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Suggestion for portable solar charger?

Original Post
Anunta Anunta · · Denver, CO · Joined Mar 2012 · Points: 284

Hi MP,
I'm looking for a portable solar panel--something I can put on top of my backpack that's light and has a USB port, and most importantly, can charge an iphone5. I've heard mixed things about solar charger and am totally confused about this market. Outdoor Gear lab recommended the SolarMonkey Adventurer, but I'm not so sure about it based on the reviews. Any suggestions? Thanks!

Trevor · · Cottonwood Heights, UT · Joined Jul 2006 · Points: 180

goal zero makes solid products

Tristan Higbee · · Pocatello, ID · Joined Mar 2008 · Points: 2,970

The Suntactics sCharger-5 is what a bunch of the long-distance hikers (on the Pacific Crest Trail, Appalachian Trail, etc.) strap to the outside of their pack. Gets great reviews all around.

Here's a pic stolen from Amazon:

Graham Johnson · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 0

I really like my solarmokey adventurer - it's shit simple and it works. Seems to be able to charge in much lower light than other panels.

Medic741 · · Des Moines, IA (WTF) · Joined Apr 2012 · Points: 265

I've used the goal 0 nomad for a long time. It's been really durable and charges an iPhone relatively fast. Highly recommend it.

Alan Doak · · boulder, co · Joined Oct 2007 · Points: 120

Small tip, airplane mode will extend the life of the battery by a ton, especially when there is weak or no signal. The GPS can still be turned on, even in airplane mode.

Anunta Anunta · · Denver, CO · Joined Mar 2012 · Points: 284

Went with the solarmonkey since it looks practically indestructable. thanks all!

SolarJunk-e · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2014 · Points: 0

You will be sorely disappointed with the solar monkey, i can guarantee you that!

Anunta Anunta · · Denver, CO · Joined Mar 2012 · Points: 284

Uh oh, why is that?

J Walpole · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2012 · Points: 105

Probably just a spammer, he signed up yesterday and that's his only post ;)

20 kN · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2009 · Points: 1,346

I found about 1900 possible options:

ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid…

GoalZero makes good products, but you can get the cheap knock off version on eBay for 1/4the the price and it still works fine (most of the time).

mattm · · TX · Joined Jun 2006 · Points: 1,885

Try and figure out what your TRUE power needs really will be. Is this for long weekends? Thru Hiking the AT or PCT? What will your phone use be compared to an average day (and what's an average days power needs).

I say this because, as cool as solar is, a LOT of people would be better served with a simple auxiliary power pack that you charge at home. Having done a bit of home testing, take the rated outputs of the portable solar panels with a HUGE grain of salt. Their rated outputs are under lab conditions and "Generous" at that. if it says 13W panel it won't be CLOSE to that in reality, particularly hung off a pack. Solar will be your only option for longer excursions away from power sources (car, home etc) but no matter what, having a battery "Bank" is a good plan.

Solar works best, IMO, when implemented in a base camp setup. You can optimize panel placement and store everything you get in a power pack for later use. Hanging a panel off your pack will work but it's less than ideal.

Amazon has a metric ton of AA power packs which are really nice because you have multiple AA options (NiMH, Lithium etc) to work with and in a pinch, you can find AAs nearly anywhere.

wwwcochiseclimbing com · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2008 · Points: 140

Can you tell me how many mAh are needed to charge an iPad and the time it would take? I see panels from 4000-20,000mAh.

mattm · · TX · Joined Jun 2006 · Points: 1,885
cochiseclimbing wrote:Can you tell me how many mAh are needed to charge an iPad and the time it would take? I see panels from 4000-20,000mAh.
I think you mean power packs?

iPads are much more power hungry. You're looking at 33WHr needs. Now you're looking at things like a GoalZero Sherpa 50/100 and a larger panel if you want it to really hum. The GZ stuff is nice and well integrated but you pay a premium for that. If you're base camping you can DIY power packs for a lot less. Not as sexy but a much better Watt/$$ ratio.

