Calculating Computer Power Consumption for a Mobile, Marine, and Off-Grid Electrical Systsem?

This video will teach your how to figure out how much power your laptop or desktop computer uses for a mobile, marine, and off-grid electrical system.

This is episode 2.3 in our Electrical System Sizing Playlist in the EXPLORIST.life Academy.

Here are some additional resources that you may find helpful with planning and installing your DIY Camper:

FULL ELECTRICAL INSTALLS:

00:00 Introduction
00:56 Laptop Computers: Plugged in vs Unplugged
01:35 How much power does a laptop use when unplugged?
02:43 How many times per day is a laptop battery used?
03:26 What if I don't use my laptop every day?
04:11 Discussion Break!
04:39 What if I only use my laptop while plugged in?

[dannythompson]

“…outside of any rapture-level events…” 😂😂

[TCDIXON]

I been researching for a few years trying to figure out the best off grid computer system to use my current setup is a Mele Mini PC with win11 plugged into a 14" portable screen and only using 12 - 16 watts an hour depending what I'm doing

[dannythompson]

A huge variation in laptop power consumption is under control of the user. Typically, right-click on the battery icon on your laptop and control things like how long the screen stays on, how bright it is under various conditions, whether the hard drive spins constantly or on demand, and how quickly the laptop powers down due to lack of use. With that in mind, it may be useful to test power consumption with a variety of setting combinations.

[reem]

Laptop: Dell XPS 15 (9650)
Battery Capacity: 97Whr
Laptop Weekly Usage: ~10hr

[obiebrown]

Why would you not use the power meter to also calculate the "use on battery" consumption as well.
Simply use on battery for 4 hours and then plugin to charge (turn it off) you then will know when fully charged how much the 4 hours usage took to re charge.

This seems way more accurate then other method you described.

You can then get a true accurate per hour usage for both plugged in and off battery usage.

[carykern]

Samsung Galaxy book 3 Business: 54 WH up to 10.9 hours.
Samsung Tablet 9 FE, 12 WH @ 18 Hours.

[patriciabarnes]

I am converting a 7 x 12 cargo trailer and my brother installed plus jury-rigged my solar system. My brother is gone now and I want to eventually upgrade the system. I dont want to be a solar guru just undo some of the jury rigging he did. I am an old lady with limited income and it will take me some time to get this done. I cannot afford to pay a company to do this. I need help but cannot find anyone to help me. Please can you help me?

[sdfaulk]

Mac 16" 2019 with a 8700 mAh battery

[anthonyrstrawbridge]

Running a vintage quad core PC with an old 32" LED TV HDMI using a junking cheapo 350 watt peak inverter MSW inverter from Lowe's. And a LED desk lamp. Total load averages less than 160 watts at full power then drops to approximately 80 watts at idle. I can also run on an inexpensive 150 watt cigarette lighter type inverter ( no fan), it's extremely efficient and has lasted over a decade with occasional use.. I can not hit these numbers running my newish 2400 Watt American Made Pure Sine Inverter. It's constantly broken down. Now it makes my LEDs flicker which causes them to consume 50% more power. ✌🏻👶🏻🚬

[berthaduniverse]

Hey Nate. We have a MS Surface, and like yours, the batteries are kind of flat. Lucky for us, we have a 12v adapter (From MS) we use in the trailer, so I have not checked it's load on a killawatt, but maybe the Victron 712 can??? Maybe.

[yami]

Are there like PC/laptop sensors just like for water tanks/solar/battery/etc to be added to the monitor display? Idk if its even needed. Just wondering since everything has some type of sensor monitoring. Thanks!

[lickalittle]

Killawatt meters work pretty well. I was typing before you mentioned that 😅