How about an episode on mobile power for use with lot of different devices?

[G+_Joe C. Hecht]

How about an episode on mobile power for use with lot of different devices?

 

Sure, we have seen all those multiple output USB power cubes, (most don't work that well), but what happens when you have a lot of devices that use a lot of different connectors?

 

Here is an example of a mobile power solution for a car or boat, where you can quickly disconnect, pick it all up (sans batttery) and move it to a hotel room (or cruise ship cabin) where you can plug into wall power.

 

But there has to be a cleaner solution! This mess mobile powers:

 

3 iPhone/iPad 30 pin devices

8 Nexus/Dell tablets/phones

2 Microsoft Surface RT's (pogo connectors)

1 Samsung Chromebook

4 120w/18v HP Laptops (same connector)

2 Mac minis

1 Micro hdmi display (9v@2a)

4 RaspberryPi/BegalBones (4 usb powered hubs)

1 netgear router

1 mifi

1 led light

 

It uses 2 pure sine wave inverters plugged into an absorbed glass matt marine battery that is fed from the car's or boat's main battery.

[G+_610GARAGE]

Hmmm. Something like this: http://www.mpja.com/5-Volt-Power-Supply-30A-150W/productinfo/31022%20PS/ would probably work quite nicely for the 5 volt devices (which looks like half of your clutter).

[G+_610GARAGE]

For non 5volt power, you could also just use an couple of extension cords, cut off the ends and wire nut them together. Then just plug in the wall warts, and zip tie them together. Then drop the hole thing int something like a pelican case, plop a fan and one of these on the outside to make it look purdy:

http://www.amazon.com/Amico-IEC320-Module-Rocker-Switch/dp/B008DS1NC0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1392423084&sr=8-1&keywords=B008DS1NC0

 

For wire management, you could just use Velcro straps, and just throw them into the case. Not elegant, but simple.

[G+_Srin]

Wait Here is the Best Option: http://amzn.to/1g5zGKW

[G+_Roger Joiner]

where's the build plans.....how do i make my own??????????

[G+_610GARAGE]

This may be pushing it, but you could also through one of these in:

 

http://www.amazon.com/CyberPower-CP350SLG-Standby-350VA-Compact/dp/B004OR0V2C/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1392515035&sr=8-11&keywords=ups

 

Theoretically, if you attach a 12 volt plug to the battery in the ups, and plug it into a running car, it would not only char the ups, but run the chargers.

[G+_Joe C. Hecht]

A lot of great ideas!

 

FWIW, I have had horrible luck using ups units in the car (basically, my marine batter/inverter does the same thing). I started out with a ups, powering a small router. For the current draw, it should have lasted for hours, but no, 30 minutes was about all it would give. Doing some experiments, it turns out the efficiency of the inverters used in ups units are not very good, and you get about the same run time , no matter what you plug into it.

[G+_Joe C. Hecht]

Hey, thanks for the shoutout on my power rig in "Known How Episode 81"

 

A couple of "quick" notes:

 

It only looks like a fire hazard :) A dozen or so 10 watt phone chargers may look scary, but they pull only a small fraction of the rigs current rating. The real danger is the shock factor when you spill your coffee... No real ground means a GFCI ain't gonna work :)

 

While the rig works looks ugly, but has one advantage: One assembly sheet instructions means anyone in the office staff can put one together.

 

With the marine battery, this thing can deliver the power needed to keep someone working for about 29 hours!

 

I have had no trouble at all carrying the rig though airports (sans marine battery). It travels well in an 88 pound carry on bag, stuffed with the equipment, cords, adapters, antennas, spare hard drives and parts, and repair kits. In the U.S., they take one look at it, realize the headache, and tell me to move right along. In Europe, zero stops (so far), and only a few raised eyebrows.

 

My biggest problem has been convincing cabin stewards on cruise ships to overlook the mess, and to try to avoid all the cords on the floor when they make up the room.

 

Thanks for the tip on the Energiser battery packs. For "Light Duty" power needs, I have been using a stack of Tekkeon "My Power All" 3450's for temp power between the car and hotel or when boarding a cruise ship. They have adjustable voltage (5V, 6V, 7.5V, 9V, 12V, 14V, 16V, 19V) (be careful to set it correctly for the device), USB power out, and on some models, two can be strapped together, doubling the potential. You can get just about avery adapter under the sun, including a car cig-power plug that can run a pocket sized inverter and is capable of providing on the spot 120v "wall power" in the 200 watt range. After a hurricane, I sometimes walk up the block to check on the neighbors,

toting a living room sized lamp powered by one of these little pocket packs! http://www.tekkeon.com

 

And why all the devices? Code. Lots and lots of code to compile for a lot of different devices. With project compile times taking as long as eight or nine hours, when I have to go somewhere, I can't just close the office, so we just slide it all into the carry on, wheel it out to the car, Lynda drives, I code, and we never miss a beat, unless we are flying, and in that case, turning off all devices prior to takeoff has a whole new meaning :)

 

Final note: While multi-output USB wall chargers all all the rage, I have had very bad luck with them. Perhaps it was because I started ordering as soon they became available, and they jsut had not gotten the quality where it needs to be, but in any case, I just out of time and money to devote to testing the latest greatest. Only one thing beats a genuine Apple power cube, (and thats the ASUS cubes for the Transformer Pad TF models, as they can also deliver simi useful 15V via a USB 3 cord).

 

FinalNote^2: A big "thank you" goes to the 610bob for the link to the 5V 30 amp power supply. Very cool!

 

WooHoo!