Comments on: DIY solar computer system, part 1 http://pingswept.org/2007/12/07/diy-solar-computer-system-part-1/ Taking the zen out of citizen journalism since the 1900's Tue, 06 Jan 2009 11:58:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Mike Goelzer http://pingswept.org/2007/12/07/diy-solar-computer-system-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-35262 Mike Goelzer Wed, 02 Jan 2008 17:35:20 +0000 http://pingswept.org/2007/12/07/diy-solar-computer-system-part-1/#comment-35262 Hey Brandon, could <a href="http://www.goelzer.org" rel="nofollow">Goelzer.org</a> (the philanthropic arm of M W Goelzer & Associates LLC) just donate the bloody 700 bucks to solarize this thing? I really think you're on to something here, but my understanding of analog design basically starts and ends with Ohm's Law, so I don't know how to help. Unless you have a question about Ohm's Law? But seriously, please consider: if you could devise some sort of kit for a combination solar + grid power supply that can be swapped into common OEM computers, I think a lot of hobbyists would be interested. "Kit" to me basically just means: - a precise list of parts with links to the vendor's site - a set of detailed instructions for how to put everything together - the files to print the PCB (if any... this project seems to require only finished subassemblies?) - optional: a bucket of sand, one monkey, bananas, a Python interpreter written in Python I'd be pretty interested in setting up a web server powered (almost) entirely by good old California sunshine. Also, if we both do this, we will be able to continue trading silly email messages even after the Hard Times come. If that's not reason enough for you to finish this project and post the results, I don't know what is. Mike P.S. Is that a Dell E521 in the last picture? It looks a lot like one I have. Hey Brandon, could Goelzer.org (the philanthropic arm of M W Goelzer & Associates LLC) just donate the bloody 700 bucks to solarize this thing? I really think you’re on to something here, but my understanding of analog design basically starts and ends with Ohm’s Law, so I don’t know how to help. Unless you have a question about Ohm’s Law?

But seriously, please consider: if you could devise some sort of kit for a combination solar + grid power supply that can be swapped into common OEM computers, I think a lot of hobbyists would be interested. “Kit” to me basically just means:

- a precise list of parts with links to the vendor’s site
- a set of detailed instructions for how to put everything together
- the files to print the PCB (if any… this project seems to require only finished subassemblies?)
- optional: a bucket of sand, one monkey, bananas, a Python interpreter written in Python

I’d be pretty interested in setting up a web server powered (almost) entirely by good old California sunshine. Also, if we both do this, we will be able to continue trading silly email messages even after the Hard Times come. If that’s not reason enough for you to finish this project and post the results, I don’t know what is.

Mike

P.S. Is that a Dell E521 in the last picture? It looks a lot like one I have.

]]> By: Lord Kelvin http://pingswept.org/2007/12/07/diy-solar-computer-system-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-35261 Lord Kelvin Wed, 02 Jan 2008 14:02:08 +0000 http://pingswept.org/2007/12/07/diy-solar-computer-system-part-1/#comment-35261 Brandon, Interesting project, but this sounds suspiciously like a perpetual motion machine to me. How will you illuminate the solar array? I realize that the blinking LEDs on the Ethernet card provide some light, but will it be sufficient to power the entire CPU? Especially considering that your stuff (x86 architecture) dissipates so much heat... no offense, I'm just saying. Here's a more promising approach. Using a public internet kiosk, write a Python program of moderate complexity in an editor with a very large undo buffer. Now, return home and have a specially trained monkey repeatedly press the Undo key combination ('u' in vim -- no wonder everyone says this editor is so hard to learn) to slowly reverse the program creation process. You should find that everything else happens in reverse as well: the CPU becomes very cold, the cooling (heating?) fan spins in the opposite direction, and the power supply inputs can be used to run other appliances. Hook up a few Diebold machines and you've got yourself a truly 'green' polling place!!1! Sure, you will have to continually inject energy into the system in the form of bananas to feed the monkey, but that will be true of any monkey-based design. Lord K. Brandon,

Interesting project, but this sounds suspiciously like a perpetual motion machine to me. How will you illuminate the solar array? I realize that the blinking LEDs on the Ethernet card provide some light, but will it be sufficient to power the entire CPU? Especially considering that your stuff (x86 architecture) dissipates so much heat… no offense, I’m just saying.

Here’s a more promising approach. Using a public internet kiosk, write a Python program of moderate complexity in an editor with a very large undo buffer. Now, return home and have a specially trained monkey repeatedly press the Undo key combination (’u’ in vim — no wonder everyone says this editor is so hard to learn) to slowly reverse the program creation process. You should find that everything else happens in reverse as well: the CPU becomes very cold, the cooling (heating?) fan spins in the opposite direction, and the power supply inputs can be used to run other appliances. Hook up a few Diebold machines and you’ve got yourself a truly ‘green’ polling place!!1!

Sure, you will have to continually inject energy into the system in the form of bananas to feed the monkey, but that will be true of any monkey-based design.

Lord K.

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