/out/ - Outdoors » Thread #141287

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Anonymous Tue 18 Jun 2013 00:24:22 No.141287 View View Reply Original Report

Quoted By: >>141297 >>141507

Does anyone have any experience with solar powered chargers?
Do they work, are they reliable, ect?

Anonymous

Anonymous Tue 18 Jun 2013 00:31:54 No.141296 Report

Quoted By:

yes

Anonymous

Anonymous Tue 18 Jun 2013 00:32:35 No.141297 Report

Quoted By:

>>141287

Bumping for interest!

Anonymous

Anonymous Tue 18 Jun 2013 00:36:45 No.141301 Report

Quoted By:

Its great actually, A bit slower than charging with a wall socket. Got it on a whim I am sure there are better ones.

voltaic fuse solar charger

I also took a hard drive case with a few pockets, attached a small radio shack solar charger to a usb and put a key ring in place of the zipper this serves as my phone case/wallet and holds my keys because I loose all my shit.

Anonymous

Anonymous Tue 18 Jun 2013 00:48:00 No.141309 Report

Quoted By:

yes and no

The Mighty !MonarchVEI

The Mighty !MonarchVEI Tue 18 Jun 2013 01:04:09 No.141319 Report

Quoted By: >>141325

you will need direct sunlight, no clouds or shade. getting the 5 volts to charge usb devices is easy with solar panels, but the amperage will be low so it will take longer than normal.

Anonymous

Anonymous Tue 18 Jun 2013 01:14:00 No.141325 Report

Quoted By:

>>141319
yeh and my iPhone gives an error message when the amperage drops. You have to clear the error message by replugging the phone. I hear a lot of android phones do this too. Some solar panels like the Goal zero have a battery pack that provides you a steady stream.

Anonymous

Anonymous Tue 18 Jun 2013 02:07:38 No.141358 Report

Quoted By: >>141495

I like this idea for my GPS. is there a good brand, or charger in particular out there? How much should I be prepared to spend for a decent quality product?

Anonymous

Anonymous Tue 18 Jun 2013 05:15:14 No.141495 Report

Quoted By:

>>141358
You often hear goal zero and solarmonkey, they go for around $100

Anonymous

Anonymous Tue 18 Jun 2013 05:38:07 No.141507 Report

Quoted By: >>141531

>>141287
You get a solar panel/battery combo, and charge the phone off the battery.

Anonymous

Anonymous Tue 18 Jun 2013 06:28:53 No.141531 Report

Quoted By: >>141536

>>141507
And this is why it becomes a waste.

Assuming you aren't going to be talking on the phone all day in the woods, just turning the phone off would work.

Or just bring an extra battery.
>but my iPhone
Then bring a battery that can charge your phone/other gadgets. No solar panel needed.

Anonymous

Anonymous Tue 18 Jun 2013 06:44:22 No.141536 Report

Quoted By:

>>141531
several days innawoods, Im not bringing piles of batteries.

Ive got rechargeable batteries in everything and a solar pack that works as a usb charger as well as recharges those batteries. I don't ever have to go back to town because of a dead flashlight or phone (i listen to music and take pictures as well as have a library of survival guides at hand so sue me) A smart phone is a huge space/weight saver if you use it right. Even with the added burden of a panel to charge it, it still weighs less than a field guide and all the batteries you want to carry.

Solar panels are for people who go /out/ for like a week but are not purists.

Anonymous

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Anonymous Thu 20 Jun 2013 19:53:07 No.143606 Report

Quoted By:

Direct experience, no, but I've been looking them up with a goal of buying one soon.

Keep some things in mind. Solar power is neither free, nor unlimited. Even the best solar panels are inefficient, and expensive. And they're a losing proposition for the environment: it takes more energy to create one, than it will ever give back over its lifetime. Also, solar panels aren't made to run your devices. They're made to charge a battery pack, and once it's full, that battery pack charges your devices.

If I were to buy one right now, it would be this one. The Joos Orange.

It's waterproof. It will keep working even while totally submerged. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Blwwq6M0JG4

It's been shot, and still works after taking a bullet. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqLY7TTE1oY

The Joos company put out a video comparing their charger to Goal Zero, head to head. Joos says they have the most powerful solar charger on the market in their price range. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnk-3R5IbFM

For its size, it's plenty powerful as well. Look up the reviews on Wired, Outdoorgearlab, and Youtube.

Anonymous

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Anonymous Fri 21 Jun 2013 22:01:24 No.144259 Report

Quoted By:

I think a hand powered charger is more reliable for emergencies.
On the other hand, it looks frail, and I sure it will start malfunctioning after the first few days of use.

Pinzfag.

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Pinzfag. Fri 21 Jun 2013 22:10:10 No.144265 Report

Quoted By: >>144328

I know its not a solar panel but me thinks this thread should be about general /out/ power.

I want to go on some long motorcycle expedition rides and plan on charging devices mostly with the power from the bike but alternatively with a power pot!
I plan on bringing a liquid fuel camp stove that runs primarily on gasoline, essential for the trip anyways and a small folding sheet metal stick stove as backup.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 22 Jun 2013 00:20:17 No.144328 Report

Quoted By: >>144366

>>144265
>runs primarily on gasoline
Holy shit, that sounds expensive. Why not a butane camp stove?

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 22 Jun 2013 00:35:05 No.144344 Report

Quoted By:

I got a folding 30 watt array to charge my phone. Huge overkill on paper. In practice, enough to charge it at full speed along with 1 other device.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 22 Jun 2013 00:37:35 No.144345 Report

Quoted By: >>144350

If you get a big one, you'll have a satisfying experience. Every bit as good as having a generator.

If it's a small cheap novelty like in the picture, you're gonna have a bad time. It will take two or three days to charge up the internal battery enough to give your phone one charge.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 22 Jun 2013 00:48:03 No.144350 Report

Quoted By: >>144362

>>144345
I got a $20 one at a pawn shop, it's more like a drain than a charger. The damn thing sucks at your battery and doesn't return any charge.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 22 Jun 2013 01:09:51 No.144362 Report

Quoted By:

>>144350

This is something you can either do cheaply, or well, but not both.

Pinzfag.

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Pinzfag. Sat 22 Jun 2013 01:18:48 No.144366 Report

Quoted By:

>>144328
Its not very expensive, butane is more expensive per BTU, plus I don't want to carry or worry about having to find another fuel source, you can find gasoline anywhere on the planet.
Pic related.

Anonymous

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inedbom first

Anonymous Sat 22 Jun 2013 01:44:11 No.144375 Report

Quoted By: >>144377

I use the GALO, It's light, thin, and gets the job done. If there is sun, got it for $75 at COST CO (I believe).

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 22 Jun 2013 01:46:55 No.144377 Report

Quoted By:

>>144375
GOALO* damn beer.

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