes with a 56Kb modem as well. While the NEC can not do everything that I need to do, it can do most of it, and when I need to run the Sony, I can run it with the DC-DC converter I mentioned earlier. This way I am using <10 watts for most of the time, and 55 only when I need to.
NEC 880, $70-$120 on eBay. Deep cycle battery, <$55. 5watt foldable solar panels, $34 (Norhern tool, need two or three)
or
Regular laptop. DC-DC converter $9.97(RS) or $79-$159 elsewhere. Two Deep cycle batteries <$110. 100-150watts of solar panels, $400-$1000, depending on type.
When hurricane Isabel hit Richmond, I found out how far the sound of a generator can be heard. I had people from 5 blocks away "come for a visit". They wanted to know what I was using and how I hooked it up so that they could go out and get one. Isabel knocked most of Richmond (and CVA) out for two to three weeks. By the time the second week was ending, many people knew that I had a generator (and other supplies), because of the sound of the generator. That may be fine in a short lived emergency, but if something should happen longer, or over a wider area (and cause the economy to have issues), people may be doing more than asking questions, they may get more demanding. I agree with the others, if you are going to run a generator (and I have a few as well), either put it in a sound absorbing box, or put it in a hole and have a friend weld a car muffler to the exhaust pipe to further quiet the noise, and running the exhaust away from the house.
Loup Garou
NEC 880, $70-$120 on eBay. Deep cycle battery, <$55. 5watt foldable solar panels, $34 (Norhern tool, need two or three)
or
Regular laptop. DC-DC converter $9.97(RS) or $79-$159 elsewhere. Two Deep cycle batteries <$110. 100-150watts of solar panels, $400-$1000, depending on type.
When hurricane Isabel hit Richmond, I found out how far the sound of a generator can be heard. I had people from 5 blocks away "come for a visit". They wanted to know what I was using and how I hooked it up so that they could go out and get one. Isabel knocked most of Richmond (and CVA) out for two to three weeks. By the time the second week was ending, many people knew that I had a generator (and other supplies), because of the sound of the generator. That may be fine in a short lived emergency, but if something should happen longer, or over a wider area (and cause the economy to have issues), people may be doing more than asking questions, they may get more demanding. I agree with the others, if you are going to run a generator (and I have a few as well), either put it in a sound absorbing box, or put it in a hole and have a friend weld a car muffler to the exhaust pipe to further quiet the noise, and running the exhaust away from the house.
Loup Garou
Doc1
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Very simple noise abatement
Depending on what sort of gennie you have and how its exhaust is configured, the simplest noise reduction might be achieved by changing the exhaust's direction. By pointing the exhaust straight up, instead of to the side as is more common on gennies, you get a remarkable reduction in sound!
This is best achieved with an exhaust pipe extention to raise the level of the muffler and exhaust opening. If the gennie is to be left outdoors, don't forget to install a rain protector over the exhaust. One additional thing; if you put a gennie equipped this way under a roofed structure such as a carport, you lose most of the benefits as the roof just reflects the sound back.
Best regards
Doc
Depending on what sort of gennie you have and how its exhaust is configured, the simplest noise reduction might be achieved by changing the exhaust's direction. By pointing the exhaust straight up, instead of to the side as is more common on gennies, you get a remarkable reduction in sound!
This is best achieved with an exhaust pipe extention to raise the level of the muffler and exhaust opening. If the gennie is to be left outdoors, don't forget to install a rain protector over the exhaust. One additional thing; if you put a gennie equipped this way under a roofed structure such as a carport, you lose most of the benefits as the roof just reflects the sound back.
Best regards
Doc
teefleur
Veteran Member
My laptop was brand spanking new when Katrina hit.
Even with generator power, there was no cell phone or land line, no wireless; and no internet.
It was usless except for Solitaire.
Anyone thinking of using the internet after a wide ranging catastrophe involving loss of electricity on a grand scale is not being realistic.
Even with generator power, there was no cell phone or land line, no wireless; and no internet.
It was usless except for Solitaire.
Anyone thinking of using the internet after a wide ranging catastrophe involving loss of electricity on a grand scale is not being realistic.
hitssquad
Inactive
hitssquad
Inactive
...Or they are hams.teefleur said:
http://www.timebomb2000.com/vb/showthread.php?p=1925139&highlight=internet#post1925139
Rex Jackson
Has No Life - Lives on TB
I use grid and cable on normal days. As soon as the grid goes down, I have one deep cycle battery, one 500w inverter, with one solar panel that runs my laptop, a lamp, a police scanner, powered all-band antenna, my rechargable battery charger. My laptop gets internet from a land line. (as long as there is one).
Its quiet, doesnt stand out, and always works.
Its quiet, doesnt stand out, and always works.
