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Solar Powered Stereo?

During the past six month period I have completely replaced all components of my two channel system. There were two primary reasons. 1st reason, age. My old system was circa 1981-85.
2nd reason, downsize. I used to use separates, I'm now using an integrated. I am also sick and tired of trying to design a room aesthetically, around racks filled with equipment, two massive speakers and a perfectly triangulated listening position.

To each his own.

I am now upgrading and evaluating power conditioning. The last step (I hope). What a pain in the ass. Active, passive, regeneration, filters, toroidals, no toroidals, magic "light sensitive" crystals, Geez.
It seems like a giant battle between myself and the garbage my utility company provides me.

Does anyone out there have experience with solar power usage for their stereos? And I mean a "standalone" system that is isolated from a public utility power grid. A fellow Audiogoner (Davehrab) and I were discussing this concept. I think it makes sense.

I don't know if I may be getting a little feeble in my "mid-years" but, is this feasible? If it were to be a true standalone system and was not tied into the pollution that the electric company is providing you? Most solar systems provide you with straight DC ouput and DC/AC inversion, battery bank, panels, charge controllers, etc.

Any opinions? Comments? Help me out here.


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lak's avatar
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lak
4,686 posts
 
You need to talk to TWL!
twl
3,251 posts
 
Hi. Yes, I have been doing that for quite some time now. Totally stand-alone, solar powered, battery operated, individual isolated power supplies, for each item in my system. I have no connection at all to the city power pole, and have not had any for over 7 years. I run totally off solar power, with a backup generator for emergency power, in case of long weeks of overcast weather. It works quite well. I would recommend that if you are going to do this, you should obtain very low power consumption components, especially amplifiers(Like my 45, or a 2A3) and high efficiency speakers. This will allow a lower cost power generation package, and provide better run-time.

There are many benefits to providing power to your system like this, and it is feasible for lower power systems. You could do it with a big power system, but it would be very very costly and cumbersome. It could be done though, if you really wanted it, and could spend the large amount needed for high power consumption systems.

The details are quite complex, so I cannot list them here. I am getting probably the cleanest power of anyone on this website. I tried to put up a few threads on this awhile back, but got little interest. If you search the archives for "battery power", you will turn them up.
buscis2's avatar
buscis2 OP
468 posts
 
Thank you TWL. When I initially discussed it with Davehrab, I thought it made perfect sense. Are you using any additional power "purification" components, whether they be active or passive, and is there a specific type of inverter designed to work specifically with sensitive electronic components? Is there such a thing as an "audio grade" inverter?

I am presently auditioning several passive and active types of power conditioning. For many years I used on old antique API power wedge 116. Extremely effective given it's year of introduction and somewhat antiquated design criteria. Although, I'm finding that most types of passive power conditioning are pretty much doing the same thing.

I'm wondering if solar allows you to circumvent typical means of power conditioning. I'm finding that whether it be active or passive conditioning, they all seem to have their own sonic signature.
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