I think GZ Power Pack options are really nice, particularly in the mid-sizes as the size and build of them is hard to beat. The larger Yeti 1250 is AWESOME but expensive for what it is. I made a DIY version of it for base camping for a lot less.

GZ panel options are a bit harder to support. The smaller Nomad Series have a nice form factor but don't plan on getting near what they're rated to. The larger GZ "hard" panels are a rip off - you can DIY a framed glass panel of similar Watts for a TON less.

Also of note is the tech on the panels. There are plusses and minuses to the Mono-crystalline panels. I really want a PowerFilm foldable setup (amorphous silicon) as I think that's a better option but can't justify the $$ for how little I'd use it at this point.
Bagging14ers · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2014 · Points: 0

I like the amorphous panels as well since they are lighter and more durable. I have a Kickr IV solar charger and Jumpr Slate 5K power bank from EnerPlex that I picked up at their kiosk in the Cherry Creek Mall in Denver. I like how small and light they are, and they seem pretty durable. I haven't seen much info on the web about them yet but they seem to work well. I use them mostly to charge my GoPro and cell phone when camping. It looks like they have some new bigger panels and power packs available now too that look pretty interesting. They are might worth looking into.

Anunta Anunta · · Denver, CO · Joined Mar 2012 · Points: 284

I've never heard of EnerPlex, I'll have to check them out next time I'm at the mall (once in a blue moon but I'm due for a trip). How much did that setup run you? Thanks for the recommendation

Bagging14ers · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2014 · Points: 0

The whole setup ended up costing me about $150 but they are always running promotions. I work near that mall so I am there a lot.

highaltitudeflatulentexpulsion · · Colorado · Joined Oct 2012 · Points: 35

I'm about to bearbreeder you so watch out!! (Instead of answering your question, I'll offer you another suggestion).

IMO, keeping an iphone charged on a trip is a waste. Camera? you probably have a better one that isn't a phone. MP app? Do a little printing at home. Ability to call emergency? Have the phone charged and turned off in your pack. Facebooking and connectivity? Relish the opportunity to disconnect once in a while.

All that said, you can find spare batteries on ebay for camera's dirt cheap. I paid $1 for batteries and $7 each to ship on my camera. They are identical to what came with the camera. You can carry 3-4 of these charged lighter, easier, and cheaper than any solar charger out there.

bearbreeder · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2009 · Points: 3,065

lol ... heres the REAL thing about to drift your thread even more =P

Exactly how many charges do you need to get out of your iphone or other devices

- figure that out in watt hours (iphone 5 is ~ 6 watt hours or so)

- now go figure out the weight of an 18650 power bank and enough 18650 batteries for that much power (the best panasonic 18650 bats have ~12 watt hours) ... remember to account for some loss due to transfer from one source to another (say ~20%)

- figure out if you can recharge the bats from any USB source (figure 3-6 hours per single 18650 bat depending on the input amperage)

- now see if spending the moolah on a panel is worth it

note that 18650 bats are very useful on flashlights as well, and are used as a power source for the best and brightest (for the weight) headlamps currently ... the petzl nao uses em in its battery pack

dont bother with NiMH AA/AAA bats for power ... it takes 4 AA eneloop pros to give the same watt hours as a 3400 mAh 18650 bat ...

now THATs drift

;)

teece303 · · Highlands Ranch, CO · Joined Dec 2012 · Points: 596

Get the Goal Zero Nomad 7 along with the Guide 10 battery pack.

For cragging, the Guide 10 is a battery pack you can charge at home and throw in your pack: it will give you 1-2 recharges of a smartphone, no solar panel required.

For camping, you can pair the Guide 10 with the Nomad 7 and use a smartphone more or less indefinitely by charging it from the sun.

iPads are a much tougher proposition: take one apart, and you'll see it's pretty much all battery.

reboot · · . · Joined Jul 2006 · Points: 125
nicelegs wrote:I'm about to bearbreeder you so watch out!! (Instead of answering your question, I'll offer you another suggestion).
bearbreeder wrote:lol ... heres the REAL thing about to drift your thread even more =P
& We have the real bearbreeder bearbreedering the thread right after legs. Can't make this shit up...
Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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