Solar power supply recommendations wanted

I'm going to be going on some extended backpacking trips this summer,
trying to get in better shape, in practice, and ready to do the Pacific
Crest Trail next year.

I'm looking for recommendations for a solar charging setup for my
camera & GPS batteries, etc. Because they use different batteries, I'm
looking at probably having to get a generic 12v solar supply and using
the 12v chargers for each (yeah, I know... weight, weight, weight -
ugh).

My other alternative is to go with all AA batteries and use the holder
that goes in my camera's battery grip that holds 6 AAs instead of 2
proprietary Canon (NB2L) batteries, then buy a solar AA battry charger.
However, the difference of weight of 12 NiMh AAs (two sets) and one
charger over 4 NB2L (2 sets) and 2 different chargers might be pretty
minimal, plus the ability to be charging both AAs for the GPS and other
things and NB2L camera batteries at the same time might offset the
difference in the long run as well.

Can anyone give any real-world actual usage recommendations for such a
system in similar conditions (they'd have to be strapped on the
backpack(s) externally to charge during the hiking day), and pointers
to the products that are recommended?

--
You need only reflect that one of the best ways to get yourself a
reputation as a dangerous citizen these days is to go about repeating
the very phrases which our founding fathers used in the struggle for
independence.
-- Charles A. Beard

Ken Lucke wrote:
I'm going to be going on some extended backpacking trips this summer,
trying to get in better shape, in practice, and ready to do the Pacific
Crest Trail next year.

I'm looking for recommendations for a solar charging setup for my
camera & GPS batteries, etc. Because they use different batteries, I'm
looking at probably having to get a generic 12v solar supply and using
the 12v chargers for each (yeah, I know... weight, weight, weight -
ugh).

My other alternative is to go with all AA batteries and use the holder
that goes in my camera's battery grip that holds 6 AAs instead of 2
proprietary Canon (NB2L) batteries, then buy a solar AA battry charger.
However, the difference of weight of 12 NiMh AAs (two sets) and one
charger over 4 NB2L (2 sets) and 2 different chargers might be pretty
minimal, plus the ability to be charging both AAs for the GPS and other
things and NB2L camera batteries at the same time might offset the
difference in the long run as well.

Can anyone give any real-world actual usage recommendations for such a
system in similar conditions (they'd have to be strapped on the
backpack(s) externally to charge during the hiking day), and pointers
to the products that are recommended?

I don't know where you're located, but here north of the 49th, Canadian Tire
caries a number of solar-charging kits, including one that rolls up for storage
and can roll out across a backpack to charge while hiking.

Try starting he
http://canadiantire.ca/browse/subcat...=1170802732723

and specifically:
http://canadiantire.ca/browse/produc... 1170802764282

Ken Lucke wrote:

Can anyone give any real-world actual usage recommendations for such a
system in similar conditions (they'd have to be strapped on the
backpack(s) externally to charge during the hiking day), and pointers
to the products that are recommended?

Look carefully at the power output rating of your panels. Look at the
assumptions behind those ratings -- latitude and season mostly.
Consider how many hours you'll be able to expose the panels to sun each
day (at the very least, you lose optimum angle mounting a panel on top
of your pack, and often you walk in the shade).

Compare to the power requirements of charging the batteries you need.
Last time *I* conducted this exercise, it became clear this wasn't a
viable approach to powering cameras on a hike for me.

I don't know if this is still true, or true for your hike plans, and I'm
not an experienced hiker and not a solar panel expert, so *really*
don't take any of this as information. Take it as a strong suggestion
to really work through the math, though, to make sure you know what
you're getting.

At alt.energy.homepower there are alot of off grid folks that know
solar cells.

David Dyer-Bennet wrote:
Ken Lucke wrote:

Can anyone give any real-world actual usage recommendations for such a
system in similar conditions (they'd have to be strapped on the
backpack(s) externally to charge during the hiking day), and pointers
to the products that are recommended?


Look carefully at the power output rating of your panels. Look at the
assumptions behind those ratings -- latitude and season mostly. Consider
how many hours you'll be able to expose the panels to sun each day (at
the very least, you lose optimum angle mounting a panel on top of your
pack, and often you walk in the shade).

Compare to the power requirements of charging the batteries you need.
Last time *I* conducted this exercise, it became clear this wasn't a
viable approach to powering cameras on a hike for me.

