GTIS Power and Communications Systems
Do you know have an off-grid solar system with battery backup? Have you ever wondered about the battery state of charge? Do you want to monitor how much energy went into or has been taken out of these batteries? Would knowing the battery’s health help you plan for their replacement one day?
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I tested a smattering of USB-C cables and USB PD chargers with a Lenovo Thinkpad E480 which uses USB-C PD charging. I was specifically looking at equipment for off-grid use for solar charging of laptops in a village situation. Is USB-C charging going to be the next big thing? Do different products interoperate well? Is the technology ready for the real world?
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Laptop computers are now being produced which use a USB Type-C connector to charge the laptop. Laptops need more power than phones or tablets, and the new USB PD protocol (PD = Power Delivery) makes much higher power levels possible; up to 100W can be passed over some USB-C cables. The USB specs and terminology keep getting revised and now contain a smorgasbord of optional features, and the marketing terminology is totally confusing. Here’s my summary of what you need to know about USB-C laptop charging, cables and chargers.
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