Onyx Boox Note 10.3 is available Now

[mikij1]

I like this device but light is important to me.
I have also always wondered if it would be possible to integrate a solar panel in these devices. A panel solar like the Tough Solar of Casio watches.
I suppose that there will be technical and cost difficulties

[iFlak]

It looks like getting the rM was a good move for me because the Note was delayed again. From Facebook:

Onyx boox: Hi Stacey,
We first plan to distribute the BOOX Note on mid-April approximately in Europe. Later on, we will do the same in US and Canada.

[Question Mark]

Originally Posted by mikij1

I like this device but light is important to me.
I have also always wondered if it would be possible to integrate a solar panel in these devices. A panel solar like the Tough Solar of Casio watches.
I suppose that there will be technical and cost difficulties

My guess is that the power requirements for a watch or a calculator would be substantially lower than for a tablet/ereader. As such, I'm not sure just how effective such a solar cell would be. Although I'd be quite happy to use my Note in the sun, I'm not sure that I would want to leave it baking in the sun all day.

A power bank connected to a solar cell might be a better option. If I were going on a multi day hike far from any electrical outlets, that's probably what I would look into.

[mikij1]

Originally Posted by Question Mark

My guess is that the power requirements for a watch or a calculator would be substantially lower than for a tablet/ereader. As such, I'm not sure just how effective such a solar cell would be. Although I'd be quite happy to use my Note in the sun, I'm not sure that I would want to leave it baking in the sun all day.

A power bank connected to a solar cell might be a better option. If I were going on a multi day hike far from any electrical outlets, that's probably what I would look into.

Eink requires very little energy. A large solar panel with the size of the screen (behind this) it should be enough... I think.

A few years ago Leia Media (Finland, country not very sunny) propused a ereader with a solar panel integrated... no like the one I propose but it was shown that a solar panel can provide enough energy to an ereader.

Link to the notice: https://the-digital-reader.com/2013/...-soon-finland/

Link to a Youtube (prototype): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbyCkJ3f4UI

I think the problem is the cost. No more.


Sorry my English...

[mikij1]

Booxtor I want to ask you if Onyx was planted something like what I mentioned in my previous message: an solar panel in its ereaders.

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by mikij1

Eink requires very little energy. A large solar panel with the size of the screen (behind this) it should be enough... I think.

A few years ago Leia Media (Finland, country not very sunny) propused a ereader with a solar panel integrated... no like the one I propose but it was shown that a solar panel can provide enough energy to an ereader.

Link to the notice: https://the-digital-reader.com/2013/...-soon-finland/

Link to a Youtube (prototype): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbyCkJ3f4UI

I think the problem is the cost. No more.


Sorry my English...

Cost wouldn't be a problem, but weight. You can buy a solar power bank for about $20, for example something like this:

https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B074V2MLVS

Are you getting your money's worth? Absolutely not. Only useful if you are off grid for extended periods at a time. Takes about a week to recharge in the sun.

Imagine it on the back of the Note - when you are reading, it won't charge unless you lay on your back. At night when you sleep you cannot charge it. If you charge it during the day and read at night you will need a light which uses more energy. IMHO, it is better to have ereader and solar charger seperate, use both of them during the day (the Note doesn't even have a light) and charge ereader at night when needed.

[mdp]

Originally Posted by DuckieTigger

Only useful if

Yes, but if ClearInk put the electrophoretic modified LCD matrix on top of a whitened solar cell panel...

(Sorry, I did not resist and restrain)

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by mdp

Yes, but if ClearInk put the electrophoretic modified LCD matrix on top of a whitened solar cell panel...

(Sorry, I did not resist and restrain)

. See also Solar powered eBook Reader in our wiki.

Dale

[Question Mark]

Originally Posted by mikij1

Eink requires very little energy. A large solar panel with the size of the screen (behind this) it should be enough... I think.

Possibly... For a dedicated ereader such as the prototype which was being shown in the video you linked to.

However, the Note is so much more than a simple ereader so I suspect that it requires a little bit more power to drive it.

If I really wanted solar, I would still lean toward using a separate solar panel along with a power bank. It would be easy enough to hook the power bank up to the ereader. Perhaps you could even do that while you were using the Note.

One idea might be to build the solar panel into a protective cover.

However, I think I'd prefer a waterproof Note to one which had a solar panel.

[mdp]

Originally Posted by DuckieTigger

Takes about a week to recharge in the sun

How many times? Do batteries now exist that like being charged scatteredly, on and off, this-minute-is-sunny this-minute-is-cloudy?

I am curious about how long it will last.

To make the bridge thought explicit: I am very skeptical that hooking your tablet to a scatteredly occurring recharge is healthy for it.

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by mdp

How many times? Do batteries now exist that like being charged scatteredly, on and off, this-minute-is-sunny this-minute-is-cloudy?

I am curious about how long it will last.

To make the bridge thought explicit: I am very skeptical that hooking your tablet to a scatteredly occurring recharge is healthy for it.

Read the description of it. Not supposed to charge it while charging another device. Just like a regular power bank. Only that this one can be solar recharged or usb port recharged.

[mdp]

Originally Posted by DuckieTigger

Read the description of it. Not supposed to charge it while charging another device. Just like a regular power bank. Only that this one can be solar recharged or usb port recharged.

Yes, I had read it and I hope I have not missed anything; what I meant is that TTBOMK, common batteries do not like being recharged many multiple times per day - like the availability of a powerful light source forces to.

And I was more focused on the battery already in the tablet, and this solar integration - of course, the note "Not supposed to charge it while charging another device" confirms it as non trivial.

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by mdp

Yes, I had read it and I hope I have not missed anything; what I meant is that TTBOMK, common batteries do not like being recharged many multiple times per day - like the availability of a powerful light source forces to.

And I was more focused on the battery already in the tablet, and this solar integration - of course, the note "Not supposed to charge it while charging another device" confirms it as non trivial.

As for the battery in the tablet, while it is plugged in, it would get a constant supply of either 2.1A or 1A depending which of the 2 ports are used to charge it from the solar. At least how I understand it. As for how demanding on the battery is, who knows. It probably is not very good, but then again it would only go through 50ish charges per year.

I do not agree with using solar panels to generate electricity - it is not cost effective. Harness the sun for heat (e.g. in a on top of roof water heating system. Use really renewable energy (wind or water turbines) - those have a chance to recoup the energy invested that went into production. Far as I know, solar panels are not yet truly green.

[joblack]

Did somebody release a video about it? Unfortunately I haven't seen any new so far.

[gimble]

Originally Posted by mdp

How many times? Do batteries now exist that like being charged scatteredly, on and off, this-minute-is-sunny this-minute-is-cloudy?

I am curious about how long it will last.

The battery capacity will wear out faster, but given the long charge time it will probably not matter. Further, a power bank is meant for heavy use and not known to retain capacity for years... so probably more of a marketing strategy than anything else.

That said, newer tech like Perovskite solar cells have apparently matured enough to make it practical to charge Li-ion batteries efficiently. Scaling that down to tablet form factor is probably a few years away.