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Efficient enough to run on battery power, laptops are gaining more and more popularity, with companies slashing their prices to make it more affordable for a larger section of society. Though battery power is not completely a green option for the environment, its use is inevitable as it has to be used to generate and store power while switching to alternative options. However, several options are being invented, which can assist in consuming the least amount of power possible to run laptops, without totally banking on battery power or grid electricity. In this article, we will explore some simple ways to power your laptops without using grid electricity.
Read on:
1. Use a Power Inverter
A good alternative source to power laptops can be by extracting the same from car batteries. However, this option is feasible only to those users who have a car at their disposal. The laptop can be connected to the car battery via a cigarette lighter socket or crocodile chips or which acts as a direct link between the battery and the laptop. It not is one of the most reliable sources of power but is also very convenient as you do not need extra peripherals while travelling.
2. Inverter with batteries
People owning a laptop, but not a car, should not be disheartened as this one’s for you. A battery-powered option though, this alternative method is both, permanent and mobile as you can make your own battery bank with a portable AC and USB adapter, without the use of grid electricity. It helps speeds up your battery life, is highly portable and the best back up power solution while on the move, in air or on wheels.
3. Deep Cycle battery power
Though these batteries are heavy in weight, they are light on pocket and can prove to be indispensable when you need power for long continuous hours, with no recharging facility available, with a slow drain. They are characterized as being portable and stable, though you have to carry their charger as their peripherals. Depending on cost, maintenance and ventilation factors you can choose from two available options in this category, namely sealed deep cycle batteries and flooded deep cycle batteries.
4. USB Peripherals
This system of generating power for laptops is solely dependent on its USB port as the portable external disk drives and the wireless USB powered modem extract all their power from the laptop itself, making it possible for you to continue working even in the absence of grid electricity. However, this method of using your external drive will exhaust your battery faster, and in case of a new laptop, a plenty of USB drives as peripherals have to be loaded to avail of this facility as backup during blackouts.
5. Permanent Solar Power
Solar power option to get power for laptop usage involves no moving parts and very little maintenance. Photovoltaic solar panels, an inverter and batteries are all you need to support this method of powering your laptops. However, this system involves huge costs and is dependent on sun’s rays for energy, making it difficult to operate during cloudy days.
6. Mini Wind Power
You can support your laptop activities by opting for wind turbines which will enable you generate power to run your laptop, provided your vicinity has good supply of wind. A mini-turbine, instead of a huge turbine plant capable of powering an entire house, can do the needful as it can generate 100 to 600 watts of power everyday. All you need is a detailed plan or a city planner certificate to use this system for small projects, as they are mainly used on sailboats and yachts. The only drawback is that wind turbines have moving parts which require a lot of maintenance.
7. Micro hydro Electricity
This one is the most cost effective of all the available alternatives as it produces energy consistently and uses limited batteries to store power as well. However, the disadvantage lies in the fact that you need water regularly and uninterruptedly, along with a water license, giving you the rights to operate your laptop on a liquid source of power.
With greener models of laptops present in the market and gaining popularity gradually, the dependence on grid electricity is reducing day-by-day, creating awareness among users to protect our planet by adapting to eco friendly alternatives.
