Solar charger reviews/choices (Read 7992 times)

abakja1

Solar charger reviews/choices
« on: December 03, 2012, 10:53:37 PM »
Anyone have solar chargers and would like to post pics and/or comments?
Looking for 1 to charge cell phone and small devices as well as an all-in-one for laptop.

hnl.flyboy

Re: Solar charger reviews/choices
« Reply #1 on: December 03, 2012, 11:02:06 PM »
https://powertraveller.com/iwantsome/arrivingsoon/000382/

I give this 2 thumbs up.  It'll charge an iPhone from dead to full eight times over or an iPad from dead to full twice.  I'm not the biggest fan on turning on the battery for charging, but it's not hard and you learn how to do it soon enough.

Takes a long time to charge the battery though..
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abakja1

Re: Solar charger reviews/choices
« Reply #2 on: December 14, 2012, 01:47:12 AM »
Thanks,.. Looks interesting but seems you need the extreme version to charge multiple times.
Was looking at the explorer version as its cheaper, but in both cases all reviews knocked on the solar panels taking too long to take a full charge.

Anyone have any suggestions on a charger with faster solar charging and better lipo batteries?
« Last Edit: December 14, 2012, 02:07:21 AM by abakja1 »

Jl808

Solar charger reviews/choices
« Reply #3 on: December 14, 2012, 04:32:03 AM »
Anyone know how this compares to the goal zero kits?
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abakja1

Re: Solar charger reviews/choices
« Reply #4 on: December 14, 2012, 06:43:26 AM »
I saw the youtube reviews and read reviews about the goal zero.  Although it has the larger solar panels, the thing i dont like are the aa batteries that the charge is kept in.  As a RC'er, I know the potential and benefits of lipo batteries and larger capacities and length of charge they can hold that some solar chargers use.

But i'd be interested to know other's first hand experience if anyone have goal zero chargers.

 :)
Anyone know how this compares to the goal zero kits?

clshade

Re: Solar charger reviews/choices
« Reply #5 on: December 14, 2012, 09:22:14 AM »
AA batteries are dirt cheap, though. And I think they still have a longer cycle life than LiPo. The latest variety of low self discharge NiMH batteries will also hold their charge for well over a year. LiPo batteries will degrade, not discharge but lose capacity, even sitting in storage: 2-3 years max even if you aren't using it.

The combination of which makes a AA system the better choice for preparedness, I think. At least if you are looking long term. Add to it that you can also use a variety of AA powered devices with the same batteries: flashlight, GPS, electric razor, etc.

Don't get me wrong - I love LiPo batteries. I just think they are a significant compromise and ongoing expense for prep gear that is not yet currently sustainable enough. Especially for the bit of gear you would be using to recharge all your other devices.


abakja1

Re: Solar charger reviews/choices
« Reply #6 on: December 15, 2012, 05:14:12 AM »
Hmm,  something to consider.  Its just that my past experience with rechargeable aa batteries were that they didnt power any of my devices long or strong enough.   Maybe technology has changed since, but i still like the power capacity in such a small package lipos offer, but agree with the life/storage problems lipos pose as not having good shelf life.

To charge a cell phone or ipad, i wonder how long the aa batteries will take to do that,,,

AA batteries are dirt cheap, though. And I think they still have a longer cycle life than LiPo. The latest variety of low self discharge NiMH batteries will also hold their charge for well over a year. LiPo batteries will degrade, not discharge but lose capacity, even sitting in storage: 2-3 years max even if you aren't using it.

The combination of which makes a AA system the better choice for preparedness, I think. At least if you are looking long term. Add to it that you can also use a variety of AA powered devices with the same batteries: flashlight, GPS, electric razor, etc.

Don't get me wrong - I love LiPo batteries. I just think they are a significant compromise and ongoing expense for prep gear that is not yet currently sustainable enough. Especially for the bit of gear you would be using to recharge all your other devices.

Surf

Re: Solar charger reviews/choices
« Reply #7 on: December 15, 2012, 08:35:07 AM »
I highly suggest looking at the eneloop rechargeable batteries.  They are considered about the best available, do a search on them.  They are now sold at Costco and are $17 for ten of them with the $4 manufacturer instant off price. 

Anyone remotely interested in solar generators / chargers, I also just saw this at Costco Hawaii Kai.  Wagan Tech Solar e power cube 1500.  They are around $1100 market price and that is without shipping, but were $759 at Costco.  Not quite hiking portable but are easily enough rolled around on wheels and handle like a carry on. 

http://www.wagan.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=247&category_id=49&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=105
http://www.wagan.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=192:wagan-techr-solar-e-power-cube-1500-wins-best-in-class&catid=53:product-news&Itemid=130

clshade

Re: Solar charger reviews/choices
« Reply #8 on: December 15, 2012, 08:47:39 AM »
The 4 AA goal zero deal won't even come close to charging an iPad in its own. The panels certainly will, though.

