Split: Solar power and the Pandora

[DrHAX]

Just a safe non off-topic place to discuss this idea.

 

[DrHAX]

Ideas discussing how well a solar panel mounted on the top of a Pandora would help charge it... or rather at least extend the battery life..or make sleep mods charge or at least neutral.

 

[Yellow Kitty]

I've been using this solar powerbank to charge my pandora: http://www.gearbest.com/mobile-power-bank/pp_1045.html?utm_source=shareasale&utm_medium=shareasale&utm_campaign=shareasale

I've never had any issues and it always works. Dr. Hax had the idea of placing a solar panel on top of a pandora cover. I think it would be a great idea. If a solar cell thing can do it. The solar cell thing on this specific powerbank is about the same size as the pandora screen.

EDIT:

This idea also fits well with the open source spirit of Linux and the pandora/pyra since solar power is "free energy"

 

[DrHAX]

I've been using this solar powerbank to charge my pandora: http://www.gearbest.com/mobile-power-bank/pp_1045.html?utm_source=shareasale&utm_medium=shareasale&utm_campaign=shareasale


I've never had any issues and it always works. Dr. Hax had the idea of placing a solar panel on top of a pandora cover. I think it would be a great idea. If a solar cell thing can do it. The solar cell thing on this specific powerbank is about the same size as the pandora screen.

A smaller solar cell is good because a case lid could be cut out had a thin piece of acrylic trimmed and mounted in the lid. Now the only question is what is a decent or at least Neutral output of charging energy.
Also hacking in such a beasty so the Pandora can use it AND all of its ports. Since apparently one user killed his Pandora by swapping batteries with it plugged into the mains... something which I swore I've done in the past.,

 

[Yellow Kitty]

I've been using this solar powerbank to charge my pandora: http://www.gearbest.com/mobile-power-bank/pp_1045.html?utm_source=shareasale&utm_medium=shareasale&utm_campaign=shareasale


I've never had any issues and it always works. Dr. Hax had the idea of placing a solar panel on top of a pandora cover. I think it would be a great idea. If a solar cell thing can do it. The solar cell thing on this specific powerbank is about the same size as the pandora screen.

Also hacking in such a beasty so the Pandora can use it AND all of its ports. Since apparently one user killed his Pandora by swapping batteries with it plugged into the mains... something which I swore I've done in the past.,

Maybe some type of break switch that breaks the connection between the solar cell and the panodra's power thing/battery. That way you can switch the solar cell connection off to remove or put in a battery.

 

[DrHAX]

I've been using this solar powerbank to charge my pandora: http://www.gearbest.com/mobile-power-bank/pp_1045.html?utm_source=shareasale&utm_medium=shareasale&utm_campaign=shareasale


I've never had any issues and it always works. Dr. Hax had the idea of placing a solar panel on top of a pandora cover. I think it would be a great idea. If a solar cell thing can do it. The solar cell thing on this specific powerbank is about the same size as the pandora screen.

Also hacking in such a beasty so the Pandora can use it AND all of its ports. Since apparently one user killed his Pandora by swapping batteries with it plugged into the mains... something which I swore I've done in the past.,

Maybe some type of break switch that breaks the connection between the solar cell and the panodra's power thing/battery. That way you can switch the solar cell connection off to remove or put in a battery.

That'd be easy to install on the other side of the lid by one of the speakers

 

[Granitehead]

Heat will be a problem.

 

[Binky]

Last I heard (this may be out of date), the environmental costs of making PV panels generally offsets the saving in conventional fuel that arise from being 'off-grid' for the life of the panel.

That is, its better for someone to dig out a little more coal, burn it in a power station and send the energy to you down a wire into your phone's battery, than it its to mess around making a PV panel, which has all sorts of nasty waste products and inefficiencies.

If this is the case, then the two reasons for wanting a PV panel are:

• Convenience - e.g. you want your pocket calculator to always have power
• Scarcity - e.g. you are camping in the middle of nowhere but still want to charge your electronic equipment
• Location - e.g. you live on the equator and have huge amounts of bright sunlight to capture

Carrying a large rechargeable battery pack with you charge from the mains may be a better bet than using a PV panel

Putting a PV panel on the device itself is a poor idea because, although you could get about 2W out of a top-grade 8*14cm panel, PV panels are only 20% efficient or so, so you will be dissipating 8W heat.

