– The Backcountry Ski Touring Blog
  • Avalanches
  • Gear Reviews
    • Ski Reviews
    • Boot Reviews
    • Binding Reviews
    • Snowboard Splitboard
    • Book Reviews
    • Avalanche Beacon Reviews
    • Airbag Backpacks
    • Backcountry Electronics
    • Misc Gear Reviews
  • Podcast
  • Tips & Tricks
    • Ski Touring Basics
    • Boot Fitting
    • Fitness & Health
    • Gear Mods
  • Trip Reports
    • Fourteeners
    • Huts – Cabins – Lodges
    • Denali McKinley
    • 8,000 Meter Skiing
  • Stories
    • History
    • Humor
    • Land Use Issues
    • Evergreen Ski Touring
    • Poetry
  • Resources
    • All Posts Listed
    • 100 Recent Comments
    • Backcountry Skiing & Ski Touring Webcams
    • Ski Weights Comparison
    • Archives of WildSnow.com
    • Authors Page
    • Ski Touring Bindings
      • Trab TR2 Index and FAQ
      • Salomon Guardian & Tracker
      • Naxo Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Silvretta Pure Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Marker F10-12 Duke Baron
      • G3 Onyx Ski Binding FAQ
      • G3 ION Ski Touring Binding
      • Fritschi Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Fritschi Diamir Frame Bindings Mount DIY
      • Fritschi Diamir Bindings FAQ
      • Fritschi Tecton FAQ
      • Atomic Salomon Backland MTN
      • Dynafit Tri-Step Binding 2001-2003
      • Naxo randonnee alpine touring AT ski binding FAQ
      • Dynafit Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Dynafit Binding Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Review 1
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Page Two
    • History
      • Ski Touring Binding Museum
      • Trooper Traverse Intro & Index
      • Randonnee Ski Touring “AT” ski gear — What is Hip?
      • Chronology
    • Backcountry Skiing Core Glossary
    • Gear Review Policy & Disclosures

– The Backcountry Ski Touring Blog

Banner
  • Avalanches
  • Gear Reviews
    • Ski Reviews
    • Boot Reviews
    • Binding Reviews
    • Snowboard Splitboard
    • Book Reviews
    • Avalanche Beacon Reviews
    • Airbag Backpacks
    • Backcountry Electronics
    • Misc Gear Reviews
  • Podcast
  • Tips & Tricks
    • Ski Touring Basics
    • Boot Fitting
    • Fitness & Health
    • Gear Mods
  • Trip Reports
    • Fourteeners
    • Huts – Cabins – Lodges
    • Denali McKinley
    • 8,000 Meter Skiing
  • Stories
    • History
    • Humor
    • Land Use Issues
    • Evergreen Ski Touring
    • Poetry
  • Resources
    • All Posts Listed
    • 100 Recent Comments
    • Backcountry Skiing & Ski Touring Webcams
    • Ski Weights Comparison
    • Archives of WildSnow.com
    • Authors Page
    • Ski Touring Bindings
      • Trab TR2 Index and FAQ
      • Salomon Guardian & Tracker
      • Naxo Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Silvretta Pure Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Marker F10-12 Duke Baron
      • G3 Onyx Ski Binding FAQ
      • G3 ION Ski Touring Binding
      • Fritschi Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Fritschi Diamir Frame Bindings Mount DIY
      • Fritschi Diamir Bindings FAQ
      • Fritschi Tecton FAQ
      • Atomic Salomon Backland MTN
      • Dynafit Tri-Step Binding 2001-2003
      • Naxo randonnee alpine touring AT ski binding FAQ
      • Dynafit Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Dynafit Binding Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Review 1
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Page Two
    • History
      • Ski Touring Binding Museum
      • Trooper Traverse Intro & Index
      • Randonnee Ski Touring “AT” ski gear — What is Hip?
      • Chronology
    • Backcountry Skiing Core Glossary
    • Gear Review Policy & Disclosures
   

The Efficient Cabin, RV or Van Computer

by Lou Dawson December 20, 2017
written by Lou Dawson December 20, 2017

Post moved, please browse to https://www.loudawson.com/23605/efficient-cabin-rv-computer-pv/

18 comments
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
previous post
Three Sportiva Ski Touring Clothing Items
next post
Cascade Backcountry Alliance – Washington State Snowsports Access Advocacy

18 comments

Jack December 20, 2017 - 2:47 pm

Wow, Lou, that’s a pretty cute little minimalist rig, and Linux is the way to go. You’ve successfully hacked your way through the driver/hardware underbrush.

