Javier,<br><br>The solar panels are just an option, but surely the best way is build a device that can provides the proper energy to an XO; In fact, that was part of an original idea. In the COS, we still search for the best way to help with that, specially after the problems with potemkos or other equipments. Is not a hard way only needs dedication.<br>
<br>Greetings,<br><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">2008/5/6 <a href="mailto:info@olpc-peru.info">info@olpc-peru.info</a> <<a href="mailto:info@olpc-peru.info">info@olpc-peru.info</a>>:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
<div bgcolor="#ffffff" text="#000000">
Hello Alfonso,<br>
<br>
According to all the information from 3 or 4 different solar pannel
manufacturers you will get JUST 5% to 20% of the intended total energy
when you use the solar pannels in "not full sunny" days. That means a
huge extra cost to provide enough energy to the XOs: we will need to
multiply the number of solar panels from 5 to 20 times to guarantee
that we will reach this or that energy level.<br>
<br>
In thousands of our towns and villages, that are located over the 3,500
meters altitude, there are 4 months that are reported (by the machines
that read this data) as "100% cloudy". <br>
<br>
The best recommendation that I have found is to measure the total light
(sun) in a given period of time: months. (our worst time, and our
worries, are centered from December to March). That is a reason why I
am building a list (that will be a public list) with this info
because I think it will help many people that needs to take poltiical
decisions. This list will be updated weekly and data will be
colected. In this way we will learn how much sun exist in every one of
our 80,000 villages and towns located in our whole country (well.... in
fact the measurement can be done for ANY worldwide location, if someone
needs that I build extra data for some location, just tell me).<br>
<br>
Regards,<br>
<br>
Javier Rodriguez<br>
Lima, Peru<div><div></div><div class="Wj3C7c"><br>
<br>
<br>
Alfonso de la Guarda wrote:
</div></div><blockquote type="cite"><div><div></div><div class="Wj3C7c">Hello,<br>
<br>
In the COS (<a href="http://www.cos-la.org" target="_blank">www.cos-la.org</a>),
we are working some months ago in some options for that, specially with
a portable solar panel trying to reduce their cost (about 60 dollars
each). The device -commercially available as cell charger- is really
small and can charge the XO without any problems. In a field test in
Junin and Arahuay (Perú) the panels works great, in fact, in the recent
event of FLISOL in Huancayo (Junin-Peru) for the OLPC project, we test
the solution (commercial) between 3400 mts and 4500 mts (Ticlio).
Antonio Ramirez, Carlos Reinoso and who writes now are working in our
breaks on this task (reduce the cost for about 25 dollars each).<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<div class="gmail_quote">2008/5/5 Caryl Bigenho <<a href="mailto:cbigenho@hotmail.com" target="_blank">cbigenho@hotmail.com</a>>:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
<div>Hello Javier Rodriguez and, all the other folks on the
peripherals list,<br>
<br>
After seeing the creative things Arjun Sarwal is doing with cow-power
in India, I started thinking of other possibilities. I remembered my
grandmother's old treadle sewing machine and how excited she was to
have it electrified. Later, I saw many being used 35 years ago in
regions in the Yucatan where there was no electricity.<br>
<br>
Here is a link to a picture of what they look like. It is the one on
the left.<br>
<br>
<a href="http://www.sil.si.edu/DigitalCollections/Trade%2DLiterature/Sewing%2DMachines/" target="_blank">http://www.sil.si.edu/DigitalCollections/Trade%2DLiterature/Sewing%2DMachines/</a><br>
<br>
Many of these machines still exist. i see them at estate auctions
every summer in Montana. There must be thousands throughout the
world. I have twice tried bidding on just the treadle mechanism of one
on ebay. I lost out on the bidding for both, but have hopes of finding
one in Montana this summer.<br>
<br>
When I get one, I intend to try to set it up as a combination
desk/power source to run an XO. If it works and doesn't cost too much
to set up, it might be something that could be replicated all over the
world where these old machines still exist...some probably still being
used without electricity.<br>
<br>
Javier, have you seen any of these machines in rural Peru? Are they
still being used to sew? Would there be a need to try to design it to
continue to be used as a sewing machine but to generate power at the
same time?<br>
<br>
It might also be possible to manufacture a similar mechanism, at a
modest cost. But, the idea of recycling the old ones has a lot of
appeal. I was also wondering if an old automobile generator could be
adapted to work with it. Perhaps it would require too much torque to
work.<br>
<br>
It may be just a crazy idea, but if cow-power works, maybe this will
too. If and when I do this project, I will probably need some advice
from you folks. Any suggestions for starters?<br>
<br>
Caryl<br>
<br>
BTW, Could AJ's Cow-power generator be adapted to run on Llama power?
How about donkey power? Goat power?<br>
</div>
<br>
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<br>
</blockquote>
</div>
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<br>
-- <br>
<br>
--------------------------------<br>
Alfonso de la Guarda<br>
COS<br>
<a href="http://www.cos-la.org" target="_blank">www.cos-la.org</a><br>
<a href="http://www.delaguarda.info" target="_blank">www.delaguarda.info</a><br>
Telef. 97550914
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</div>
</blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br><br>--------------------------------<br>Alfonso de la Guarda<br> COS<br> <a href="http://www.cos-la.org">www.cos-la.org</a><br><a href="http://www.delaguarda.info">www.delaguarda.info</a><br>
Telef. 97550914