I don't know if this is still true, or true for your hike plans, and I'm
not an experienced hiker and not a solar panel expert, so *really*
don't take any of this as information. Take it as a strong suggestion
to really work through the math, though, to make sure you know what
you're getting.

This is true - it's probably also a good time to think about power-saving
strategies for ALL your gear. Use optical viewfinder(s) whenever possible, turn
off LCD previews or set them for bare-minimum time, shorten the cameras'
auto-off times, avoid on-camera flash at all costs, for starters....

In article 4payh.907721$R63.330227@pd7urf1no, Matt Ion
wrote:

David Dyer-Bennet wrote:
Ken Lucke wrote:

Can anyone give any real-world actual usage recommendations for such a
system in similar conditions (they'd have to be strapped on the
backpack(s) externally to charge during the hiking day), and pointers
to the products that are recommended?


Look carefully at the power output rating of your panels. Look at the
assumptions behind those ratings -- latitude and season mostly. Consider
how many hours you'll be able to expose the panels to sun each day (at
the very least, you lose optimum angle mounting a panel on top of your
pack, and often you walk in the shade).

Compare to the power requirements of charging the batteries you need.
Last time *I* conducted this exercise, it became clear this wasn't a
viable approach to powering cameras on a hike for me.

I don't know if this is still true, or true for your hike plans, and I'm
not an experienced hiker and not a solar panel expert, so *really*
don't take any of this as information. Take it as a strong suggestion
to really work through the math, though, to make sure you know what
you're getting.

This is true - it's probably also a good time to think about power-saving
strategies for ALL your gear. Use optical viewfinder(s) whenever possible,
turn
off LCD previews or set them for bare-minimum time, shorten the cameras'
auto-off times, avoid on-camera flash at all costs, for starters....

All good suggestions (both from you and David) that I was already going
to include in the daily routine.

I know I can go a typical 18 hour full-on day with the GPS, and that I
won't need it /on/ most of the time (I'm actually quite adept at
map-reading, orienteering, and course plotting), it's just for backup
and to plot special points I find along the way for later return (say,
a spot I think will look good in fall colors, etc). So I'mk thinking
that I probably have 2-3 days use out of a set of batteries there.

The camera will normally last me a whole day shooting on one [double]
set of batteries, even when I leave it on, and let it shut itself down
[which is probably a bad habit for me, but I'm so used to doing it that
way that it's hard to change just being used to pressing the shutter
button and being ready to fire], so with power consumption economy
measures, plus the less frequent use it will get than when I am
actually out at a pre-planned shoot, it will also probably go for 2-3
days between battery changes.

I was already thinking that it will be a two-day charge cycle for the
batteries under most circumstances, considering light/shade issues,
time, etc. I'm just looking for someone who's actually using some sort
of system at this point to know what does and does not work.

Thanks for the confirmatory input, though - and I'm still looking for
someone actually doing this.... anyone?

--
You need only reflect that one of the best ways to get yourself a
reputation as a dangerous citizen these days is to go about repeating
the very phrases which our founding fathers used in the struggle for
independence.
-- Charles A. Beard

Matt Ion wrote:
Ken Lucke wrote:
...
backpack(s) externally to charge during the hiking day), and pointers
to the products that are recommended?

I don't know where you're located, but here north of the 49th, Canadian
Tire caries a number of solar-charging kits, including one that rolls up
for storage and can roll out across a backpack to charge while hiking.

Try starting he
http://canadiantire.ca/browse/subcat...=1170802732723

and specifically:
http://canadiantire.ca/browse/produc... 1170802764282

Can you give us a Canadian postal code? The web site doesn't let me in
without that.

On Feb 6, 10:39 pm, Ken Lucke wrote:
I'm going to be going on some extended backpacking trips this summer,

Your best bet might be to figure out where you can plug in a standard
mains charger en-route or alternatively carry enough (expensive) high
power primary lithium batteries to last out the time you intend to
spend in wilderness.

I'm looking for recommendations for a solar charging setup for my
camera & GPS batteries, etc. Because they use different batteries, I'm
looking at probably having to get a generic 12v solar supply and using
the 12v chargers for each (yeah, I know... weight, weight, weight -
ugh).

My other alternative is to go with all AA batteries and use the holder
that goes in my camera's battery grip that holds 6 AAs instead of 2
proprietary Canon (NB2L) batteries, then buy a solar AA battry charger.

