Topic: Solar charging unit

[Celt]

I thought I would ask around here to see what you guys are using. What I'm after is a solar panel system that's self contained in as compact a unit as possible that I can do things like keep AAA batteries etc charged up. I'm not sure that I want to have a battery bank setup but would be nice if it is powerful enough do that rather than just be enough to act as a tender. Something that can get knocked around a bit is also a plus. I have seen some of the flexible panels and think those may be nice.

[Jayrat]

http://www.fourwheeler.com/how-to/electrical/129-1206-solar-sufficiency-powerfilm-portable-solar-charger/

[nworker]

Jayrat: Great link!

[Celt]

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.

[knightrider]

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. 

[Celt]

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.

[Ghost65]

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

Keep us posted on what you actually purchase.


Sent from Cygnus X-1

[knightrider]

The goal zero stuff is expensive I suppose but it's very well thought out and works well IMO.  For me, having the ability to collect sun in a portable battery pack and have either AA, AAA or USB power at my disposal is great.  I have a few sets of rechargeable NIMH batteries so I keep my headlamps bright, my phones charged, and any of those other new fangled things that need electricity going.   

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.




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

[JFanaselle]

You can catch the Goal Zero folks at Costco as well and get a little bit of a price break. I've seen them at the Costco in Temecula several times and I just saw them at Costco in Yorba Linda yesterday. I would imagine with camping season upon us (Costco is putting all of their camping gear out, too), they'll be bouncing around from location to location doing road shows. You can probably call a local Costco and find out when they're going to be there.

[Ghost65]

Good tip Joe...thanks!!

Jordan...that GIF is amazing.


Sent from Cygnus X-1

[Celt]

Thanks guys, I wanted as much input as I could get. As far as priorities go, as long as I can hook up my inverter in the 12v to charge things like my HT I would be happy. After that batteries for lights and headlamps etc. I don't have any huge electrical things I take with me for obvious reasons. I would like to have vehicle battery tending capabilities but I'm not exactly sure that is necessary it's more on the want side. I think having something like this https://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/pod-x5-micro-jump-starter-by-conversion-technology-p-59511.html?osCsid=2ckoedc2ggflme5ko6in97osb4 would be a better idea for the vehicle battery. I do not yet have a freezer/fridge system and am planning on compatibility so I don't have to purchase a lot of several different systems (Especially my Dutch oven! but I can't seem to find the power port for it just yet.)

[JFanaselle]

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.

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? 

[RBduffer]

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

[knightrider]

I have to agree with Joe and Randy, running an inverter to charge electronics is a very poor idea.  Converting 12v DC to 120v AC( 70% efficient) to then convert it back to 7.4v DC(maybe 50% efficient) means you have about 75% or more of total wasted electricity.   Brings me to the other issue of the use of cheap modified sine wave inverters will actually cause the device plugged into it to work harder and probably let out the magic smoke.  True sine wave inverters are more expensive but put the same type of power that your house outputs, sensitive electronics work fine but the efficiency is still terrible.  This goes for things like laptop chargers and just about every other device charger, it will eventually burn out the charger if used on a modified sine wave inverter.

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.

[JFanaselle]

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.