Post by: Celt on March 06, 2016, 09:11:49 AM
Post by: Jayrat on March 06, 2016, 10:05:52 AM
Post by: nworker on March 06, 2016, 12:32:13 PM
Post by: Celt on March 06, 2016, 05:05:25 PM
http://www.fourwheeler.com/how-to/electrical/129-1206-solar-sufficiency-powerfilm-portable-solar-charger/
Jay, thanks a lot brother that's looking like exactly the type of thing I'm going to be looking after.
Post by: knightrider on March 06, 2016, 10:40:06 PM
http://www.goalzero.com/p/79/guide-10-plus-solar-kit
i have a larger 30w that can be used for charging 12v such as car batteries and such.
http://www.goalzero.com/p/17/escape-30-solar-panel-briefcase/
http://www.goalzero.com/p/340/guardian-12v-plus-charge-controller/
i've found out(at the expense of SteveC's battery) the 30w panel does not keep up with a fridge, imo 60w would be minimum, 100w recommended.
Post by: Celt on March 06, 2016, 11:04:18 PM
i use goal zero systems. i have this 10w kit for charging AA and AAA, it also has usb out for charging any devices like gopro and phones.
http://www.goalzero.com/p/79/guide-10-plus-solar-kit
i have a larger 30w that can be used for charging 12v such as car batteries and such.
http://www.goalzero.com/p/17/escape-30-solar-panel-briefcase/
http://www.goalzero.com/p/340/guardian-12v-plus-charge-controller/
i've found out(at the expense of SteveC's battery) the 30w panel does not keep up with a fridge, imo 60w would be minimum, 100w recommended.
I really like the GoalZero stuff but it seems to be very expensive. I know you often will get what you pay for and I believe in buying quality once rather than inferior products twice. I need to keep looking around and find out what suits my needs the best. Here in Southern Ca we are normally very lucky no matter where you are because there is more often than not optimal to very good sunlight. In a perfect world I'm looking for something that I can power up my FT 270-R which is a 7.2v battery and have the option of running larger things like a fridge/freezer off of the vehicles battery. I don't know if I'm wanting it to do too wide a spectrum but want to get the most that I can out of a solar unit while still being able to have a compact unit.
Post by: Ghost65 on March 07, 2016, 07:14:41 AM
I really like the GoalZero stuff but it seems to be very expensive. I know you often will get what you pay for and I believe in buying quality once rather than inferior products twice.....but want to get the most that I can out of a solar unit while still being able to have a compact unit.
For all the reasons you mention above...and to be like Knightrider (BLK)...
Goal Zero for the win (FTW)
Use it to charge my smartphone on trips, which I also use as my primary photo taker now.
Simple, and quality stuff. You can also daisy chain their panels to increase power needs. (For your HT)
They also charge Dutch ovens.
Goal Zero Kit (http://www.goalzero.com/mobile/p/147/goal-zero-switch-8-nomad-7-kit)
Keep us posted on what you actually purchase.
Sent from Cygnus X-1
Post by: knightrider on March 07, 2016, 08:09:56 AM
The nomad 7w panel does have a 12v output with a cigarette lighter port so it will even charge things like HT radios if you have a car charger.
Like John said, they are also chainable so having friends with solar can combine their powers like captain planet and get things charged up quicker.
(http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view1/20140207/4973134/let-our-powers-combine-o.gif)
Also compact unit with decent output and cheap is a unicorn, going to have to give up one of those :)
Sent from my rooftop tent while stargazing
Post by: JFanaselle on March 07, 2016, 08:37:20 AM
Post by: Ghost65 on March 07, 2016, 08:50:29 AM
Jordan...that GIF is amazing.
Sent from Cygnus X-1
Post by: Celt on March 07, 2016, 09:11:05 AM
Post by: JFanaselle on March 07, 2016, 09:23:32 AM
Jordan...that GIF is amazing.
I never did understand the 5th guy with the "heart" power... Earth, Fire, Wind and Water made perfect sense, but couldn't they have thought of something better than heart? :-\
Post by: RBduffer on March 07, 2016, 11:28:24 AM
Just a tip - running an inverter just to charge and power low voltage devices would be very inefficient. Your best bet would be to get the 12V chargers for the accessories you want to run. I forget which HT you're running, but I could virtually guarantee you there's a 12V plug for it that would eliminate the inverter as the go-between. That inverter will gobble up about 50% of the output of the solar setup and waste it as heat.
