Solar powered Wii lets you take fun out in the sun
by Kyle Orland 
{ Mar 22nd 2007 at 3:55PM }
All things considered, the Wii doesn't cause that much of a drain on your local power grid. But we know there's got to be some overly environmentally conscious gamer out there that simply can't enjoy his or her new system without a twinge of guilt. Enter the solar-powered Wii, constructed by the folks at TwitchGuru complete with mobile wheelbarrow enclosure and flat screen HD monitor for only $1,400.
While the solar panel only supplies 20 of the 170 or so watts needed to power the entire setup, an rechargeable battery means charge accumulated during the day can be used to play into the night. Tom's Hardware has a video showing the rig cruising Venice Beach and getting quite a bit of attention, to boot. Apparently, gamers are the new weight lifters.
[Via NintendoWiiFanboy]
Watch - Video of the solar Wii in action
Read - Details of the construction
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
redspear @ Mar 22nd 2007 4:01PM
YAY for post apocalyptic gaming.
Jack of No Trades @ Mar 22nd 2007 4:04PM
Thats pretty cool but it defeats the purpose of console gaming.
Wolfman @ Mar 22nd 2007 4:07PM
But does the pointer functionality still work?
32_Footsteps @ Mar 22nd 2007 4:20PM
Sounds great in theory, but doesn't direct sunligh interfere with the sensor bar?
kip @ Mar 22nd 2007 4:15PM
Yeah, whatever happened to this-
http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/09/sunlight-wiis-biggest-foe/
Jose @ Mar 22nd 2007 4:19PM
I heard rumors that the controllers don't work well in areas with high amounts of natural light. If I owned one I would know if that's true or not :(
mike_p @ Mar 22nd 2007 4:29PM
Well, they could've saved more power by using a non-HD monitor, no? Seeing how the Wii doesn't support HD and all, I see it as a bit pointless. I'm just playing Devil's Advocate here...
Mr Khan @ Mar 22nd 2007 4:24PM
Yeah, wouldn't this seriously fuck up the pointer?
Or was that just a beta-build flaw, like how they originally were disoriented by flourescent lights and halogens?
hvnlysoldr @ Mar 22nd 2007 4:29PM
Although we've seen Christmas tree lights affecting the sensor bar, we have not seen a video testing sunlight. Therefore with no pics or evidence to the contrary, sunlight doesn't have as much of an effect as originally feared.
Almack64 @ Mar 22nd 2007 4:57PM
One thing that people seem to forget is that most SD TV's does not support 480p which is the highest res that the wii supports. Which means that most people have not really seen the wii at its highest res. With that said, most people who do have tv's that can display 480p have the ability to display at higher res's too and also know 480p is nothing compared to real HD.
mo @ Mar 22nd 2007 5:02PM
first weight loos and now solar power
WHEN DID THE WII BECOME A DIRTY HIPPIE
Ghost @ Mar 22nd 2007 5:24PM
AN RECHARGEABLE BATTERY!?
oh joystiq...
AssemblyLineHuman @ Mar 22nd 2007 5:24PM
The Wii remote doesn't like being pointed at the sun (it thinks it's the sensor bar).
AssemblyLineHuman @ Mar 22nd 2007 5:26PM
mo: YA I KNO RIGHT
WE NEED TO GO BACK TO THE DAYS OF THE CONSERVATIVE CONSOLES THAT UPHOLD AMERICAN IDEALS LIKE UNHEALTHY FOOD AND IRRESPONSIBLE ENERGY CONSUMPTION
REUYL @ Mar 22nd 2007 5:27PM
Good luck getting the pointer to stay on the screen.
Jeff @ Mar 22nd 2007 5:36PM
Sunlight + solar cell = power
Sunlight + Wii sensor bar = infrared interference
Sunlight + LCD screen = a hard to see image
...at least it's solar powered
driven2sin @ Mar 22nd 2007 10:51PM
are these easier to get than from off the shelf???!!!
samfish @ Mar 22nd 2007 9:19PM
It would be cool of someone made a battery replacement for the Wiimote that's a little solar strip. Just leave it in the Window during the day and charge it up.
Damn, you're pretty smart, samfish.
Why, thank you. I know that.
Aprime @ Mar 22nd 2007 11:42PM
I suppose it works fine as long as the light isn't coming from a focused point... If you know what I mean (i.e.: windows right next to your TV).