The power just went out and you need to get that final project done on your computer. What if I told you that there are several ways in which you can power your computer without electricity? Here is how to power your computer without electricity.
You can power your computer by using any of the following energy sources:
- car battery
- solar charging kit
- portable wind turbine
- hand crank generator
- gas generator
- micro-hydroelectric generator
This may come as good news for anyone who may be in a tight spot, with their computer turning off and with no electricity. In this article, we are going to discuss at length whether computers can work without electricity, several ways you can power your computer without electricity, and also which device keeps the computer on without electricity. So sit back, relax, and read on to find out more. This is sure to be an insightful read for you!
Can Computers Work Without Electricity?
Computers depend on the flow of electrons to turn the switch on and off to reflect the ‘1’ and ‘0’ used in information processing. This is what runs your computer and without the flow of these electrons, your computer wouldn’t work. Electricity is what charges these electrons, thus allowing your computer to work.
For your computer to work, you have to provide it with power. Technically, electricity is what is used to power your computer. But supposing you found some other way to power your computer apart from electricity? Would it still work?
Well, you guessed right. Yes, it would. Even though computers are designed to run on electricity, an alternative source of power would also enable your computer to run. The alternative source of power may not be as effective as electricity, but your laptop will still work.
So in essence, computers can work without electricity. This is because you just have to find an alternative way of powering them and you’ll be good to go.
6 Ways To Power A Computer Without Electricity
Like we have already mentioned, there are several ways you can power your computer when there is no electricity. Some of these ways are unusual but they are effective alternatives to power your computer if you are hit by the misfortune of a power outage. So let’s have a look at them.
1. Power Your Computer Using A Car Battery
This alternative is probably the most well-known. But what some people don’t know is that it can actually be a tricky endeavor depending on how you approach it.
Wiring your computer to the car battery is not an option. Most models of computers have battery voltages ranging from 8V and up while most car batteries are rated 12V. There are a variety of ways you can hotwire a laptop to a car battery but it’s best to avoid this since it may damage your computer or fry your battery.
The more efficient way of powering your computer using a car battery is to use an inverter. This device changes the direct current from your car battery to alternating current and produces an output of 12V-24V depending on the requirements.
These can be wired directly to the car battery and power your computer. You can find power inverters on Amazon for less than $30.
2. Keep Your Computer Running Using Portable Wind Turbines
The wind is a renewable source of energy that can be harnessed to power your computer in the absence of electricity. They harvest renewable energy and store it in battery form. They function much in the same way as solar but with a bit more bulk and rigidity.
As the blades of the turbine spin, they rotate an internal 15W generator that produces power and stores it in an internal battery. They are usually outfitted with multiple connections allowing you to power your computer if there is no electricity. You can find Portable Wind Turbines on Amazon.
3. Utilize Heat Sources To Power Your Laptop
This is one of the more unusual alternatives you can use to power your computer. This method is designed to take advantage of heat thus making it an alternative to wind, solar, and hydro.
A device that makes this possible is called the Powerpot. It utilizes heat sources such as fires and stoves to generate power by heating liquids such as water. The heat source essentially creates an electric charge through the temperature differential. Then it utilizes battery packs to store the collected energy. The temperature inversion produces 5W of generated power, which is sent through a fire-resistant USB connection to the power pack.
You can then charge your computer. How cool is that! You can find powerpots on Amazon.
4. Hand Crank Generators Can Create Electricity For Your PC
Hand crank generators are an ingenious invention that relies on human strength to produce power that has the capability of powering your computer. They use a dynamo generator to crank power directly into the battery. The only downside is that to fully charge one, it could take you up to 36 hours. So it’s best for just short time use. These generators have different output options and you can use one to power your computer.
You can find hand crank generators that can be used when you are in a pinch on Amazon.
5. Using Micro Hydroelectric Generators To Power Your Computer
Water is a renewable resource that you can harness to power your computer, provided you have a constant source of running water.
This is the idea behind micro-hydroelectric generators or power plants. Some of these devices are small enough to fit inside a pocket for example the Blue Freedom.
It stores energy in an onboard battery. When placed in running water, the blades spin a 5W generator that stores the collected power in the onboard battery. The fan unit stays in the water and transmits power over a wire to a base station that houses the battery and connection options for most mobile devices including your computer.
The only downside is that it takes a long time to do so and it can only be used where there’s running water. Also, these devices are extremely hard to come by.
But all in all, it is another way you can power your computer if there is no electricity.
6. Power Your Laptop Using a Solar Charging Kit
You can power your computer by utilizing solar energy through the use of solar panels and battery kits. Most of the solar technology available today has been refined to produce smaller and more efficient photovoltaic cells. This makes them ideal for adaptation into portable folding panels capable of harnessing enough energy to charge an 18V computer. Once fully charged they can charge not only your computer but other devices as well.
The drawbacks with solar charging kits are that they take too long to harvest solar energy and also harnessing solar energy on cloudy days is tricky.
You can find solar charging kits on Amazon.
All in all, these are some of the ways in which you can charge your computer in case you have no electricity. Some of these ways may appeal more to you than others so it’s all up to you to find one that will serve you best.
Which Device Keeps the Computer On Without Electricity?
The device that keeps your computer on when there is no electricity is called an Uninterruptible Power Supply or UPS. When the mains/utility power goes off, this device detects the loss of power and quickly switches to your computer battery thus keeping the system running.
This way, you get a constant, reliable, and filtered power source for your computer. A UPS will keep your computer up and running depending on the battery size you have and how much power your computer requires. In addition to this, a UPS can protect against power surges, drops in line voltage, brownouts, blackouts, and other power supply issues.
You can find a UPS on Amazon. They typically go for under $100.
In conclusion, if you have a power outage or are in an area that lacks electricity, you need not worry about how you can make your computer work. The ways we have discussed in this article to power your computer will work well. You should however take extreme care when doing this because computers are naturally designed to work with electricity. Follow the tips on this guide and you’ll be good to go.
How To Power More Things When The Power Goes Out
When the power goes out, you could find yourself looking for creative ways to get simple tasks done. Here is an article teaching you ten ways to cook without electricity.
Learn how to heat up coffee or tea during a power outage.
Lastly, here are twelve tips to stay cool during a power outage.