Thread: Integrate Solar Energy in your CarPC Project

just get a solar trickle charger... they're like $20 on amazon

the main point of a laptop though is you dont have to worry about battery drain.

Originally Posted by Flaring_Afro

just get a solar trickle charger... they're like $20 on amazon

the main point of a laptop though is you dont have to worry about battery drain.

I thought about the trickle charger but....I prefer something not so bulky especially all up on my dash. I leave my eeepc in the car plus ensuring the laptop battery charge will prevent me from having to take it inside to recharge.

Aside from all that.. I'm interested in this as something a little different and fun to do. I also want a more expandable solar setup (could be used for other devices or integrations apart from the eeepc) which is also why I chose against the trickle charger.

I am still looking into connecting my eeepc directly to the car battery for now....but why limit myself to just that

Originally Posted by nobb

How do you plan to attach these to your hood...some sort of glue maybe? I would be worried about pebbles, rain, maybe even theft. Is there any reason why you need to keep the eeepc charged....shouldnt daily driving be enough?

Yes the debris issue does pose a concern and rain is not an issue...the slim flexible panels are designed for ruggedness and are waterproof. They can even be "walked on" as they market it. I've had my bra for over a year and maybe the way the hood sits I have no debris damage on the top part...in fact..what little debris damage I may have on my hood is past the bra...(aero-dynamics I suppose)

Theft is also a minor concern and hopefully I can get the panels in black which may be less eye catching..if anything people may just wonder what it is...and that it looks silly.. The panels will be connected to the bra..I may have to alter the bra...(cut and chop)..I am still brainstorming this and until I order one panel for testing and play its hard to determine exactly how I will be connecting it exactly.

I also don't drive daily..I only commute like a few minutes to work and I work only 3 to 4 days out of the week. I have a 2G Surf and of course is bottom of the line and does not have great battery usage time.

And.....I live in a loooot of sun so I want to take advantage of that source.

So here is my 'REVISED' schema which I believe is the obvious choice for this type of setup. I will be getting a dash cover and will attach the two 6v flexible panels to the cover somehow. I can hide and run the wiring underneath the cover and down the side of my dash.


These are the panels I will be using because they a flexible, lightweight, and safer for a dash installation:



You can find these on a few online stores but this is the one I am referencing: https://www.siliconsolar.com/flexible-solar-panels.html


Just a rough photoshop'd diagram:
Click the image for larger zoom




This is a rough photoshop'd close up of the dash with the panels. Remember I plan on getting a dash cover and the panels will be attached to the cover not on the bare dash as displayed below.

Click the image for larger zoom



It will be interesting to see how expandable I can make this in my car..as in what other devices I can eventually integrate with this. Baby steps, right?


For those of you who are interested in or have already "KILLED" your CarPC and replaced it with an ipod or other smartphone, this would be another great option for charging.

It would not be good for me in the back because I have limo tint in my car.

Those panels are pretty expensive and i sure doesnt seem like they will pay for them selves in the long run.