Best solar powered devices...what and where to buy?

gonin02 · Tar Sands Joined: Oct 24, 2004 Posts: 33

Hi..

Would it be possible to start a list of solar powered devices that would be worth investing in? I see things like cell phone chargers and PDA chargers, but in a post PO world, things like solar flashlights/lamps be more useful...

Also, if a link on where to get these devices, that would be great..

Terran · Posted: Sun Oct 24, 2004 5:32 pm Post subject:

In terms on solar powered flashlights, theres a pretty decent surplus on ebay.
I would suggest LED lights, because the LED's are highly efficient, and have a very long life. The solar panals will last a good 20 years.
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Anjorni · Tar Sands Joined: Oct 11, 2004 Posts: 59

What do you guys think of those 'human power' flashlights?

Ive seen a couple where you shake them for like 2 minutes and then they run for a while - but I am assuming that they're relatively weak with a short runtime...

Any experience?

(i'm thinking these would be better to store long term than a battery operated one since batteries decay after a few years)

Specop_007 · Expert Joined: Aug 12, 2004 Posts: 6101

gonin02 · Tar Sands Joined: Oct 24, 2004 Posts: 33

I think its better to just let the sun do the work instead of ourselves... our hands may be tired for plowing all that soil in our self susatining farms during the day...lol

found this while browsing... seems pretty good..

http://www.ledtronics.com/product_news/li_article_030004.htm

solar powered lantern.. LEDs..55 hours on a full charge..

emacs · Coal Joined: Oct 20, 2004 Posts: 7 Location: Germany

Do you think about small solar pannels to take them with you, or do you think about larger ones to install on your roof?

Me girlfriend and me decided to buy the larger ones and use them to charge lead accumulators (the same things you got in your car). I alredy got now 10 of them they are dry at the moment but if needed I can fill them with battery Acid and after 1 hour they are ready to use. I connected the batteries so that I will get 12 Volt with 730 AH I will use the electricity for lanterns, pumps, cooking and heating. There are many 12 Volt devices for cars.

The next Step is to get cables in the house so that we can use the electricity with normal plugs

emacs

frankthetank · Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2004 7:39 pm Post subject:

Get 1 or 2 deep cycle 12volt batteries.
Get 1 or 2 small solar panels.
Get a 100-300watt inverter (or smaller or bigger)
Charge controller?

Should be able to run pretty much everything off of this. (notebook computer, pda, rechargers, small tv, radio, lava lamp Laughing

...)

Let it charge during the day when your @ the dump collecting metal and plastics. Use it @ night when your cooking dinner over open fire watching "saved by the bell: the college years"

Terran · Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2004 9:18 pm Post subject:

savethehumans · Light Sweet Crude Joined: Oct 20, 2004 Posts: 1541

I read where they've come up with solar roof tiles! Don't know who's selling them (or if they're selling them yet), though.

I think Real Goods is the place with a full inventory of solar devices--you might want to check them out here on the Net.

Getting a book on solar passive building is another good idea--keep the place warm, or cool, naturally!

I do hope enough of a solar infrastructure can be built in time for the powered-down, post-carbon society to use! Won't be as big-time as fosfuel energy systems, but even limited power can/will be helpful.

julianj · Posted: Tue Oct 26, 2004 3:32 am Post subject: Centre For Alternative Technology

Here's another website:

The Centre For Alternative Technology

www.cat.org.uk

www.ecobooks.co.uk

This is based in Machynlleth, North Wales. I went there this summer and it is brilliant, full of excellent ideas and demonstrations. It was a slag heap of slate in the 1970's which has been turned into a resource node for alternative technologies, they have an eco-camp where you can stay if you are doing a residential course. The water-powered funicular railway is great(!).

Among the many things they sell are dual powered wind-up/solar torches (flashlights). They mail order around the world but I think it's probably too expensive outside Europe.

Also Maplins, the electronics supplier have been getting into alternative power:
www.maplin.co.uk

Ha ha ha - you can write the effing tags in and it works just as well, if not better. Wink