Solar Charger ?

[AlexW52]

Re: Solar Charger ?

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Here is a picture of my panel. It has adaptors for some devices. I use it to charge my battery pack/inverter. The trickiest part is always the adaptors.

That universal battery charger will take forever to charge a battery, let alone more than one. It is about a 1 watt panel. 20 hours for one D cell!, about 3 for a AA battery. don't mean to be all negative. Just don't want u to get stuck outside waiting.

-Johnny

Thanks for the tip! That was the one I was looking at getting.

[Shadow]

Re: Solar Charger ?

I was wondering about those. I want to bring my GPS backpacking, but it eats batteries like candy. Was wondering where it would be lighter to bring a solar charger and rechargeable batteries, or just a a bunch of batteries.

[tplife]

Re: Solar Charger ?

Buy a house battery, we use an Optima. It weighs 42 pounds and runs all our charging stations and electronics, although we use converters instead of inverters (inverters draw 5-20W of power just plugged into your power supply with nothing plugged into them). A solar panel setup only makes sense if you plan on long-term time off the grid vs. using a generator to charge your house batteries or want to invest $500 in a good solar system. We use rechargeable batteries in LED lamps and like anything else, the good ones cost more and you get what you pay for - although of course they don't quite last as long as a quality alkaline battery.

[lizrfoust]

Re: Solar Charger ?

Buy a house battery, we use an Optima. It weighs 42 pounds and runs all our charging stations and electronics, although we use converters instead of inverters (inverters draw 5-20W of power just plugged into your power supply with nothing plugged into them).

Somehow the idea of carrying something over 40 pounds sounds a little taxing for me. Then again, if I'll be going on a really long camping trip, I might just take your advice on this one.

[Johnny Test]

Re: Solar Charger ?

I have my big battery attached to my trailer. For tent camping place it on one of those luggage rollers.

[tplife]

Re: Solar Charger ?

Somehow the idea of carrying something over 40 pounds sounds a little taxing for me. Then again, if I'll be going on a really long camping trip, I might just take your advice on this one.

We're talking "car camping" here. Many on this forum tote tents that weigh that much or more, but I don't heat them complaining. I just carry it to the site - it has a robust carrying strap, and it's smaller and lighter than other batteries, and because it's AGM technology you don't need to worry about acid stains on your clothes. While a lot heavier than the usual 3 sets of C batteries and others for power backup (cold and the outdoors are h*ll on battery life), I only have to buy it one time - and now I have more than enough power available for lighting, charging, etc. About the only thing missing at our campsite is two little wheels and a platform...think popup! :cool:

[Bigdog57]

Re: Solar Charger ?

I have yet to use my Solar Charger, but have been recharging my D and AA batteries via an AC-plug-in charger, to get a feel for how long these batteries actually last. I have found that right out of the package they are useless. I put them into a light or other device and discharge them, then give them a full charge - they seem to get better each time they are charged. They last as well as the normal AA batteries inm y CD player at work - don't get radio reception down the 'Rabbit Hole' of the lower basement (IT always ends up at the bottom...).
My eight AA batteries last me a full week. I charge them back up on the weekend, four at a time.

[beemerchef]

Re: Solar Charger ?

This is for long term as us because the system is costly. Unfortunately I have too much electronics. My savior lately has been this little ACER with 4GB RAM, Dual AMD Core and full Windows using one third of my 16" laptop. I am writing this because too many are disappointed with solar using a laptop without ever considering that an 8GB RAM, I7 with a 16" screen is going to suck up everything...
I use Goal Zero for power. A 27W panel, 2 x Sherpa 120 and a 100W inverter. When we roll the Sherpas are also recharged or I use the solar panel. Since I do everything off line (except like now!!!) it has worked real well.
Be well... Ara and Spirit