Relevant article showing I'm not just talking out of my hat: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/energy/2014/11/141111-solar-panel-manufacturing-sustainability-ranking/

Page with some estimates of available power: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_cell_efficiency

 

[DrHAX]

This is why I like this forum. People who know what they're talking about. One of my questions is Would it be worth it? Then cost of supplies then the modification. If the panel brings more heat into the unit then I think there'd be an issue..,

 

[rygD]

Here are a few other threads about this that might be useful:

http://boards.openpandora.org/topic/16187-pandora-solar-charging/

http://boards.openpandora.org/topic/7565-is-solar-pandora-charging-any-good/

http://boards.openpandora.org/topic/2235-solar-charging-anyone/

If you do a search you will find many others, but I don't know if those will provide any valuable info.

 

[dflatline]

I'm going to assume a lot of pandora users spend a lot of time carrying their pandora around in a bag or case when they're not using it. You know those nice little plastic boxes Pandora batteries come in? Might be better to make them slightly bigger and fit in a coil and magnet, and when the battery is placed in it a certain position the contacts touch and it'll slowly charge while you're walking around. I don't know if its feasible but if you always carried a spare battery around with you and just kept swapping them from pandora to case you might not ever need to plug a charger in it at all.

 

[Yellow Kitty]

Here are a few other threads about this that might be useful:

http://boards.openpandora.org/topic/16187-pandora-solar-charging/

http://boards.openpandora.org/topic/7565-is-solar-pandora-charging-any-good/

http://boards.openpandora.org/topic/2235-solar-charging-anyone/

If you do a search you will find many others, but I don't know if those will provide any valuable info.

Looks like the topic of solar charging has been spoken about before. From what I read of thoese threads, and from the points raised here, it might not be practicle or doable to put a small solar cell on the cover of a pandora?

 

[DrHAX]

Here are a few other threads about this that might be useful:

http://boards.openpandora.org/topic/16187-pandora-solar-charging/

http://boards.openpandora.org/topic/7565-is-solar-pandora-charging-any-good/

http://boards.openpandora.org/topic/2235-solar-charging-anyone/


If you do a search you will find many others, but I don't know if those will provide any valuable info.

Looks like the topic of solar charging has been spoken about before. From what I read of thoese threads, and from the points raised here, it might not be practicle or doable to put a small solar cell on the cover of a pandora?

However a solar battery charging station might be interesting.

 

[Wrath Of Khan]

Nobody ever wants moon power...

 

[rygD]

Nobody ever wants moon power...

 

[DaMummy]

yeah i dont know how i feel about leaving my electronics out in sunlight for prolonged time, especially something with a battery. any solar charging i use, i go through hell to make sure all thats charging is covered up and doesnt get any direct sunlight

 

[WizardStan]

If solar charging were a lot more efficient I'd be ok with it, but solar chargers are at best, like, 30% efficient, and most of the rest gets converted to heat. Technically I suppose it's better than leaving just the electronics in the sun sans solar panel, but I wouldn't do that, either.

 

[thatgui]

Last I heard (this may be out of date), the environmental costs of making PV panels generally offsets the saving in conventional fuel that arise from being 'off-grid' for the life of the panel.

I had the impression that this wasn't a contra argument anymore when PV panels exceed the 10% mark ?

 

[GreenDream]

I've been using this solar powerbank to charge my pandora: http://www.gearbest.com/mobile-power-bank/pp_1045.html?utm_source=shareasale&utm_medium=shareasale&utm_campaign=shareasale


I've never had any issues and it always works. Dr. Hax had the idea of placing a solar panel on top of a pandora cover. I think it would be a great idea. If a solar cell thing can do it. The solar cell thing on this specific powerbank is about the same size as the pandora screen.


EDIT:


This idea also fits well with the open source spirit of Linux and the pandora/pyra since solar power is "free energy"

Does this solar powerbank work well to charge the Pandora?

 

[Yellow Kitty]

I've been using this solar powerbank to charge my pandora: http://www.gearbest.com/mobile-power-bank/pp_1045.html?utm_source=shareasale&utm_medium=shareasale&utm_campaign=shareasale


I've never had any issues and it always works. Dr. Hax had the idea of placing a solar panel on top of a pandora cover. I think it would be a great idea. If a solar cell thing can do it. The solar cell thing on this specific powerbank is about the same size as the pandora screen.


EDIT:


This idea also fits well with the open source spirit of Linux and the pandora/pyra since solar power is "free energy"

Does this solar powerbank work well to charge the Pandora?

It actually does charge the Pandora well. It's worth the $14 and free shipping. There is really only one way to find out: try it.