Post 9lp6A7CYAIfPxwRY5Q by cathal@octodon.social
 (DIR) More posts by cathal@octodon.social
 (DIR) Post #9lifN1vhA5GvX1sPL6 by scribe@ganesha.masto.host
       2019-07-24T20:24:57Z
       
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       Hey #solarpunk and electronics peeps. Is there any advantage to using either DC or USB to transfer charging, if there's a choice about it? Thinking solar panels to Li-ion cells.
       
 (DIR) Post #9lirrpTIjFtlJy32Qa by scribe@ganesha.masto.host
       2019-08-09T21:52:05Z
       
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       @orbifx Like my solar panels have a 5V (ish) USB output, and a 12V DC output, and some batteries have a USB in and a separate DC in. If I have that choice, I wonder which one is better to use?
       
 (DIR) Post #9lis0hF8gvN2PJeUiG by scribe@ganesha.masto.host
       2019-08-09T21:53:41Z
       
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       @orbifx Also, any good recommendations for Amazon alternatives for electronics? A lot of the chinese factories seem to just output directly to there for their supply chain to the West now... #solarpunk
       
 (DIR) Post #9ljjujZOWTkhPWjSgi by borko@mastodon.social
       2019-08-10T01:19:22Z
       
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       @scribe @orbifx aliexpress dealextreme gearbest
       
 (DIR) Post #9loTjkJylIol4z3moi by cathal@octodon.social
       2019-08-12T12:13:14Z
       
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       @scribe @orbifx Being no expert here, my feeling is that the 12V will have lower cable losses. And, the batteries may be 12V internally, so if you charge them from 5V they are probably upvolting with a chip, which will have losses.Perhaps the best of both worlds would be if batteries and solar chips adopted USB-PD, which would let the power provider and receiver negotiate the highest voltage and power they both support, instantly. That would probably help make DIY solar way more modular..
       
 (DIR) Post #9lp6A7CYAIfPxwRY5Q by cathal@octodon.social
       2019-08-12T22:00:24Z
       
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       @orbifx @scribe Welp, should have been clearer there: increasing voltage only reduces power losses for constant power, because that effectively means lower current. So higher voltage (maybe) lets you reduces losses by delivering the same power at lower current.
       
 (DIR) Post #9lr4i2ST0tSgd0Zf7Y by scribe@ganesha.masto.host
       2019-08-13T16:17:31Z
       
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       @cathalHmm, for solar panels I'd guess current changes according to solar input, as it does with USB normally. Noise and cable quality/lengths probably a bigger factor in the system as a whole? @orbifx
       
 (DIR) Post #9lr4i2doKiXHCBsino by cathal@octodon.social
       2019-08-13T17:12:12Z
       
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       @scribe @orbifx Well outside my area of expertise I'm afraid! :)
       
 (DIR) Post #9lr4i2onfrKHkH1Uvo by scribe@ganesha.masto.host
       2019-08-13T18:30:12Z
       
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       @cathal @orbifx And mine, haha. Time to read some books...