Solar Battery Chargers

“Does anyone have any experience in using Solar battery chargers ie,... like what Brunton sells/ the small ones youcan take one xtended backpacking trips? How well do they work? Is it worth the cost?

Once a year I plan on taking a long distance trip with no trails ie...Alaska, Canada, Iceland....etc.....and i am looking at this technlogy......is it worth it does it work?”

“http://www.rei.com/product/760969

http://www.rei.com/product/761183”

“It would be worth it to me, if I just had to have the the batteries recharged. What about just doing without them in the first place.
last edited: 2/18/08 9:28:17 AM”

“The only thing I would need batteries for is a GPS, an MP3 player (on my last long distance solo hike I would have killed for a book on MP3 player), a camera, or a cellphone.

Having said that, I can carry a lot of AA or AAA batteries for the same weight and a hell of a lot cheaper than a solar array.
last edited: 2/18/08 9:37:28 AM”

“Try a windmill generator hat , you may have to run to charge the microwave and hair dryer batteries.”

“I need it for my GPS, Sattalite phone, light, camera, and I did think about just carrying lots of batteries , but then you will need to carry out and anhoo a 100 dollar charger will pay for itself in a couple years.
I just wanted to know if anyone has used them ? and list any problems they might have has or if they had to buy it all over again. brands, etc,...
last edited: 2/18/08 9:49:41 AM”

“Looked to me like a $300 charger.”

“thats just a peek at the higher end ones, they have smaller ones less money...I am looking into several right now from 89 bucks to 159 bucks.....”

“They would probably be OK for basecamping where you can lay out the panel in the sun all day but if you are moving from one place to another I doubt it would work all that good hanging off your pack and possibly under trees”

“hoi I thought about that and i agree....But what about above tree line, alpine trekking? The brunton aray roll out kind, do they break down from the ultra violet rays? Also some have a battrey in them that you can use to power up cell phones or GPS. kinda like stored energy ready when you need it.”

“What I hear is refrigerator saying "bygod, I am buying the damn thing, now someone tell me if a particular model has any advantages".

I don't think his decision has anything to do with whether he is going to add it to his collection of gear or not.

Note to Self: In about a year, see what fridge will take for the solar array he never uses.”

“yep you got it.....I use it then give it away....If you would have been to the Mt Rogers winter Blast Trip , I give away a sleeping bag, Freeze dried foods to several, A skillet I never used, GoreTEX bivy, polartech first layer clothing, Rain Jacket breathable, Socks, a gift certificate to Sierra trading Post, and much more......No #$%@... I give it all free......oh yes...I also pitched in 40 bucks for the BEER and I never drunk any of the beer...I just sat back and watched all those TTers get wasted....I relly did.....ask them...
last edited: 2/18/08 11:29:35 AM”

“Now Chili , You have never backpacked any of my trips so you do not know what i bring and will prolly never know in a year from now.....hehehe see you at Trail Daze though...”

“We had one. What HOI said.”

“Well, you might consider buying several then, and use them to determine which one is best for your needs. Then take that one on your trip. Is there a one size fits all type of charger on the market now??”

“I just bought one.....from REI...”

“there are only two rechargeable technologies for consumers that replace alkaline: NiCd and NiMh. both are very temperature dependant for performance. NiCd has battery memory and they lose power over time even when not used. NiMh has little battery memory but they lose power over time when not in use. for short duration trips (say a week or less) lithium disposable batteries by weight and performance are going to kick the snot out of any rechargeable system using NiMh or NiCd.

also, believe it or not, spent lithium batteries are much more environmentally friendly than alkaline, NiCd, or NiMh batteries... all of which use heavy metals. lithiums do not (lithium is atomic number 3) and are non-reactive and non-toxic and safe for disposal in commingled trash destined for a landfill.”

“I am buying a case of Lithium Batteries.

just in case my rechargable batteries fail me.


Thanks Yogisan..... you are very correct with your information. I use lithium on all my local trips and will only use my Rechargable batteries on extended trips like 2 and 3 week trips away from any civilization.”

“not a bad call esp if you get a good price. the shelf life for lithium batteries is huge. when i bought my steripen i ordered a few boxes of those lithium batteries (surefire). great batteries, a great price esp in bulk, and a very long shelf life.”

“i'll add that what the market really wants are rechargeable lithiums in sizes and voltages that consumers use (AA, AAA, etc). these don't exist. you can get aa rechargeable lithiums but in 3.8 volts for example. lithiums are almost perfect as a rechargeable... little to no battery memory, little to no drain. that's why cell phone batteries made the switch from nimh to lithium.

my belief is that -if- someone came out with a consumer-sized lithium rechargeable you could use you replace alkalyne batteries that it would basically be the end of the battery industry or at least a major, major change. so you prolly won't see these for a while. as long as the options suck (nicd and nimh) and there is no alternative then ppl will still have to buy the disposable batteries.”

“hummmm - well if you need 2 aa batteries for whatever then the 3.8v lithium aa plus a conductive stick the right size should work (conductive stick - a wooden dowel with a wire between contacts on the ends)”

“yea thats right HOI...I think!”

“I used lithium batteries in both my head lamp and digital camera on my thru hike. A pair of batteries in each lasted way over half way. I took loads of pictures and spent a good amount of time reading and writing each night.”

“one AA battery is 1.5 volts so two would be 3 volts. a 3.8 v rechargable lithium would provide 30% too much voltage... but your device may not care and i am not an electrician so what would i know.
last edited: 2/18/08 3:13:45 PM”

“I looked into these when I decided I was going to do charitable works around the third world haven't bought on yet though. So Refrig, let me know how yours works so I can get a good one!”

“I'm with Nimble on this one. I've nearly given up on plug in chargers, much less solar chargers, for a set of lithium ion batteries. A set in my camera lasts ~6 months, and you've seen how many pictures I took on my AK trip - I carried several sets of batteries, but I really only needed one set for that entire trip... consider it.”

“i'll be interested to see what 'fridge comes up with for sure. i would prolly start with the brunton setup. the weight to watts ratio looked good to me when i researched this.”

“I got the Brunton Set up. My Sattelite Phone,GPS,Camera, and head light will all be compatable with this technology.”

“Keep us posted on how it works for you. I'm interested in hearing how well it does.”

“I purchased this one... http://www.rei.com/product/770230

and will also charge my bear bag.

http://www.wilderness-solutions.com/index.htm”

“I was looking at the roll up chargers. I'd like to know how yours holds up in a pack so give it the old TT workout.”

“I plan on it.”

“I don't know Fridge can you handle the extra 5 ozs? LOL”

“the extension cord he will have to carry will weight more than the solar array”

“no extension cords ...”

“...you bought yesterdays technology...the way ahead is HOLOGRAPHIC Soloar Cells.....

http://www.technologyreview.com/Energy/16736/”

“as soon as they hit the market TROLL I will buy one of those too.”

“lol!”

“one step at a time Super Troll...I gotta catch up and Christmas is comming in about 10 months.”

“ya got me...it WAS a troll...lol...glad that RANGER sense of humor is still in tact...RANGERS LEAD THE WAY!”

“This conversation gets the RM stamp of approval. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.”