~Toughbooktalk~

Hello,

I was wondering if anyone on the forum has done any power testing with their toughbook laptop(s)... I would be interested to learn the idle and heavy power consumption any given models(Looking for most efficient); I am also very interested to know what models have successfully been run from 12V battery(11.68V-15.5V) directly(Some have); This is of interest to me because I am off-grid and a power miser much of the time, and even the DC-DC converters take an additional 20% power.


IF say a laptop used 15W at 25% load, over a 24 hour period; That is 0.36KWh, through DC-DC buck it's 0.43KWh;
Granted thats only 72Wh/day additional, when you also consider 5 days without sun, that's enough power saved to run DC fridge for 3 days, and, well.. It can add up...

Cheers

Jeff..paging Jeff....we need help in aisle 3...

Thinking about it.
I prefer 24V for smaller wire size and longer run.
Whatever you do keep the batteries above 12/24V.
Best bang for the buck is another solar panel.
It's late, still thinking.....listening to the wind charger.

The cottage is already built, a lot of thought went into going 12V vs higher, 24V was tempting... It is budget oriented and while the copper cost a bit more(meh), using cheap(or not) 12V appliances, relays, chargers(gas gen), isolators, and disposable inverters won out. (Not the popular choice)

There are 1860Watts of panels installed, but half the year they are partially shaded. Keeping power use low, allows for reflected/ambient light charging. 4-6KWh/day in the summer months.

That's my reasoning anyway, it really $uck$ to have to buy computers to test them! hehe

First of all most Toughbooks require 15.6 V. so a hard wired Lind converter/charger would work on a whole house 12V system....hard wired in with a switch.
With a second one in a vehicle....anytime you burn gas you charge batteries.
My CF-53 is pretty light on it's feet. ATM it's 87% (9 hours)(I think it's bragging.) CF-29 MK1 seem longer lived too.
The only appliance I own is a blender. Fridge is LPG. House wire 110V.
When we started we had a worn 12V battery (Auto) a 40W panel and a light bulb.
...wait wait wait that was second gen First was the 12V bulbs. I had a couple desktop lamps that used tail-light bulbs. Bypassed the 110V in the lamp base.
With a cloudy day my remote meter just now showed 26.2 and 02 amps.....plugging in the computer it went to jumping between 03 and 05 A. Crude but works relatively. The inverter is 60 feet from the house, switched off from the bathroom most nights in the winter.
Our "man" for solar/wind has installed panels hundreds of feet from the client's house. I think on one he had 220 V DC might have been more run through direct burial 12 gauge. That's his story, don't quote me. I mean he did what he said and I have forgotten the details.
Chore time. Maybe I could put these sheep on a treadmill.

Sadlmkr wrote:First of all most Toughbooks require 15.6 V.

Have you tested any variable voltage ranges yourself? The 2003 era Toughbook models that ran on 12V car batteries would simply not charge the internal battery, but it would continue to run... This is along the lines of my NEC Daylite, 16V officially, but it would continue to run down to 11.X volts . My hope is some of the newer toughbooks might be the same.

Most laptops these days are 19V input with 11.xV batteries, they unfortunately have voltage checks built into them to prevent lower than 19V supplied power from actually running them(maybe some dont?).

I have battery 12Vdc outlets wired throughout along with 110V..
My panels are mounted to the side of the building, since the distances were so short, it helped with going 12V, parallel installed panels.

How many pounds of propane does your fridge use in a given timeframe?(size of fridge?).

Sorry, I'm not that technical.

My theory is the toughbook cost more than the power supply. "Protect the TB"

Second....I don't have options.....Burn as little fossil fuel as possible is one however.

Am I careful....no. I raise sheep....if I get all nervous, they get all nervous.

So...early this a.m. the inverter shut down due to low voltage (21.5)....ME? I went to bed after shutting the inverter off. The wind charger had it up to 23.9 when I got up.

Sadlmkr wrote:Sorry, I'm not that technical.
My theory is the toughbook cost more than the power supply. "Protect the TB"
Second....I don't have options.....Burn as little fossil fuel as possible is one however.

Am I careful....no. I raise sheep....if I get all nervous, they get all nervous.

So...early this a.m. the inverter shut down due to low voltage (21.5)....ME? I went to bed after shutting the inverter off. The wind charger had it up to 23.9 when I got up.

I play around a lot and install redundant systems as a matter of interest and power reduction...

Based on your comments, some information you might find useful...

A general rule of thumb is you can't harm anything(computers/electronics) with a LOWER voltage; it will simply not function(properly)/start if too low(Usually the latter).

Inverters are sneaky buggers, I have 3 installed at the moment, 1000W Pure Sine, 1800W Modified, and a 75W Modified. Each are isolated by physical switches, when one is on, the others are disconnected, I also isolate the AC side for issues with Floating Neutral differences. Why? The 1800W inverter consumes about 12W in standby/On, the 1000W 0.6amps(7.2W), 75W 0.08amp(1Watt).

So the big inverter just being 'on' and not doing anything, consumes 0.288KWh/day(Enough to run 15W laptop for 19 hours, or a SunDanzer/Steca 12/24V fridge for 2.5 days), the 1000W 0.173KWh/d, and the 75W only 0.024KWh/d. So when the sun is in short supply, for the majority of the time I can switch to the 75W inverter to operate lighting and light electrical items. When I need to use heavier power, 2 switches and I'm back on a larger inverter...
Inverter drain even when 'off' might be a problem on your end?(If not physically disconnected).

Some stuff I use:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/121138520197
http://www.ebay.com/itm/310523503559
http://www.ebay.com/itm/130897211021
http://www.ebay.com/itm/141321437017
http://www.ebay.com/itm/201206025982

Be careful with low voltage...
Ohms law..When voltage goes down.Current(amps) goes up...
Low voltage/ high current usually creates more HEAT which is bad for electronics.

I have full sky view and more panels than I need. It has been raining for a couple weeks. My wind charger (Air403) runs most of the time when a storm is coming. It was 23.9 when I got up today. I needed to charge a telephone so left the inverter on last night.
I would like a small freezer but figure I need to increase my panels....maybe go a separate system for the freezer.
Heat is your enemy with a fanless Toughbook.
The Air403 is small but at least keeps the batteries warm.

Random commentary above.