Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

I WOULD LIKE TO CHARGE MY LAPTOP WITH A SOLAR PANEL. IT RUNS ON A LITHIUM BATTERY. DO LITHION BATTERIES REQUIRE A DIFFERENT TYPE OF CHARGE? CAN I JUST FEED MY LAPTOP (WHICH I'M ASSUMING HAS AN INTERNAL CHARGER) THE LOW AMPERAGE 15-20 VOLTS AND NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT FRYING THE POWER SUPPLY OF THE COMPUTER?
ANY SUGGESTIONS WOULD BE APPRECIATED.[/i][/b]

Hi jaycanode!

I supplied "Can I charge my laptop with a solar panel?" to answers.com. The first two web results seem right on. I didn't look lower in the list, but there may be other matches, as well.

Hi jaycanode
I have a small solar panel. it's stated output is 3.2W 18.8v 170mA the output stated on the laptop inverter is 24.5v 1.875A the battery is 10V.I want to switch the laptop off during the day and charge the battery(while still in laptop)via solar then use the computer in the evenings. I did the search on answers.com as suggested by Dave but didn't really find anything that answered this question..... did you have any luck?

Will

Hi Will!

Maybe, I'm reading things incorrectly? You only need to look at the "Web Results," not "Sponsored Results."

Reference 1, http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/article/ ... 906,00.asp gives a general discussion of products to charge electronic devices, including laptops.

Reference 2, http://rmowe.home.att.net/photovoltaic.html gives plans for a specific recharger. Reference 2 also has some general equations.


There may be good hits in other references. Note references 1 and 2 are expensive, so they may not meet your needs. Other references may be better.

Note: it is possible because of the expense involved, or if the equations don't work out (for example, there's not enough power), the overall answer is no, it's not possible (actually, not feasible).

Please buzz back if you have any questions.

Thanks.

In this case you're not dealing with the battery, but with the laptop power supply. The battery charger is hided inside the laptop or inside the battery pack itself.
So, in your case you should provide the input that filfills the minimum requirements of the DC input and i quess that you can't do this using the solar cell only. It's output current is also too low.

Looks like you'll need additional box that would charge intermediate battery cells from the solar cell and discharge them into the laptop DC input, while producing valid DC voltage and output current and this isn't feasable.

Another option is to check if there is an option for battery pack that using standard rechargable cells (like A or B type). In this case you can buy a solar charger for these cells, charge them and then put them into the laptop battery pack.