I have to say that all the solar powered chargers I have seen are
fragile toys that are just about OK sat on a windowledge at home but
will disintegrate if subjected to the rigors of outdoor life. Maybe
some in the US are more robust, but the solar panel is quite
vulnerable to impact and flexure. If you are going to try it I would
look for the toughest cheap AA charger I could find and velcro it onto
the top of the rucksack.

Can anyone give any real-world actual usage recommendations for such a
system in similar conditions (they'd have to be strapped on the
backpack(s) externally to charge during the hiking day), and pointers
to the products that are recommended?

Consider using primary cells with the highest power to weight ratio
you can find instead. It might even be cheaper... Depends a bit how
long you are travelling for.

Regards,
Martin Brown

In article , Paul
Furman wrote:

Matt Ion wrote:
Ken Lucke wrote:
...
backpack(s) externally to charge during the hiking day), and pointers
to the products that are recommended?

I don't know where you're located, but here north of the 49th, Canadian
Tire caries a number of solar-charging kits, including one that rolls up
for storage and can roll out across a backpack to charge while hiking.

Try starting he

http://canadiantire.ca/browse/subcat...C%3Efolder_id=
1408474396672503&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=8455244432814 38&bmUID=1170802732723

and specifically:

http://canadiantire.ca/browse/produc...prd_id=8455244
43281438&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1408474396672503&bm UID=1170802764282

Can you give us a Canadian postal code? The web site doesn't let me in
without that.

Use the one it gives as an example if you put in an incorrect one: "M4P
1V8" :^)

--
You need only reflect that one of the best ways to get yourself a
reputation as a dangerous citizen these days is to go about repeating
the very phrases which our founding fathers used in the struggle for
independence.
-- Charles A. Beard

In article .com,
Martin Brown wrote:

On Feb 6, 10:39 pm, Ken Lucke wrote:
I'm going to be going on some extended backpacking trips this summer,

Your best bet might be to figure out where you can plug in a standard
mains charger en-route or alternatively carry enough (expensive) high
power primary lithium batteries to last out the time you intend to
spend in wilderness.

While that's an option for the [shorter] trips this year (I can carry
enough spares to not need a charger for them), I'm using these trips to
work out the bugs for the Pacific Crest Trail trip, so I don't want to
lose the opportunity for trials.


I'm looking for recommendations for a solar charging setup for my
camera & GPS batteries, etc. Because they use different batteries, I'm
looking at probably having to get a generic 12v solar supply and using
the 12v chargers for each (yeah, I know... weight, weight, weight -
ugh).

My other alternative is to go with all AA batteries and use the holder
that goes in my camera's battery grip that holds 6 AAs instead of 2
proprietary Canon (NB2L) batteries, then buy a solar AA battry charger.

I have to say that all the solar powered chargers I have seen are
fragile toys that are just about OK sat on a windowledge at home but
will disintegrate if subjected to the rigors of outdoor life.

Seen, or actually used? There's often quite a bit of difference one
way or the other between perceptions and actual experiences in quality.

Maybe
some in the US are more robust, but the solar panel is quite
vulnerable to impact and flexure. If you are going to try it I would
look for the toughest cheap AA charger I could find and velcro it onto
the top of the rucksack.

I've seen a number of them that appear to be robust enough, and roll or
fold up well enough to be stored when not in use. They are, however, a
modest investment, so I want to see which one(s) I should be looking
at. As I keep saying, I'm looking for actual experience from someone,
not suppositions or theory.

Can anyone give any real-world actual usage recommendations for such a
system in similar conditions (they'd have to be strapped on the
backpack(s) externally to charge during the hiking day), and pointers
to the products that are recommended?

Consider using primary cells with the highest power to weight ratio
you can find instead. It might even be cheaper... Depends a bit how
long you are travelling for.

As I said, I'm using shorter (3-10 day hikes) this year as a testing
ground for the longer PCT hike that I plan next year.

Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail generally starts at the Mexican border
in mid-late March and ends at the Canadian border in mid-late
September. It's not like it's an overnighter that I could take enough
spares with me.

--
You need only reflect that one of the best ways to get yourself a
reputation as a dangerous citizen these days is to go about repeating
the very phrases which our founding fathers used in the struggle for
independence.
-- Charles A. Beard