why didn’t i think of this sooner part 2: off-grid electric boogaloo
TO DO:
- Determine power requirements
- obtain kill-a-watt
- investigate lower-powered computron
- investigate DC-only computer power supplies (why invert DC to AC, send to computron’s PSU to rectify back to DC?)
- make sure you can make DC-DC convertrix for router & VOIP bawx
- Determine off-grid power sources
- solar
- Costco has 60W solar kit (4 x 15W, inverter, charge controller) for $300, best deal I’ve yet seen (item 120841)
- wind
- microturbine plans available all over the interweb, could build for cheap
- requires magnets, good ones ain’t cheap
- other
- picked up exercise bike off craigslist for $15
- needs higher gearing, heavier flywheel
- determine wheel speed range – borrow optical tachometer?
- use wheel speed to determine take-off rotary speed, match to permanent magnet DC motor (ASS has fer cheap)
- Determine power storage
- ASS has 48AH 12V deep cycle batteries for ~$40
- Proof of concept
- run crapbox (spare POS) off system for 1 month (minimum) to ensure 100% uptime, perhaps use logging system to measure battery voltage
- wintertime solar measurements should be worst-case scenario
- solar plus bike provide enough power during the winter? GOOD DAMN QUESTION.