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11-13-2017, 05:46 PM | #1 |
Gone Mad
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Buford, GA
Posts: 8,988
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Buggy For Emergency Power?
After watching Puerto Rico's power woes, I thought about this.
If I lose power for an extended time, I would unplug my DPI, but if I'm out of town, would the DPI discharge the batteries if left on float without power? Second question. My Dell Inspiron 15 7559 laptop has a charger that is 120 VAC to 19.5 volts DC @ 6.7 amps output. Sure I can use an inverter to get 120 volts, but using a somewhat inefficient inverter to step up to 120 VAC, then another switcher to step down the 120 VAC to 19.5 VDC seems like a waste, given both have heat sinks. Does anyone know if a laptop could be safely run on +/- 18 volts? At full charge, 3 - 6 volt batteries would be at 19.11 volts, but over time would slowly discharge. I can easily charge my phone with my USB adapter, and can tether it to get internet on my laptop. I know, why not just use my smart phone instead of the laptop. Well, I just like a full sized keyboard. thanks |
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11-13-2017, 07:59 PM | #2 | |
Gone Insane
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: TN/NC/GA Tri-state area
Posts: 3,952
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Re: Buggy For Emergency Power?
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11-13-2017, 10:38 PM | #3 | |
Gone Mad
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Buford, GA
Posts: 8,988
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Re: Buggy For Emergency Power?
Quote:
Again, this an "end of the world" situation, not a daily/monthly/yearly/etc. event. I don't need food, fridge, water, etc. That's all taken care of. I just wanna be able to power a laptop, but if that ain't possible, I gots me a smart phone. That will only work as long as the cell towers can get backup diesel for their gennies. Most diesel will go to hospitals, water and sewer treatment plants, dialysis clinics, etc. I used to be in the biz. |
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11-14-2017, 12:49 AM | #4 | |
going,.. going,.. gone!
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Third Rock from the Sun...Vegas baby!
Posts: 1,422
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Re: Buggy For Emergency Power?
Quote:
Especially since chances are there would be no wifi/Internet anyway. |
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11-14-2017, 08:55 AM | #5 | |
Techno-Nerd
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 19,654
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Re: Buggy For Emergency Power?
Quote:
The battery discharge rate of a powered down DPI would be the reverse biased leakage current through a pair of SCR's, so it wouldn't be very much. Probably far less than the self-discharge rate of the batteries themselves. DPI doesn't mask the part# on the SCR's, so you can look up the reverse leakage, or stick an ammeter in the charging loop and measure it. As for the other stuff, I don't know, I use a gasoline powered inverter type generator to power critical electrical stuff during power outages and keep enough fuel on-hand for 2-3 weeks of operation. |
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11-15-2017, 03:55 AM | #6 |
Gone Mad
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Buford, GA
Posts: 8,988
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Re: Buggy For Emergency Power?
Yeah. I don't have a generator, and when I lived on the Georgia coast, during hurricane/tropical storm outages, there were none to be found.
Just bored pondering. I still may try my laptop on pure 18 +/- DC, once it's beyond its useful life. Hate to kill a gaming machine that's only a couple of years old. |
11-15-2017, 08:59 AM | #7 | |
Gone Insane
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: TN/NC/GA Tri-state area
Posts: 3,952
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Re: Buggy For Emergency Power?
Quote:
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11-15-2017, 05:13 PM | #8 |
Gone Mad
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Buford, GA
Posts: 8,988
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Re: Buggy For Emergency Power?
Yeah. It was much easier back in the old day when AC could vary +/- 10% and everything would be fine. In fact, 110 was the norm in my neck of the woods. Over decades it incrementally crept up to 120.
Luckily, my smart phone has a USB female adapter, so I may be able to use a real keyboard with it. Never tried, as I don't have one. My cable modem would have to be powered by 12 volts DC, and can be a backup wifi to my phone's 4G, which depends on their diesel generator backup. |
11-15-2017, 10:29 PM | #9 | |
Gone Insane
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: TN/NC/GA Tri-state area
Posts: 3,952
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Re: Buggy For Emergency Power?
Quote:
I've not relied on grid power in decades. I feel that is better than relying on it, then trying to compensate when it goes down. I find myself timing my use of power so I can use more mostly when the power system batteries are fully charged and there is excess power to use. I charge my RXV during that time. |
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11-16-2017, 02:23 AM | #10 |
Gone Mad
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Buford, GA
Posts: 8,988
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Re: Buggy For Emergency Power?
I have a paper library, which my son - 27 - makes fun of. In the event I have to survive for a while on my own, I'm covered.
I got an old school hand crank megger, that I can charge a cell and maybe a laptop from, with a little circuitry. I also have a '94 Accura, which I can cannibalize to rig up a bicycle and alternator... I think I'm drifting off topic, into the crazy survivalist mode. I was really just thinking about weeks or months. Puerto Rico is beyond that. |
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