Survival UK Forums

(20 April 2014, 19:54)River Song Wrote: [ -> ]You're never alone with schitzophrenia

That's what I keep telling myself

Just catching up here. Just acquired a Raspberry and some books so starting reading up now.

WiFi repeaters can be powered by a very small solar panel setup, like most things most of them at 5V where it counts. I would guess that a complete set up, including repeaters could be spread over a reasonable area plus if managed by more than on Raspberry they could handle video and be encrypted between the raspberries removing the hub from being a way of tapping all calls.

The PBX as installed handles Video calls I believe although I haven't tried it yet. The SipPhone client I mention in the document, Zoiper, handles videos as well. I'll work on repeaters but am concentrating on Mesh.

I would be interested SD in how to get 5v from a small solar panel into a device such as raspberry which presents with Micro USB connector.

A small solar panel with various connectors would be most useful.

Allons-y

RS:

Maybe something like this would do the job for you?

http://www.miniinthebox.com/5500mah-port...tAodoUQAZA

LS - Thanks for that

I believe someone earlier on in this thread or my earlier thread
thought about cameras on these things as remote security or something.

Just to let you know that I have successfully put a webcam on this thing
and am streaming at 30fps. Quality is cr.p but as the camera was only £3.99 from
Aldi, it was a useful experiment

Interesting about the vid streaming. Well done.

I have a similar, but lower powered, Solar PV charger on the window ledge right next to me. I'll check its USB power outlet with the unit in full sun ( if we get any) and will let you know if it stays at 5v as per spec.

LS - Ta Very Much

I wonder whether we could use an idea of
Cheap Solar panel charging a rechargeable battery connected to a 12v cigar lighter
with a USB Charger attached.

Allons-y

(22 April 2014, 07:34)River Song Wrote: [ -> ]LS - Ta Very Much

I wonder whether we could use an idea of
Cheap Solar panel charging a rechargeable battery connected to a 12v cigar lighter
with a USB Charger attached.

Allons-y

Yep, that's what I was proposing in my reply post #8

I'm not sure that the cheapo 12v USB chargers have any voltage regulation in them. They probably expect to see 12v in. Variable voltage of an unregulated Soplar cell may also alter voltage out of the 12v convertor. Excess voltage from the cell may blow the usb convertor. Really a charge regulator for 12v is needed here.

The second idea of using a solar USB charger overcomes the regulation problem and they are designed to match their built in Solar cell's output and regulate it to USB 5v. This is a much simpler solution. That is why I'm going to check the output voltage on mine at various levels of sunlight. I expect the voltage to remain pretty much bang on 5v

Gotta go, woprk calls :-(

Yes - I am going that route
Solar Panel > 12v Battery > Cigar Lighter > USB

This document shows how I am hoping to achieve this.

[attachment=259]



Enjoy

Allons-y

RS

OK, this means that battery is providing some voltage stability and that the USB port has a 5v voltage control.

I've now tested my dedicated USB solar charger. 4.95v out in total darkness, 5.13v out in full sunlight. So it'll voltage regulate sufficiently in all conditions.

You are making good progress on this project. hats off to you!