This video over at Solar-UMPC.com goes over details about how you can connect and run your UMPC (and other devices) from a portable solar panel. There’s details on the components used and how you use batteries, controllers and converters to provide a complete solar solution for multiple devices.

I will be using this set-up on the solar-umpc tour and it weighs around 6KG including UMPC, solar panel and battery storage. The total storage capacity of the solution is around 160W/hr which, when used with the Q1b gives around 17hours of online computing time with a collection and storage capability (here in Germany on a sunny day) of around 100W/hr per day. The system can output voltages from 5v to 19v and I have a set of tips that should allow me to charge almost anything. I’m quite please with it but if anyone has suggestions for improvements I’ll happily consider them. Many thanks to SelectSolar for their help in preparing this solution.

Solar powered computing video.