The hardware that LibraryBox runs on is the TP-Link MR3020 Wireless N router, available from Amazon or Newegg for only $36.99.
The MR3020 runs on standard 5V USB power, and can be powered by anything that outputs standard USB power. In fixed installations, this can be a standard USB wall plug that is plugged into an outlet, any powered USB hub, or a USB port on a computer.
If you want to run your LibraryBox from battery, in order to make it mobile, any battery pack with a USB port will power the MR3020, it's just a matter of how long you want it to run. In my tests, a 6600 mAh battery pack designed for the iPad ran the MR3020 for over 15 hours.
Battery Choices
Given my entirely unscientific tests, the run time above means that LibraryBox draws about .4 watts. Given that, here's a chart of approximate runtimes for a variety of the most popular rechargeable battery packs.
| Battery | Cost | Capacity in mAh | LibraryBox Runtime |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trent iCarrier | $76.95 | 12,000 mAh | 27 hours |
| Anker Astro3 | $59.99 | 10,000 mAh | 22.5 hours |
| Anker Astro2 | $53.99 | 8400 mAh | 19 hours |
| PowerGen Mobile Juice Pack | $34.99 | 5200 mAh | 12 hours |
| Monoprice External Battery Pack | $30.45 | 5000 mAh | 11.3 hours |
Experimental
Different routers
LibraryBox is built on top of two other pieces of software: OpenWRT and Piratebox. In theory, anything that runs PirateBox should be capable of being turned into a LibraryBox. In practice, it's not quite that easy.
However, there is one other primary candidate for LibraryBoxing, and that's another TP-Link product, the WR703N. According to those in-the-know, the chipset and board are identical to the MR3020, just redesigned for the non-US market. It does require a slightly different OpenWRT build, but is much smaller (almost half the size of the MR3020) and uses micro-USB for it's power (slightly more common, given that it's the standard for cellular chargers outside the US).
I have a WR703N supposedly winging its way to me from Hong Kong, and will report as to how the LibraryBox conversion goes.
Alternative Power Sources
There has been a considerable amount of interest in how to put together a free-standing LibraryBox that is self-sufficient for its power needs. In the US, this typically means solar panels with battery backup, although theoretically you could run a LibraryBox from a generator driven by wind or water power.
Solar power is highly dependent on location, and where the solar panels are, their angle, and how clean they are kept are all factors in how well a solar setup could work. Here are a few solutions, ranging from dead simple to moderately complex.
One way to go would be to try an out-of-the-box solar system designed for USB devices, like the Instapark 10 Watt Solar Panel Portable Solar Charger. It's cheap as these things go, but as it's designed to be portable I'm not sure how well it would work as a fixed installation. But for "take your LibraryBox to Bonnaroo" off-the-grid action, it might be a very nice solution.
There is another out-of-the-box option for this, based around the Revive Solar Restore XL combined with the add-on solar panel extensions. The Restore XL is a 4000 mAh battery, and according to the Amazon spec sheet the add-on panels will recharge the battery with 4.5 hours of direct sunlight. Since the 4000 mAh should give you about 9 hours of runtime for the MR3020, as long as you can get better than 50% direct sunlight you should stay ahead of the power curve. For under $100, it's got potential as a solution.
Another option would be to design a system based around the common 12 volt battery, and build a system to charge, and then to step the voltage down to 5V USB. Something like the Instapark 10W Mono-crystalline Solar Panel with 12V Solar Charge Controller, combined with some cheap 12 Volt batteries and a 12 Volt to 5 Volt convertor designed for motorcycle use should work. All together, it's not much more expensive than the above options, and is far more powerful.
I have not tried any of the solar solutions above...these are just first-blush guesses at what might work. If you are interested in this sort of LibraryBox installation, please let me know, I'd love to know what you're planning!