^^^^X2^^^^
Inverters are very inefficient. I would just run everything that I could off the batt. and get a cheap solar panel for the Batt. M2C
Post by: knightrider on March 07, 2016, 05:48:09 PM
When using solar, efficiency is the name of the game, wasting as little as possible to make the best use of the available power you have stored in your batteries. You have to think of what you will need and where you will need it.
You have no fridge so you don't have a large constant draw to contend with, if charging stuff like radios and such is your only concern, then a small 30w-80w system hooked up to the vehicle battery would be totally sufficient to offset any drains. buy a 12v dc charger for your accessories that need charging and you should be set.
heart stands for the soul of every living thing on earth, just gotta make it easy for kids to understand.
Post by: JFanaselle on March 07, 2016, 09:13:16 PM
heart stands for the soul of every living thing on earth, just gotta make it easy for kids to understand.
Yeah yeah... I understood that, I just thought it was a pretty dumb 5th power. It's not as "natural" as the other ones, although I guess animals are nature too.
Post by: Jayrat on March 21, 2016, 03:00:35 PM
http://www.arkportablepower.com/pages/about-the-arkpak
Post by: knightrider on March 21, 2016, 08:03:32 PM
National Luna Power Pack
http://www.equipt1.com/item/portable-power-pack-dual-battery-system
Post by: Celt on March 22, 2016, 01:49:19 AM
Came across this:
http://www.arkportablepower.com/pages/about-the-arkpak
Something like this could work really nicely along with the solar setup I would like to get.
Post by: steve c on March 22, 2016, 09:21:39 AM
+
100w solar is the route I'm going.
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61MPZpuMuuL._SY450_.jpg) (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HR8YNK6/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=GP6I41VOKKCY&coliid=I3IKVOTH0F2VFM&psc=1)
Pic is clicky
Group 31m batteries, at least the Odyssey and the late Diehard platinum fit in the stock location without modification or moving any crap around.
I have a fancy (stupid) battery hold down, so I needed to get longer battery hold down stick things. The other caveat is the positive side terminal You will need to get creative like Jordan did. (see pic above)
Post by: Celt on March 22, 2016, 10:45:51 AM
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/922/cXAxD5.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pmcXAxD5j)
+
100w solar is the route I'm going.
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61MPZpuMuuL._SY450_.jpg) (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HR8YNK6/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=GP6I41VOKKCY&coliid=I3IKVOTH0F2VFM&psc=1)
Pic is clicky
Group 31m batteries, at least the Odyssey and the late Diehard platinum fit in the stock location without modification or moving any crap around.
I have a fancy (stupid) battery hold down, so I needed to get longer battery hold down stick things. The other caveat is the positive side terminal You will need to get creative like Jordan did. (see pic above)
Steve, I'm still wrapping my head around the what's and why's for all of this. What made you make your choice of using a suitcase rigid solar panel vs. some of the roll up/fold up styles?
Post by: steve c on March 22, 2016, 11:10:45 AM
I'll message him and tell him to defend my choice :D
Post by: steve c on March 22, 2016, 11:33:22 AM
"Simple, price per watt. Flexible solar panels are less efficient and more expensive."
O0
Post by: Celt on March 22, 2016, 11:57:47 AM
From the horses mouth,
"Simple, price per watt. Flexible solar panels are less efficient and more expensive."
O0
I was wondering if that was the reasoning. How tough are those solar cells? I'm still researching all of this because part of my requirements are keeping the cargo down to a manageable size. Some of the flexible panels are looking a lot nicer to me, at least at the moment. I'm not 100% sold on them but I do want people experiences with different styles of panels while actually using them so I appreciate all this info!
Post by: knightrider on March 22, 2016, 01:58:21 PM
PowerFilm 120w $1500 :o You still need to purchase a charge controller.
http://www.amazon.com/Powerfilm-Foldable-Charger-FM16-7200-F16-7200/dp/B008L1QWRK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1458679837&sr=8-1&keywords=power+film+120w
Folding rigid panels take up a little bit more room but cost less than $300
Renogy 100 Watts $260 includes charge controller and padded case.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HR8YNK6/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=131LAOIPAZ5OC&coliid=I3IGQIWPGOAZAI&psc=1
Post by: Celt on March 23, 2016, 12:50:25 AM
Post by: knightrider on March 23, 2016, 01:05:24 AM