Feb 27

SunCat batteries boast built-in solar charging wrappers

Posted in: concept, green, solar, solar power, Today's Chili

Solar chargers are a dime a dozen, but who honestly feels like carrying around rechargeable cells and a recharger? Guru Knut Karlsen has conjured up a far superior idea, and rather than just working up a few drawings and making us all feel dumb for not thinking of this first, he went out and proved that solar-charging batteries are definitely ready for production. In essence, he wrapped four C size NiMH rechargeable batteries with a few samples of flexible solar cells; by using a conductive silver pen and some flat wires from a broken Canon lens, he made a connection solid enough for trickle charging to occur. Moving forward, he’d like to install a capacity gauge as well as a method for faster charging, but we’d say this ain’t half bad for a first attempt.

[Via Inhabitat, thanks Sarvesh]

Filed under:

SunCat batteries boast built-in solar charging wrappers originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Feb 2009 08:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

No Comments | Tags: , , ,
Feb 12

DS Lite solar panel mod lets you leave the PSU at home

Posted in: DS, nintendo, solar, solar power, SolarPower, Today's Chili

If you’ve got some 60 x 60 solar panels, a few diodes, some scotch tape, and a little time on your hands, you may never need to plug in your DS ever again. According to “dark sponge,” a poster over at Instructables, you can convert the Lite into a solar-powered wonder that will obviate the need for your standard PSU, and make your green leaning friends, er… green with envy. The mod involves slapping panels on both the bottom and top of the device which — when wired in parallel — get 6 volts of power at 80 mA, which is apparently perfect for a trickle charge. The only downside is you’ll have to leave the device face down for a bit, and it’s advised to keep it out of the sun all day. Still, it’s an excellent mod that doesn’t seem too difficult to execute, and ends up saving hassle and energy… and who can knock that?

[Via SlashGear]

Filed under:

DS Lite solar panel mod lets you leave the PSU at home originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Feb 2009 17:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

No Comments | Tags:
Jan 22

New eco ferry uses wind and solar to get you to the Rock — and hopefully back

Posted in: hybrid, solar, solar power, SolarPower, Today's Chili
New eco ferry uses wind and solar to get you to The Rock -- and hopefully back

Cruising across the open seas may seem like a great way to get close to nature, but take a look at the sheer quantity of fuel most boats suck down as they power through waves (and manatees) and you’ll realize the truth. Thus a new breed of eco-friendly boat has arisen, the latest entry being San Francisco’s Alcatraz Cruises Hornblower Hybrid ferry. The ship, which will take passengers on trips to the Rock and elsewhere in the Bay, uses two vertical wind turbines and a solar panel to power its on-board electronics, with any excess juice going to the boat’s propulsion systems — which still rely mostly on diesel to get the craft and its passengers where they’re going. Okay, so it’s perhaps not as green as other eco-boats we’ve seen, but a tour on this one should be a good bit more affordable when it enters service early this year.

[Via Inhabitat]

Filed under:

New eco ferry uses wind and solar to get you to the Rock — and hopefully back originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Jan 2009 10:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

No Comments
Jan 10

Kinesis K2 solar / wind charger hands-on: Captain Planet approved

Posted in: charger, Features, power, solar, solar power, SolarPower, Today's Chili

Kinesis’ K2 solar / wind charger will power any USB device and is guaranteed to disappoint people mistaking it for a handheld fan. Of course, if you’re feeling less environmental, feel free plug it into an AC outlet to reenergize the thing. Anticipating popular demand, we’ve put video after the break.

Gallery: Kinesis K2 solar / wind charger hands-on: Captain Planet approved, in theory

[Via OhGizmo!]

Continue reading Kinesis K2 solar / wind charger hands-on: Captain Planet approved

Filed under:

Kinesis K2 solar / wind charger hands-on: Captain Planet approved originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 10 Jan 2009 06:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

No Comments | Tags: , ,
Jan 10

MiniWIZ debuts solar-powered Solarbulb lamp / bottle cover

Posted in: solar, solar power, SolarPower, Today's Chili

We haven’t heard a whole lot from MiniWIZ since it introduced its Hymini wind / solar charger quite a while back, but the company looks to have rolled into CES with at least one new offering: the seemingly 2001-inspired Solarbulb lamp. To complete the device, however, you’ll have to supply your own bottle, which attaches to the bottom and can be filled with water to provide a sturdy base and some sure to be soothing lighting. The lamp itself is supposedly fully weatherproof and apparently charges in just 3-4 hours of daylight, with it able to store enough energy to provide about six hours of continuous night lighting. Unfortunately, there’s no word on a price or release date just yet, though the replacement bulbs will apparently set you back between $23 and $25 apiece.

[Via Inhabitat]

Filed under: ,

MiniWIZ debuts solar-powered Solarbulb lamp / bottle cover originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 10 Jan 2009 01:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

No Comments | Tags: , ,
Jan 02

Toyota is definitely maybe developing solar-powered car

Posted in: solar, solar power, SolarPower, Today's Chili, Toyota

Around half a year ago, we heard that Toyota was engineering a Prius that would get part of its energy from the sun; now, we’re seeing an eerily similar story from Japan suggesting that the plan is still on. In a rather odd report, it’s noted that the automaker is “secretly (oh, is it now?) developing a vehicle that will be powered solely by solar energy,” though it’s also working on a partially solar-powered whip that’ll come out long before the pure solar alternative. Regrettably, details beyond that are few and far between, though the premise here is completely reasonable given the current economy and the desire for automobiles that run on anything other than petroleum. Guess we’ll check back in six months for yet another elusive report on the so-called progress.

Filed under:

Toyota is definitely maybe developing solar-powered car originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Jan 2009 06:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

No Comments