recharge batteries w/ solar

Starting to plan a Summer 2 week wilderness trip. Would like to use
digital camera, but I do not know how we can replace/ recharge the
batteries.

The Olympus we have now (C-765) uses a funny little LI battery.
Battery life is terrible, but usually it is not a problem.

Does anyone still make midrange digital cameras that can use AA or AAA
batteries? Easiest way might be to buy a bunch of batteries, replace
as needed. But the stuff I am seeing for sale uses propriatary
batteries, far as I have seen.

We could use a solar panel (canoe trip, ya know). but still not sure
how to get the solar panel output to charge a battery.

We could buy a few more batteries for present camera, but at 35 a pop,
that is not very economical. especially after having to buy extra
memory too.

Pentax has a Optio that is waterproof, that would be a nice choice for
this trip, and for other canoe trips afterwards. But that is not
going to get me past the battery problem.

Any suggestions?

TIA!

-Dan

"Dan Valleskey" valleskey at comcast dot net wrote in message
...
Starting to plan a Summer 2 week wilderness trip. Would like to use
digital camera, but I do not know how we can replace/ recharge the
batteries.

The Olympus we have now (C-765) uses a funny little LI battery.
Battery life is terrible, but usually it is not a problem.

Does anyone still make midrange digital cameras that can use AA or AAA
batteries? Easiest way might be to buy a bunch of batteries, replace
as needed. But the stuff I am seeing for sale uses propriatary
batteries, far as I have seen.

We could use a solar panel (canoe trip, ya know). but still not sure
how to get the solar panel output to charge a battery.

We could buy a few more batteries for present camera, but at 35 a pop,
that is not very economical. especially after having to buy extra
memory too.

Pentax has a Optio that is waterproof, that would be a nice choice for
this trip, and for other canoe trips afterwards. But that is not
going to get me past the battery problem.

Any suggestions?

TIA!

-Dan


On one of the home shows, I remember Bob Vila (or Dean Johnson, or maybe
even Tim Allen!), buillding a garden shed and installing a solar panel
system that looked just like roofing shingles and powered a system to
recharge the various lawn and garden power tools. You might want to check
the various Home center stores (Home Depot, Lowes, etc.) or perhaps Edmund
Scientific? Also try Harbor Freight; I remember seeing some sort of solar
battery charger in one of their catologs. Maybe you could buy one of the
solar powered yard lights and gut it for the parts?


--
Ken Hart

Go to a marine supply (boat supply) store. They have 12V trickle
chargers available, which I think you could wire an automotive
cigarette lighter socket and plug in a 12V DC car charger for your
batteries. It would not be something that would recharge your battery
in an hour, but if it were left on the roof of the car with the wire
extending inside to the DC adapter and battery charger.

maybe I could strap that solar panel on the bow of my canoe!

I'm afraid those might not work right without having a 12v battery in
the circuit. and I don't presently have a 12v charger for my camera.
I'll look to see if there is one available, though. Been thinking of
one for the old RV.

Thanks for your thoughts!

-Dan

On 3 Nov 2005 07:28:23 -0800, "wilt" wrote:

Go to a marine supply (boat supply) store. They have 12V trickle
chargers available, which I think you could wire an automotive
cigarette lighter socket and plug in a 12V DC car charger for your
batteries. It would not be something that would recharge your battery
in an hour, but if it were left on the roof of the car with the wire
extending inside to the DC adapter and battery charger.