<P>Does anyone have any experience or feedback on using computers as part of a theme camp installation or just computers outside at Burning Man? We are going to be using 2-3 computers outside and are trying to figure out what sort of power/fuel requirements we should plan on and what type of encapsulations is best (mosquito netting or something finer)? All help is appreciated and see you on the playa.
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Plex
Computers @ Burning Man
can a computer survive BRC?
Obviously, if dust gets in any of the moving parts, optical drives, HD, it is very bad. the dust is alkalai, and high school chemistry tells me that will do something evil to the semiconductors that make up the non-moving parts.
your power requirements will be totally dependent on how much you use them, and how much they draw. large desktops actually pull a lot of juice. Laptops draw less, but in either case your generator will be running a lot.
As far as encapsulations, you need something that is virtually airtight to keep the dust out, but ventilated to keep the 'puter from overheating. It is no small challenge to use a computer on the playa (more than pulling it out every once in a while). Some people build wood or acrylic boxes with gromets for the wires and filters and fans for air circulation.
I knew one person that used a laptop, with two batteries. One was charged via a solar charger while he used the other. It worked well, but he didn't use it constantly, and wrapped it up in a bunch of clothes and hid it in his car when the dust storms came.
your power requirements will be totally dependent on how much you use them, and how much they draw. large desktops actually pull a lot of juice. Laptops draw less, but in either case your generator will be running a lot.
As far as encapsulations, you need something that is virtually airtight to keep the dust out, but ventilated to keep the 'puter from overheating. It is no small challenge to use a computer on the playa (more than pulling it out every once in a while). Some people build wood or acrylic boxes with gromets for the wires and filters and fans for air circulation.
I knew one person that used a laptop, with two batteries. One was charged via a solar charger while he used the other. It worked well, but he didn't use it constantly, and wrapped it up in a bunch of clothes and hid it in his car when the dust storms came.
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midgetsonparade
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If you are going to be using the computers all day I would build some sort of box to put them in with a fan on the side that has a filter over the fan like an A/C. If you don't do something drastic like that I would just say bye bye to them after BM because they will be dust. I am guessing you have not been on the playa before due to your comment about mesquito netting. The dust on the playa has the consistancy of baby powder. It gets into everything and like sgrunspa said it is corrosive to non-moving puter parts.
If you have a 5k generator like thos big noisy Coleman ones (not talking trash I have one too!) and you are running it most of the day/night I would guess about 2.5 gallons of gas a day if not more. If you are really working the genny and running something like an A/C unit or a 5 computers with a 500w sound system I would double or triple that estimate.
If you have a 5k generator like thos big noisy Coleman ones (not talking trash I have one too!) and you are running it most of the day/night I would guess about 2.5 gallons of gas a day if not more. If you are really working the genny and running something like an A/C unit or a 5 computers with a 500w sound system I would double or triple that estimate.
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Sandwichman
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I was curioous about this as well seeing as I am going to bring my laptop and at least one of my synths.
Does anyone who produces music via laptop have any advice for use and storage on the playa. Thanks
Jason
Does anyone who produces music via laptop have any advice for use and storage on the playa. Thanks
Jason
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dragonfly Jafe
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I have brought a PC (tower style) for the last 2 years. I am still using it as my home computer. I used it 2-3 hours each day. When not in use I covered it with a towel. It was inside a shade shelter, but got dusty. I used canned air several times daily to blow-out the keyboard, vents, monitor, etc. I use a battery with invertor for the power (this only works for a few hours unless your battery is REAL big). YMMV. Jafe
Instead of running the computers off the genny all the time I would use batteries and an inverter. You can recharge the batteries from the genny when needed. This way the genny won't be running all the time. If you rig your battery banks the right size for your power needs you should get away with only running the genny once or twice a day causing less wear and tear on it, use less gas, and you will make your neighbors happier too.
You could also toss a few solar panels into the mix and reduce or remove the need for the genny.
Bob A
You could also toss a few solar panels into the mix and reduce or remove the need for the genny.
Bob A
Better yet, buy a UPS box to help regulate your power. Computers need consistent, and clean power, you should also use a high quality industrial surge protector, with a trip style fuse. One year we ended up blowing out several cheap home use surge protectors and there was no way to reset the fuses.
http://www.jetcafe.org/~npc/doc/ups-faq.html
http://www.jetcafe.org/~npc/doc/ups-faq.html