[DaPaus]

Hi Hack Community,

It's DaPaus with a question.
I didn't really know where to post it, so feel free to move.

Well my question is: Does anyone have ideas for a powergenerator that produces the energy for 1 computer?

[Frooxius]

Your post contains too little information. What kind of computer it is? What exactly is "portable"? And how long do you want it to last?

Various computers have different power consumption needs and also need different voltage to run. While most desktop computers are powered by a PSU, which changes usually AC 240/120V at 50/60 Hz from the power outlet to DC 12V, 5V usually also 3.3V and some other voltages a laptop is usually powered directly from a battery, that produces DC current with voltage usually around 12-20 V (mine has 15 V).

Also, desktop computer might consume even 100 watts when idle and even hundreds of watts at peaks (often start-up consumes a lot for a short period of time) or during intensive load, such as running a game or something else that's performance intensive, while laptop might satisfy with just 15 watts at load for example and much less during idling, which includes the display. Of course, laptop already has its own portable powersource, but you might also power/charge it from the adapter, which usually needs aforementioned AC 100-240 V, which it converts to some other voltage, say 20V DC, however you might find some generators that produce directly same voltage as the adapter and plug it to the laptop.

Regarding the portability, do you want something that you can carry in back-pack? Or something larger (but more powerful) that you can carry around in a car? There are some portable generators that usually run on some kind of fuel, but note, that definition of "portable" might differ among models.

And last thing... how long do you need it to run? If it's a fuel one, you will run out of fuel sooner or later, if it's a battery one, it will run out of juice too. Or would you like something mechanical, where you manually spin something for example? That can somewhat work with a laptop. There are also solar ones, but from what I've seen, they are barely enough to charge a phone over several hours.

What do you need it for? If you need to overcome power-outages, you might get an UPS, which gives you at least a few minutes (it usually has a battery), to save your documents and securely shut down your computer, but you also need to put the type of computer and its power consumption in the regard.

[DaPaus]

Well the computer where I am speaking about is an old Packerd Bell computer. It has an adapter that is connected with a 220V Electric cable. The computer will be used as a Server. It doesn't have to be portable. The whole popuse of the project is to move my little computerlab to the shed in the backyard. But I have no power there. Maybe you ask now why don't you stay at the place you are now. My answer: I have only one plug in here. And if I power 3 computers at the same time, I have an outake. I was thinking to use a magnet motor. It's green energy and can give some voltages. Oh yeah and another reason why I do it: My parents pay the elecricity bill and they are freaking out every time. So they are planning to let me pay 1/4 but as a 15 year old kid without a job that needs to run and maintain his lab and social life, It is nearly Impossible to afford. If you need more info just ask.

[1llusion]

Hmm why don't you rack the computer in some data center nearby? They aren't usually very expensive =)

[DaPaus]

Because there are no datacenter earby only private datacenters from company's. And the idea is to power my own.

[Frooxius]

Umm... and what about using an extension cord? However, there might be a reason why there are no power outlets, what kind of shed is it? Are you sure it is safe to run such devices there, without any risk of damage or fire? What about humidity and water, when it's raining?

Additionally, you probably get outtakes because there's too much devices on a single branch of the power circuity and the overall current causes the circuit breaker to well... break it. If you have more separate power circuits, each having its own circuit breaker, I would recommend using the other one.

I don't think that power generator is a viable option for a non-stop run of the server, using the "magnet motor" (you probably mean alternator) requires constant supply of a fuel that will make it spin in order to generate power. What matters even more than voltage, is the current, or their product - power. If the computer needs more power than it can generate, it won't work, or it will even get damaged.

If it is a green energy depends on the fuel, but usually it's not at all, as you use gasoline or something like that. It would be green energy if it ran on hydrogen, which in combination with oxygen produces heat (energy) and water, but I doubt you would even get one of these and then even get enough hydrogen to fuel it (it's very expensive, even more than gasoline, and a lot of energy is needed to actually manufacture it, so I wouldn't call it green right now), plus it is quite dangerous, as there's risk of an explosion if not handled appropriately.

Additionally, how are you gonna supply fuel to the generator all the time? Secondly, generating your own power this way is way more expensive than simply using the supplied electricity, so how are you gonna pay for so much fuel, especially as a 15 year old with no job?

[DaPaus]

Yeah your're proberly right it was a rear idea. I just hoped to let it work.

EDIT 100th posts