There is a lot of interest in charging tablets and phones directly from a solar panel, without the expense of an external battery and charge controller. We’ve done some testing on a variety of phones and several tablets that charge over a micro-USB connector at 5 V to determine what is practical.
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Problem: A language worker needs to run Paratext and other translation software in his home village where there is no AC power available. We want a low-profile minimal system.
Solution
: Use two or three Solartec solar panels connected to the Half-Pint Power Bank and a Lenovo Tablet 2 10-inch Windows tablet with Bluetooth keyboard. Permanently mount the panels on roof, with the Half-Pint indoors, and keep the tablet plugged into the Half-Pint whenever practical. Continue reading
Watt-Hour Estimates for small 12V Solar Power SystemsWhen choosing a solar power system you need solar panels and batteries that can supply and store more than the average watt-hours you will be needing each day to run your equipment.
You may have heard of watts, but are wondering what a watt-hour is. Continue reading
The Villager-III system is sold without solar panels, so that you can choose the type that fits your needs best. Your choice will depend on how you want to trade off cost vs. weight vs. ruggedness vs. physical size. If you’re using the Villager as a portable system you won’t need a long heavy power cable or mounting brackets. However, for this discussion we’ll consider you want to permanently mount solar panels on your roof. Continue reading