After the jump, find out how to build a portable solar powered Wii station, and how to play your Wii games on your PSP screen!
Part one: The Solar Powered Wii

solarwii

The Ingredients Nintendo Wii with a copy of Wii Sports $249.99 Copy of Excite Truck $49.99 Gateway HD FPD2485W monitor $679.99 PowerUp 20W 12V solar power panel $181.25 Energizer 27DC-850 Deep Cycle battery $79.99 Vector 225W power inverter $39.99 Speed Glo power meter $29.99 Large battery box $14.99 Outlet plug adapter $14.99 Wood for mobile carrier $40 Wheels, fasteners and other materials $50 Total: approximately $1,431.17

How it works: basically, we slapped an HD monitor on a cart with wheels and threw a Wii and a battery inside. The cherry on top of the sundae, of course, is the solar panel, which draws around 20 watts of electricity. The electricity is stored in the battery and then sent through the power inverter to both the Wii and the HD monitor and speakers. Unfortunately, because we required a small form factor, the solar panel only supplies about one tenth of the total power draw. Oddly enough, the Wii itself draws only 40 to 45 watts, while the monitor and speakers draw 130 watts at maximum use. Still, the panel contributes a (mostly) continuous flow of power to the battery, which is an integral part of prolonging the play time. Plus, all that’s needed to recharge the battery is leaving the cart out in direct sunlight.

“In the first episode of Tom’s Workshop, we build a solar-powered Nintendo Wii gaming station and test it out on the Venice Boardwalk. Read more on TwitchGuru“

Video here

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