About 3 years ago the 1200 mah AA's were common - and partly why rechargables got the reputation of being weak. These days you can get 2500 mah low self discharge AA's. 2600 normal NiMH batteries can be had for around 1$ each. I found these low self discharge 2200's for a bit over 2$ ea. in a quick search:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B001OYD7SI/?tag=2ahawaii-20

The 4 batteries in the Goal Zero pack just get the voltage up over 5v to charge USB devices so even with 4 batteries you'll only have 2200 mah, or 2.2 amp hours.

An iPad has a 42.5 "watt hour" battery. At 5V that's 10.5 amp hours... or 5 sets of 4 2200 amp hour batteries. Which is ridiculous to think about hauling around.

But solar works best a little differently when you're thinking about charging a device like an iPad. Instead of charging the AA batteries and then using them to charge the device, use the SUN to charge the device. I haven't yet been able to figure out if the Goal Zero battery pack works this way (it looks like it does) but the best scenario is that you put fully charged AA's into the pack and use them as a buffer and voltage regulator while the sun charges your iPad. Works best if the tablet is off but can still be used to extend run time with the tablet on if you need to.

The 7 watt panels would fully charge an iPad in about 10 hours - realistically about 1.5 days of useable sunlight. Assuming you aren't playing Angry Birds for hours on end in your survival scenario, this should be sufficient power using the iPad as a big GPS or an emergency reference manual.

I like 15 watts as a minimum for charging a tablet for light daily use. As with all things solar, though, there really isn't a truly portable, robust, stable and inexpensive solution. You have to match your power use needs to the solar equipment you can afford to pay for and haul.

For example, a really nice portable solar setup would be the Goal Zero Nomad 27. 27 watts in a 3.5 pound package. Add one of the AA power packs and you have a wicked fast AA charger that can also recharge you iPad in about 2 hours. Not cheap - around $350 for the whole setup at the best prices I could find.

Nice thing about it is that 27 watts is applicable to more than just USB charged devices. If you have a base camp with a deep cycle 12v SLA battery for lighting and whatnot, the Nomad 27 would be useable to add some charge to that system, as well. It could also charge up a laptop in about a full day of sun, keep a store of AA's for radios charged up, etc.

Surf: Yup - eneloop batteries are good. They are low self discharge. The problem (and why they are cheaper) is that they are also lower power than other batteries to be had these days. That pack at Costco (which I have and use daily) is 1900 mAh. That's good, actually, but if I can get 2200's or better for the Grab-n-Go setup I would.

wirecounter

Re: Solar charger reviews/choices
« Reply #9 on: December 18, 2012, 08:18:25 AM »
I highly suggest looking at the eneloop rechargeable batteries.  They are considered about the best available, do a search on them.  They are now sold at Costco and are $17 for ten of them with the $4 manufacturer instant off price. 

Anyone remotely interested in solar generators / chargers, I also just saw this at Costco Hawaii Kai.  Wagan Tech Solar e power cube 1500.  They are around $1100 market price and that is without shipping, but were $759 at Costco.  Not quite hiking portable but are easily enough rolled around on wheels and handle like a carry on. 

http://www.wagan.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=247&category_id=49&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=105
http://www.wagan.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=192:wagan-techr-solar-e-power-cube-1500-wins-best-in-class&catid=53:product-news&Itemid=130

I saw that this weekend.  Looks good at a decent price.  Was tempted, but do not really have a use for a system this size (power). 

Aiea78

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Re: Solar charger reviews/choices
« Reply #10 on: January 27, 2013, 08:50:12 PM »
Goal Zero was back at Costco this weekend.  Fastest way to get setup w/o piecemeal at system together.
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abakja1

Re: Solar charger reviews/choices
« Reply #11 on: January 29, 2013, 10:31:58 AM »
I ordered the La Crosse BC-700 charger on Amazon and will pickup the Eneloop AA,...Wish they had AAA too at Costco, but will probably pick em up on Amazon too..


I highly suggest looking at the eneloop rechargeable batteries.  They are considered about the best available, do a search on them.  They are now sold at Costco and are $17 for ten of them with the $4 manufacturer instant off price. 

Anyone remotely interested in solar generators / chargers, I also just saw this at Costco Hawaii Kai.  Wagan Tech Solar e power cube 1500.  They are around $1100 market price and that is without shipping, but were $759 at Costco.  Not quite hiking portable but are easily enough rolled around on wheels and handle like a carry on. 

http://www.wagan.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=247&category_id=49&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=105
http://www.wagan.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=192:wagan-techr-solar-e-power-cube-1500-wins-best-in-class&catid=53:product-news&Itemid=130