make your ereader run on solar power

elemenoP · 11-09-2011, 10:06 AM

Who wants to try this out?? Looks cool!

http://www.treehugger.com/gadgets/ha...lar-power.html

eP

John Carroll · 11-09-2011, 11:24 AM

That's pretty cool except that I really try to avoid taking my ereader apart. The kids might get ideas.

SmokeAndMirrors · 11-09-2011, 12:49 PM

Very cool!

When I was on the ereader hunt, I recall seeing a Japanese one that had a solar panel... but unfortunately was only in Japan, and I'm not sure if it was even released yet. I was bummed.

Seriously considering it...

carpetmojo · 11-09-2011, 01:12 PM

Umm... perhaps a very cheap second-hand reader would be best to start with ? !

DustyDisks · 11-09-2011, 01:38 PM

I would think it would be more practical to integrate the solar cells in a cover the reader uses. Input power to the reader by the normal charge slot , usb or whatever that is used to charge the reader.

That way there are no physical mods done to the reader itself, its all integrated into the cover.

HarryT · 11-09-2011, 01:42 PM

This strikes me as somewhat unnecessary, unless one is planning to trek in the wilderness for months. The environmental harm caused by the manufacture of the solar panels, containing, as they do, all manner of unpleasant items, will hugely outweigh the saving of the tiny amount of electricity used in charging the reader.

Phogg · 11-09-2011, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

unless one is planning to trek in the wilderness for months

A small demographic...that includes millions of people in military service and exponentially more potential readers across the third world and emerging economies all around the planet.

The sort of people westerners ensconced in their comfortable chairs and sipping on their latte tend to discount.

DustyDisks · 11-09-2011, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phogg

A small demographic...that includes millions of people in military service and exponentially more potential readers across the third world and emerging economies all around the planet.

The sort of people westerners ensconced in their comfortable chairs and sipping on their latte tend to discount.

Yep!

There are more remote areas in the world including here in the states that people live that do not have commercial utilities. That have to run generators and or use solar power. One example is a friend of mine in the mountains of California, she has no commercial utilities , power/water/phone, nothing. She is self contained using solar panels and huge battery banks. She and her family have been doing solar for the last 25 + years.

Solar may not be green in the production of the cells and battery's used in a setup but in the long run, I do believe going that rout is greener than big plants burning fossil fuels to power our lifestyles and toys.

IMO!

.

Pinecone · 11-09-2011, 03:56 PM

If building solar cells pollutes more than getting the same life cycle amoutn of power by other methods, it is NOT green, short or long term.

RainingLemur · 11-09-2011, 06:52 PM

I'd love to be able to try this. But, knowing my luck, I'd solder my fingers together somehow.

It's still rather cool of an idea.

The Terminator · 11-09-2011, 09:40 PM

I'm with HarrytT, a better idea would be to put the panels on the case.*

I would maybe buy a solar cover so I would never have to charge it but not for the environment.

Ken Maltby · 11-09-2011, 10:33 PM

Personally, I prefer having an ereader that runs on 4ea AA Batteries. So I can charge
them out of the reader, using any power source I wish. This means that I can have a
charged set ready and waiting whenever the set in my ereader runs out. Solar charging
is very practical here in Texas, and in fact this level of solar/PV use is actually a
practical endeavor, as opposed to trying to power a modern household.

I can get AA solar charging kits that can easily provide enough charged batteries to run
a number of devices I can use in the field. I can even get a solar charger that has a
USB charging port, as well as being able to charge my batteries.

Luck;
Ken

carpetmojo · 11-10-2011, 03:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phogg

A small demographic...that includes millions of people in military service and exponentially more potential readers across the third world and emerging economies all around the planet.

The sort of people westerners ensconced in their comfortable chairs and sipping on their latte tend to discount.

Presumably this will require millions of hard-shell, airtight, watertight, lightweight cases/covers to protect...

A) the fragile reader screens and innards,

and

B) the fragile solar panels and innards.......... ?

MikeB1972 · 11-10-2011, 05:54 AM

Just get a seperate solar charger. No one seems to have notices that for this to work you need to leave it in the sun, the solar panels are on the back - the only way this would work is if you lay on your back outside to read

HarryT · 11-10-2011, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carpetmojo

Presumably this will require millions of hard-shell, airtight, watertight, lightweight cases/covers to protect...

