Practical Solar Power for Travelers? 34
kalido asks: "When travelling with gadgets it can be a pain to keep the power flowing, especially in remote locations. Are there any practical methods to recharge batteries and devices when on the go? A bit of googling turns up the PowerFilm, PowerFlex and SolarRoll flexible solar panels. But I haven't seen any reviews anywhere. Have any of you used these or similar devices and how easy is it to use if attached to a pack, bike, jacket, etc.?"
Re:TRANSLATION (Score:1)
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Which run on...?
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What for? (Score:3, Interesting)
Also - please dont say cell phone. If you are far enough to not have power - you problably wont have cell signarl.
Re:What for? (Score:1)
What about hikers? I have been on backpacking trips long enough for my cell to die and have had signal during them.
Big Blue Room (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Big Blue Room (Score:2)
"Blue"? So THAT'S what color it was before they painted it black and mounted all those little sparkly LED's up in the ceiling...
Re:Big Blue Room (Score:2)
Re:Big Blue Room (Score:1)
WindUp May Be The Way To Go (Score:5, Informative)
I'll second that (Score:4, Informative)
I used my radio for the next two years in just about every situation imaginable, many without proper electrical otherwise (the Mezzogiorno is unfortunately quite backwards in many ways -- often during the summer we would have weekly blackouts and no water in the evenings).
Solar's fine if you can forget about something for a few hours. But, elbow grease usually is more convenient.
I only stopped using the radio when I gave it away. Still miss using it though.
hand crank charger (Score:4, Interesting)
Here's a good read... (Score:4, Informative)
Laptop on a bicycle tour... (Score:3, Informative)
He has some relavent and informative links in the right panel as well.
Don't use solar. (Score:4, Informative)
Even if you were using the best photovoltaic material available, you probably couldn't get more than 20 or 30 watts from a module small enough to carry around with you, and that's only when the sun is shining at its peak.
No matter what your solution, bear in mind that you will additionally need a charge controller and a battery to dump the energy into. You can't just plug a random power source directly into a device which expects clean DC at a specific voltage.
Solar works when you're not there though (Score:2)
i have one (Score:3, Informative)
from the Brunton site (Score:1)
Some more general advice... (Score:3, Interesting)
I have two of these.. (Score:3, Informative)
I'm a unisolar fan when it comes to solar PV. They actually put thought into the frames as well as the solar part, both my flexible modules and the rigid framed ones I have are very tough built.
The FLX-11 models on the page are the ones I have that are flexible/portable for camping, etc.. They work as advertised. Not a tremendous amount of power, but enough for some smaller gadgets. You'll need to McGuyver your connections, they ship with normal ring connectors for screw posts on storage batts, but it's doable to make a 12 VDC cig lighter plug on the end, or whatever you need. Use geek skills and stuff there. NOTE: SOLAR PANELS ARE HOT IF THERE'S LIGHT OUT. As in watch careless handling, shorts, etc. The backing is quite tough, and it has grommets in the corner for handy attaching. Lightweight enough for travelling. If you notice, they make the 32 (numbers correspond to watts basically) model as well, correspondingly larger with more capacity. As to what I have run off a battery charged with one of them, old powerbook lappie, 12 VDC fluorescent light, small TV, multiband radio, FRS radio. It takes a LONG time to get a near flat large battery up to speed, and I never tried to use them for charging any drycells, so don't know there. There's no automatic shutoff, etc, with them, so you have to use your noodle.
Re:I have two of these.. (Score:2)
I would also note that a solar panel can get physically hot when it has sat in the sun for a while. Some of the larger panels (nothing a normal person would purchase) even include heat sinks for passive cooling (past a certain temperature efficiency of the panel can drop). Think about it - it is a large piece of silicon sitting in the sun for hours, generating electricity. It acts as a piece of the electrical circuit, so it will heat up from this use (much li
this is true, and... (Score:1)
The good thing about them getting hot though is they are self cleaning with snow and ice, usually they heat up enough within a few hours to just melt all that stuff off, or just a light touch with a broom and it slides off easily.
Never did it, but always thought you might be able to run coi
spelling (Score:1)
need a new word, one size fits all, "thares" and just be done with it
Re:this is true, and... (Score:2)
ScotteVest (Score:4, Informative)
Hamster powered (Score:3, Funny)
how much power? (Score:2, Informative)
How much power do you need, and for how long? I find myself using solar to top off batteries that I fully charge before my trip.
I found the new Everlite [newlite.com] solar-powered lamps to be very handy, you can charge a cell phone or PDA off of the lamp battery with the adaptors they have. Obviously not enough for a laptop, but to top off your cell phone, pretty practical.
Most of my camping these days is car-camping, though (pull up car, unload tent and cushy gear) so weight's not an issue; I take along an recharga
Be careful with thin-film solar cells! (Score:3, Informative)