By way of comparison, the first atomic reactor, the pile built under Enrico Fermi’s direction at the University of Chicago (under the athletic field) produced a whopping 430 milliwatts of power. Enough to demonstrate fission chain reaction.

I’m not suggesting that you power your tiny hut via a homebuilt nuclear reactor. Absolutely not! hahahaha. though that would be low carbon footprint.

Jim Milstein December 20, 2017 - 5:18 pm

I am suggesting, contra Jack, that Lou design and build an atomic pile to power his little cabin. Go, Lou!

Lou2 December 20, 2017 - 5:58 pm

Perhaps we can bring back the Utah uranium boom?

Lou2 December 20, 2017 - 5:59 pm

Jack, I’m loving Linux, what a breath of fresh air. Lou

Jim Milstein December 20, 2017 - 6:00 pm

Closer to home, Lou, Monarch Pass

Miro December 21, 2017 - 12:33 am

I’m wondering why go to a cabin with a computer… The point of a cabin is escaping from IT hassle for me 🙂

Lou2 December 21, 2017 - 7:52 am

We’ll the short answer is I’m blessed by having been a pro blogger for years now, but like many such things one has to watch out what they pray for as they just might get it (smile). Lou

Jim Milstein December 21, 2017 - 7:59 am

The longer answer, Miro, is that modern humans degenerate horribly when deprived of internet access. It used to be like that for hunting and gathering, but we got over that. Now we hunt and gather on the internet.

Miro December 21, 2017 - 8:26 am

Sure,
I’m a programmer, so I do outdoor sports to get some rest from the technology, but frankly I like to have a cellphone around to take photos and use GPS, or read climbing topos…

Lou Dawson 2 December 21, 2017 - 8:58 am

Believe me, I’m entirely comfortable with unplugging when I can, but at the same time due to business need internet available 24/7, in my case having cabin sat net is super relaxing as I don’t have to be up there worrying about website, and doing tedious stuff like calling a helper on satphone to find out if site is working. For those of you who are not involved in website management, these sites are not set-it-and-forget-it, they require constant upkeep due to dozens if not hundreds of factors. Wildsnow is actually one of the leaner simpler configurations you’ll find, but I still deal with a constant stream of issues behind the scene, lots of times just small little things that nonetheless can break the site. Oh, and our huge IT department for some reason is always bouncing the ball back to me (smile). Lou

See December 21, 2017 - 9:12 am

Very cool, thanks. I may have to spend half a day learning LInux (!?). I think it’s also worth considering the externalized costs of that “cheap” grid power, e.g. rising snow levels, extreme weather, mountaintop removal mining, energy wars, etc..

Lou Dawson 2 December 21, 2017 - 10:19 am

“learning” meaning in my case doing just enough to get myself into trouble! For what it’s worth, most of these minimalist computers come with unregistered Windows 10 installed, which could work fine for some things. Lou

Craig December 21, 2017 - 1:31 pm

Since working in a PV powered office I have always thought that computer designers were working backwards. Yes every year computers do more and more but also use more and more power. Real progress would see us doing more with less Power.
Cheers to you guys for the low powered system experimenting!

Lou Dawson 2 December 21, 2017 - 3:22 pm

Craig, what’s using the excessive power isn’t actually individual computer systems, but rather the enormous server farms and other infrastructure that support the internet and cloud computing. For example, just the criminal bot attacks that are making up around half of internet traffic suck up enough electricity to power the entire UK! What is more, mining digital currency is said to be taking enough power now for another medium sized country. It’s actually gotten a bit ridiculous in my opinion, and is an amusing example of the law of unintended consequences for those who thought the www and computing were somehow going to save the world from excessive energy consumption. Lou

James December 22, 2017 - 3:14 am

Impressively low wattage there, looks like a great setup. My only thoughts are why have an additional processor when you already carry one which is definitely powerful enough in you pocket? It’s not hard to replace the stick processor with an android phone keeping the peripherals you already have, and almost all of the apps you need for work are available/possible. Saves having 2 devices to power!

Crazy Horse December 22, 2017 - 7:44 am

Lew, don’t kid yourself. The real purpose of those giant server farms is to collect and store information about people. That information serves two purposes: sell crap that people don’t need and control deviant thoughts and actions.

As in so many other areas of the future, the Chinese are an eye blink ahead of us. They are rolling out a universal Gen 2 FICA score that includes not just credit history, but buying habits, social media contacts, parental status, and travel history. That score is used to determine what area you can buy a home in, whether you are allowed to buy a car, what school your children can attend, who you can be introduced to socially, and whether you can travel to a foreign country. https://www.wired.com/story/age-of-social-credit/

Orwell would roll over in his grave at the sight of the NSA information center in Utah or the ones in China.

Lou Dawson 2 December 22, 2017 - 9:26 am

But wait, at least one person has told me we should be using China as a utopian role model…

Lou Dawson 2 December 22, 2017 - 9:33 am

Hi James, I did experiment with using my Android phone for this, and did measure power consumption for only using the phone, without external monitor screen. As stated in post above, the phone alone draws about 0.47 amps (Samsung Galaxy Note), while my minimalist system, with screen and full-sized keyboard as well as USB hub, draws about 0.42 amps and in my opinion has a better operating system for my desktop style use in heavy content creation (writing and photo editing). Where my minimalist Linux system falls way short, as well as would simply using a phone, is in video editing, but I’ll cross that bridge later. These sorts of projects are never done — that’s part of the fun.

In any case, when I need to do a quick web browse I do use my phone or Ipad, rather than hooking up the desktop system.

Lou

Comments are closed.

Recent Comments

  • Jim Milstein on The Gothic Mountain Tour: Not Just a Training Race
  • Eric Steig on Light(ish) & Robust — 2021/22 Fischer Transalp First Look
  • phillip gallagher on Using the Avalanche Forecast for Trip Planning
  • Slug Spud on The Gothic Mountain Tour: Not Just a Training Race
  • Kevin S on Ski Touring News Review February 2021 — Backcountry.dot.com, Critters, Shark Tank, more

Gear Reviews

  • Light(ish) & Robust — 2021/22 Fischer Transalp First Look

    February 18, 2021
  • Skis From the Future — 2021/22 Is All About the Freeride

    February 11, 2021
  • An Education on the Ephemeral Glide — Bases, Wax and DPS Phantom

    February 4, 2021

Trip Reports

  • Making Turns and Skintracks at Bluebird Backcountry

    February 24, 2021
  • Celebrating the Low Danger, Low Angle Ski Tour

    February 16, 2021
  • Cooke City in Photos — Montana Trip Report

    January 29, 2021

Totally Deep Podcast

  • Drinking Beer with the Bench Girls — Totally Deep Podcast 84

    February 12, 2021
  • Griffin Post Stays Home — Totally Deep Podcast 83

    January 10, 2021
  • Risky Business — Zahan Billimoria on Solving for Z

    December 14, 2020

Tips & Tricks

  • Celebrating the Low Danger, Low Angle Ski Tour

    February 16, 2021
  • Warm Toes for Cold Smoke — Tips To Keep Your Feet Toasty

    February 8, 2021
  • The Five Pillars of Skintrack Wisdom

    December 17, 2020

Ski Touring Stories

  • Envisioning a Friendly, Busier Backcountry — Shaun Deutschlander Q&A

    January 18, 2021
  • Giving Myself the Gift of Backcountry

    January 15, 2021
  • Six Who Dared — Elk Mountains Traverse & Richard Compton Tribute

    January 7, 2021

Newsletter Sign-Up

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • About Lou Dawson
  • Authors Page
  • About
  • Contact
  • Copyright & Legal
  • Website Security

@2020 - All Rights Reserved. Designed and Developed by WildSnow


Back To Top

Read alsox

Using the Avalanche Forecast for Trip...

March 5, 2021

The Gothic Mountain Tour: Not Just...

March 3, 2021

How Has Covid Influenced Backcountry Skiing?

March 2, 2021