A) the fragile reader screens and innards,

and

B) the fragile solar panels and innards.......... ?

and...

Sunshine

... a thing which is generally rather lacking in our part of the world.

11-09-2011, 10:06 AM	#1
elemenoP Wizard Posts: 1,717 Karma: 3790058 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: NYC Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Sony 650	make your ereader run on solar power Who wants to try this out?? Looks cool! http://www.treehugger.com/gadgets/ha...lar-power.html eP

11-09-2011, 01:38 PM	#5
DustyDisks Old Fart In Training Posts: 534 Karma: 2742476 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Gladewater, Texas Device: K3+3g/KFHD 7"/Nexus 7/Nexus 7.2	I would think it would be more practical to integrate the solar cells in a cover the reader uses. Input power to the reader by the normal charge slot , usb or whatever that is used to charge the reader. That way there are no physical mods done to the reader itself, its all integrated into the cover. Last edited by DustyDisks; 11-09-2011 at 10:53 PM.

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11-09-2011, 11:24 AM	#2
John Carroll kookoo Posts: 1,461 Karma: 7772454 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Colorado Springs Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Nook, LG4	That's pretty cool except that I really try to avoid taking my ereader apart. The kids might get ideas.

11-09-2011, 12:49 PM	#3
SmokeAndMirrors Addict Posts: 280 Karma: 2064388 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: MN, US Device: Kobo Touch, Asus Eee Pad Slider	Very cool! When I was on the ereader hunt, I recall seeing a Japanese one that had a solar panel... but unfortunately was only in Japan, and I'm not sure if it was even released yet. I was bummed. Seriously considering it...

11-09-2011, 01:12 PM	#4
carpetmojo Wizard Posts: 3,117 Karma: 9269999 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: UK Device: Sony- T3, PRS650, 350, T1/2/3, Paperwhite, Fire 8.9,Samsung Tab S 10.5	Umm... perhaps a very cheap second-hand reader would be best to start with ? !

11-09-2011, 01:42 PM	#6
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	This strikes me as somewhat unnecessary, unless one is planning to trek in the wilderness for months. The environmental harm caused by the manufacture of the solar panels, containing, as they do, all manner of unpleasant items, will hugely outweigh the saving of the tiny amount of electricity used in charging the reader.

11-09-2011, 03:56 PM	#9
Pinecone Guru Posts: 902 Karma: 1660722 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Maryland Device: PRS-650, PRS-600, PRS-350	If building solar cells pollutes more than getting the same life cycle amoutn of power by other methods, it is NOT green, short or long term.

11-09-2011, 06:52 PM	#10
RainingLemur Spork Connoisseur Posts: 2,355 Karma: 16780603 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: Nook Color	I'd love to be able to try this. But, knowing my luck, I'd solder my fingers together somehow. It's still rather cool of an idea.

11-09-2011, 09:40 PM	#11
The Terminator Retired Posts: 2,552 Karma: 37638420 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Vancouver Island Canada Device: Kobo Touch, Optimus One (2.3), Nexus 7 (4.2)	I'm with HarrytT, a better idea would be to put the panels on the case.* I would maybe buy a solar cover so I would never have to charge it but not for the environment.

11-09-2011, 10:33 PM	#12
Ken Maltby Wizard Posts: 4,465 Karma: 6900052 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: The Heart of Texas Device: Boox Note2, AuraHD, PDA,	Personally, I prefer having an ereader that runs on 4ea AA Batteries. So I can charge them out of the reader, using any power source I wish. This means that I can have a charged set ready and waiting whenever the set in my ereader runs out. Solar charging is very practical here in Texas, and in fact this level of solar/PV use is actually a practical endeavor, as opposed to trying to power a modern household. I can get AA solar charging kits that can easily provide enough charged batteries to run a number of devices I can use in the field. I can even get a solar charger that has a USB charging port, as well as being able to charge my batteries. Luck; Ken

11-10-2011, 05:54 AM	#14
MikeB1972 Gnu Posts: 1,222 Karma: 15625359 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: UK Device: BeBook,JetBook Lite,PRS-300-350-505-650,+ran out of space to type	Just get a seperate solar charger. No one seems to have notices that for this to work you need to leave it in the sun, the solar panels are on the back - the only way this would work is if you lay on your back outside to read

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