Portable/mini solar panels

[djphill]

I was thinking about getting a solar panel for my laptop. I also want to use my laptop to charge my electronics like ipod and phone. I was wondering if it would actually have a beneficial environmental affect. Also if you would recommend buying one, where could i get one for a reasonable price.

[tripp]

Real Goods sells stuff like that.

[efusco]

If I'm not mistaken you need a pretty large/powerful panel to handle a laptop. Most of the smaller ones are fine for cell phones and iPods, but not adequate for a laptop.

[tripp]

I think there are 20W fold outs that can recharge a laptop pretty well. Most modern laptops draw around 40W so you couldn't power it directly in that fashion, but recharging it for use.

[darelldd]

I've been using a 12W panel and a 12V battery to run my laptop for about eight years now. The panel keep the battery charged constantly, and then the laptop's battery also works as a buffer. I have about 10 hours of constant usage per day if I want it... but have never needed it.

[qbee42]

You can use a smaller panel if you live on the sun.

Tom

[tochatihu]

I was suprised to see this roll up (# 140267524574) on eBay w/o a minimum bid, Whenever you can buy in at $5 per watt (or not much more) you are doing pretty well.

Most notebook computers use about 20 watts (I think this ir right, Tripp), which means either big panels or a battery buffer like Darell's. I am waiting availabilty of the little MSI or Lenovo subnotes with LED screen backlighting. Those can get buy on about 10 watts.

[djphill]

well size isn't that big of a problem, because i have a medium sized balcony to put it on. The fact is that it has to be able to be put away somewhat easily (it shouldn't be staionary). And all the ones that i looked at are either 300 dollars or don't really go to laptops. Suggestions?

[tripp]

I kilowatted ours and it comes in just over 40W. It's a typical newer laptop (kinda, not really I guess. It's over a year old).

[efusco]

I've got my Dell Inspiron 6400 (17" screen) on the Kill A Watt as I type this.
With a 100% battery charge I'm drawing a continuous 38W +/- 3W with occ. peaks to the low 40s on the "High Performance" setting.

When I switch to the "Power Saver" setting I drop to 32W +/- 2W.

Charging the battery when it was down to about 60% charge drew closer to 60W +/- 5W.

So I think you could get away with a 40W panel to give you pretty much indefinate power, a 30W on low power would keep you going for a very long time almost balancing the drain from the battery on a "power saver" setting. Lower wattage panels might extend the battery life, but couldn't sustain for long.