Expedition Solar Charging Kit Suggestions

Hey there,

I am looking for suggestions on a solar charger for an upcoming trip. It will be primarily used to power camera batteries, iPods, satellite messengers, and headlamps. I've been looking into the Powermonkey Extreme 12V and the Goal Zero Sherpa 50 kit. I'm leaning more towards the Goal Zero, but am wondering if anyone who has it can vouch for its durability? I am also intrigued to know if it can in fact power a Macbook (Goal Zero highly recommends to not do so).

I am open to any other suggestions as well!

Cheers

I have the Goal Zero Nomad 7/Guide 10 x2 combo and I'll say I have been impressed so far.

I use it to charge cameras and phones, no Macbook, so I would check the fine print on that.

You can keep the kit all together with the mesh pouch. It folds to protect the panels. Built in loops to lash to... whatever.

I have put it through some abuse and it still works. Dropped it and have had it stepped on. Still works.

If anything, think about extra power banks.

Honestly, just get rigged for solar: windynation.com/Polycrystal…

It seems cheaper than the devices you are interested in and will offer shore-power on demand for a large majority of your needs.

I use an identical setup from the link and have been highly successful with it.

Just add one of these to the mix and your'e ready to go: harborfreight.com/400-watt-…

Vinzanto wrote:Honestly, just get rigged for solar: windynation.com/Polycrystal… It seems cheaper than the devices you are interested in and will offer shore-power on demand for a large majority of your needs. I use an identical setup from the link and have been highly successful with it. Just add one of these to the mix and your'e ready to go: harborfreight.com/400-watt-…

Thanks for the links! Perhaps useful for future van projects. Unfortunately this kit has to fit into a backpack and be lugged around for a month.

Vinzanto,

What you show appears to be a fixed panel to mount on something. How packable is this?

Twilight Zone. I usually surf this forum and a VW forum. Being a climber/ Vanagon owner I lapsed into reply mode, so made a suggestion for a Westy owner. Whooops, scratch that hahaha, unless you have a dirt bag van.

No solar charging kit that will handle a laptop and a bunch of peripherals is going to be any fun to carry around.

Which Macbook? There is a giant difference in power requirements for a new macbook air or an old macbook pro with non-ssd hard drives. There is also a big difference in power consumption for your use cases. Are you using the macbook to post on facebook, or are you editing video?

I generally use a Sherpa 100, but I wouldn't carry it around for fun. It is great when I haul it on my raft on river trips and don't care about a few extra pounds. It will charge a macbook pro, but it unfortunately will not run the charger for my makita drill batteries even when using the inverter, which is also heavy. It takes quite some time to charge with a good sized solar panel if it fully charges a dead macbook - a day or so of full sun.

BigFeet wrote:I have the Goal Zero Nomad 7/Guide 10 x2 combo...

I can't get my guide 10 to charge my android phone, think the phone wants 2 amps and the guide 10 won't supply it. The light goes red almost immediately with newish batteries..

Andrew Gram wrote:No solar charging kit that will handle a laptop and a bunch of peripherals is going to be any fun to carry around. Which Macbook? There is a giant difference in power requirements for a new macbook air or an old macbook pro with non-ssd hard drives. There is also a big difference in power consumption for your use cases. Are you using the macbook to post on facebook, or are you editing video? I generally use a Sherpa 100, but I wouldn't carry it around for fun. It is great when I haul it on my raft on river trips and don't care about a few extra pounds. It will charge a macbook pro, but it unfortunately will not run the charger for my makita drill batteries even when using the inverter, which is also heavy. It takes quite some time to charge with a good sized solar panel if it fully charges a dead macbook - a day or so of full sun.

It's a Macbook Pro from 2012. I will not be bringing the Macbook in the backcountry with me, I am more so just interested to know if I can plug it in when I'm back in town and don't feel like finding a wall outlet (so it isn't a requirement, just a curiosity).

hikingdrew wrote: I can't get my guide 10 to charge my android phone, think the phone wants 2 amps and the guide 10 won't supply it. The light goes red almost immediately with newish batteries..

hikingdrew,

I haven't had any problems with mine with the normal adapter cord, but you may need the USB smart adapter. Goal Zero has one for $5.00 on their site. You may be able to get one somewhere else though.

From their site... I'm having tech issues today and I cannot post the link, but here is the page detail.

ššššš ššššš 4 out of 5 stars. Read reviews. (4)

Features

Input: USB Female
Output: USB Male
Used with: Guide 10, Sherpa 50 v2, Lighthouse
Cord Length: 1.5 in
Product SKU: 98012

"Mobile phones have different needs when it comes to charging. This USB Smart Adapter communicates between the power source and the phone and automatically adjusts to the correct Amps, to maximize charging.

Mobile phones require anywhere from 0.5 Amps to 2 Amps for charging. When using the USB Smart Adapter, itfs simple and easy to get the proper charging Amps from your power source."

BigFeet wrote: hikingdrew, I haven't had any problems with mine with the normal adapter cord, but you may need the USB smart adapter. Goal Zero has one for $5.00 on their site. You may be able to get one somewhere else though.

Oh ok. that adapter is a current limiter, wonder if they designed the guide 10 before high current phones..