Date: Mon, 29 Apr 2002 16:39:54 -0500 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Solar Panels
There was some interest in using the Libretto with solar panels a while back. I think I might have found some that will work if the information I found is accurate. First I found out that the Libretto takes about a amp of current from the AC adapter when it isn't charging and is being used. Second I found that when the Libretto is off and charging it uses about .6 amp. Has anyone measured the current that can confirm these measurements? So with this I found some setups that might work. They provide about 1.2 amps or greater which would be enough to run but you'd really want to shut it off to charge otherwise it'd take about three days to fully charge the battery. In fact the libretto might not even charge when running since the method of terminating charge is when the current drops and the panel might not provide enough current to get over the limintation. Anyway two of the panels I found are sold by Realgoods. I think the url is http://www.realgoods.com The first one is the Sun Catcher Professional part # 11586 cost 345 This one looks pretty good, it comes in a case and uses Kyocera solar cells. Should get 20 years of life from them. One advantage to this one is it comes with a voltage regulator which limits the panel voltage to 12 volts so you can simply plug in the auto adapter and use it. Under full sunlight they claim about 1.3 amps but from my experience with solar if they claim 1.3 you'll get 1.1 or so useable under full direct sunlight. The second is a 10 watt panel that is sold with a prewired cigarette lighter socket. You'd need two of these. Cost is 129 for one and part # is 06-0384. They claim about .6 amps with one panel so a person is looking at about 1 amp useable under full bright sunlight. This one doesn't come with a regulator so a person would have to set something up since the panel is rated for 16.5 volts and might reach as high as 20 which would completely shutdown any aoto adapter The third is called the Notepower and like the Suncatcher comes in its own case. Its 250 and doesn't come with a regulator. That is sold seperately for an extra 100 bucks. It is rated like the others. I lost the companies name that sells it but will dig it up if anyone is interested. All of these are packable and only weigh a couple pounds. John ************************************************************** http://libretto.basiclink.com - Libretto mailing list http://www.silverace.com/libretto/ - Archives -------TO UNSUBSCRIBE------- Reply to any of the list messages. The reply mail should be addressed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] - Then replace any text on the message's subject line: cmd:unsubscribe --------TO UNSUBSCRIBE DIGEST------ Do above but with this on subject line: cmd:unsubscribe digest **************************************************************
