In the meeting on 2024-05-01 we discussed ways to reduce the power usage of the space. One of the options we discussed was a space-wide DC power system, to eliminate all small chinesium power bricks.
How the system should operate:
A DC solar panel array on the roof of the space generates power during the day. This power gets stored in batteries. A 48V power distrubution system is used to deliver the power throughout the space. A large efficient AC to DC converter is used to power the system on overcast days. Several downconverters are used throughout the space to convert to the voltage that is required for the device connected.
Possible DC usages:
-Power all ESPhome sensors
-Power all low-voltage DC LED lights in the space
-Power all lower-end computers with DC (maybe replace some of them with SBCs?)
-When remodeling zaal 1 we could fit each desk space with severa USB-C PD ports to charge laptops, phones, and other gadgets that can charge over USB-C PD.
-You tell me what else you can come up with! ;D
Next steps:
-Deploying a spall scale system, maybe even just 12v to investigate what difficulties arrise when dealing with putting solar panels on the roof, figuring out where to put the batteries, and connecting the wiring system.
-After this step, finding suitable solar panels, batteries, charge controllers, a 48v power supply, and figuring out how to hook these all together.
-Investigate how to fully wire the space up for DC
-Hooking all systems together
Notes: