I have a new MacBook Pro 13" and want to use it out in the sticks on Great Barrier, far from any power source (not that there's any laid-on power on Great Barrier anyway!). I live in Auckland, but I have a couple of cabins on a 10acre block on the Barrier, and want to be able to write there on the odd occasion or the odd week or two from time to time during the year. I've looked a standard solar setup as a possibility, but that is big money to get it set up properly for such a low usage. I've also seen some portable devices like Solargorilla advertised ($500 or so), but I'm not sure if they are going to work or not. (Solargorilla puts out 24volts and claims to be able to charge a Mac through a Mac Magsafe airline adaptor, though the info for that is that this cord will not allow charging, only running the computer. So my question is, does anyone have any ideas about how I might get a good, safe and reliable charging power supply for under $1000 for my Macbook please, given the situation I want to work in?

Many thanks, Jomax

Why not take a small portable diesel or petrol generator.

Matt

Thanks for this. The problem with a generator is, that unless it is an expensive one ($2K or so), it seems that it can have power surges that can blow the computer to pieces. At the very least, it would need in addition a sine wave inverter which alone costs $500 or more. So it starts getting into big money once again. It is, of course, also noisy, to be avoided in the wilderness if at all possible!!

how about a small monkey pedelling a bike connected to a small turbine?

Thanks commandercool. You've struck again! Sadly, because of Great Barrier's conservation status, no monkeys are allowed on the island. Can't use possums either. However, if I could harness a team of rats....

I think I may go with the Solargorilla plus Powergorilla option. The first provides solar power at a variety of voltages, and the second is a fancy battery. Both are very compact. I know that Macs can run off this, but sadly, the Magsafe airline adaptor that has to be used does not allow charging - only a power supply. Better than nothing, I guess.


Jomax

You can get PV's that will charge and power your Macbook from Quickertek.com