5 Questions for Pocket Solar Chargers

I've been seeing a huge number of 'gadget' solar chargers on the market this year. Everything from keychain size up to devices larger than your hand. Personally, I think this is fantastic, and am glad to see so many alternative energy products making it into the retail realm.

However, I do know that many of these products are not built very well, and many manufacturers cut corners. And if a Chinese factory cannot secure an OEM contract with a recognized North American brand name, they tend to dump their wares on Amazon. A pretty picture, and statements about charging digital cameras & phones, should not always be trusted.

So, how can you spot the good ones?
Well, apart from always checking ModernOutpost.com, use the following 5 questions to guide you...

1. Is the solar panel the thin-film variety?
Thin film doesn't require direct sunlight, while crystalline does. So thin film solar cells will provide a charge in most weather conditions. A thin film solar panel will outperform a crystalline panel of the same power rating any day of the week. Less efficient, but far more effective!
If they don't tell you, it will be the cheapest form of crystalline, and not worth buying.

2. Solar Panel Power?
Pocket chargers like to quote the capacity of their battery pack, or confuse you by telling you that they can pump out 2100 mAH from their USB port. All very good, but how quickly they charge from the sun is the key spec they don't always tell you.
Look for a panel of at least 2 Watts... this is large enough to cover 50% of a smartphone battery April-Sept.

3. Battery Capacity?
Look for at least 4,000 mAHr, or you won't get even 1 full charge on a Samsung Galaxy or iPhone 6.

4. Pass-Through Charging?
Pass-Through charging means that your solar gadget is able to charge your phone or camera while it is charging itself. This seems like an obvious point, but a huge number of USB batteries & solar gadgets don't do it. Imagine having to wait until your solar charger gadget is almost full before charging your phone, and while charging your phone, not being able to collect the sun's energy (or even use the USB port)! This is a must-have feature!

5. Apple Compatible?
You might not have an Apple product, but you should care if your solar gadget supports Apple.
Why?
Because if the manufacturer has taken the time to ensure that the USB port is fully functional, and able to support the fussiest of personal electronics, it is far more likely to be a product that you can rely on to charge any USB device.

Send me a note if you want my opinion on any particular product you see online.
Cheers!

Poweradd Apollo review on Trailspace

I just wrote a quick review of the Poweradd Apollo on Trailspace. You can read the review here...
http://www.trailspace.com/gear/other/poweradd-apollo/?review=32193
The issues raised are consistent for any of these small, gimmick solar chargers. They are typically just a back-up battery with a solar panel slapped on it. They are always underpowered.

Solar Charger vs More Camera Batteries

The question almost always comes up... do I really need a solar charger for my upcoming wilderness trek, or should I just buy a bunch of camera batteries?
Knowing that you will be away from power for days, weeks, or even months, what is the best way to keep your camera charged?

The decision comes down to the following: how long the trip is, and how many other devices you need to keep charged (GPS, headlamps, phones, radios, etc), and how well you are able to budget power.

Remember... If you only pack camera batteries, then once you are out, you are out!

Let's look at your options for cameras first, and then we will consider your other gear...

1. Extra Camera Batteries

Most people who take their cameras on their adventures find that they get anywhere from 1-3 days per battery. Anyone sensible will be taking a spare, so with two or even three batteries, you will be able to power through 3-9 days (if nothing goes wrong!). So, for weekend trips, take a couple of batteries with you, and you will be fine.
dSLR camera are a lot more power hungry than the smaller point & shoots, and most serious photographers I talk to seem to want to budget 1 day per battery.

A quick look at the current price of dSLR batteries will quickly make you look for alternatives for longer time frames. At anywhere from $80-$120 per battery, the 2 or 3 batteries you probably already have in your camera bag will suffice if you are looking at a trip of 7 days or less. But, you will need to control your shutterbug urges and stick to a power budget!
Because when your batteries are drained... you are done with the camera.

2. Solar Storage Battery = 3 dSLR batteries

Going for longer than 1 week?
Consider the advantages of using a solar storage battery to pack the extra power you will need. Cheaper than a complete solar kit, and cheaper than buying more camera batteries.

A solar storage battery is the equivalent of 3-4 camera batteries, but when you consider that the price tag is not much more than a new Canon LP-E6 battery, the economics is obvious. Combined with your 2-3 back-up batteries, you now have the ability to go up to 2 weeks, or even 3 weeks for the smaller point-and-shoot cameras.

The advantages of using a solar storage battery...
1. Economy - saving money over buying more camera batteries.
2. Expandability - being able to add a solar panel later if you ever want to.
3. Versatility - works with any camera brand/model. There's nothing worse than having a bag full of model x batteries @ $70each, only to decide to buy a new camera a year later.

What does a solar storage battery look like?
Here's a current top seller... Voltaic V60

How would you get the power from the storage battery into your camera?
Use the solar storage battery to drive a universal battery charger or DC car charger for your particular camera model. The AC charger that came with your camera is not designed for this job.
examples: Ansmann Vario or DC LP-E6 charger.

3. Complete Solar Power Kit

This is for serious trekkers... this is the power system that generates power continuously. You will never run out of power as long as the sun comes up each day. The power varies with the strength of sunlight (latitude and weather), but we take all that into account when we recommend equipment for you.
So, if your trip is longer than 1-2 weeks, and/or you would rather not take chances with getting your power budget correct, using a complete solar kit is your best option.

solar panel -> storage battery -> battery charger -> camera battery

How does it work?

Plug the solar storage battery into the solar panel to start collecting charge.

Whenever you need to top-off a camera battery, simply fit it into the camera charger and plug the charger into the universal battery. Just like you plug it into the wall at home (except we use DC instead of AC power when we're packing it on our backs).

There are many ways to design the solar kit. From fully integrated packs, to custom plug-n-play sets of equipment. Be sure to get information about several options that fit your mode of transport, weight restrictions, and power needs.

What about other electronics?

It is a fairly simple matter to add all sorts of other devices to the mix, and have everything charged from the same power system. We budget for power consumption in things like GPS receivers, headlamp batteries, phones, and even laptops. A good solar storage battery like the V60 is able to provide the voltages needed to support all this gear, and many times you still only need one charger cradle to support them all.

Discover Your Options...

Want to know what I would recommend for you to have a completely independent power system that works everywhere?

... Just let me know where you are going, for how long, what time of year, and what camera(s) & other gear you want to pack, and I will let you know what equipment will serve you best.

Click Here : I look forward to your email!

Personal Power for Nepal Trekkers

I just helped Mick Bromley of Wilderness Trekking head off to Nepal on his latest excursion with two sets of portable solar power systems. One is designed to keep a videographer's equipment charged while he chronicles Mick's legendary attention to every aspect of the Nepal experience. The second is for Mick himself, so that he is able to keep his own camera, tablet, and communications gear charged. His system will also come in handy when his clients need a power boost for their own cameras.

Here is an overview of the systems...

For the Videographer : SunLINQ 5 Solar Panel with Brunton Sustain2 Storage Battery & LP-E6 DC Charger

The SunLINQ panel folds down small & light, and features CIGS efficient thin film cells that excel in the high-UV exposure at altitude, and at the higher ambient temperatures in the lower regions of the country. The Brunton Sustain is a ruggedized lithium pack that stores 75 Watt-Hours of power... enough for 5 full charges on a Canon dSLR battery, so there is plenty of back-up in case of several days of inclement weather.

The balance is in the logistics. With the panel deployed for several hours each day during stops, or at camp, the power produced will easily offset the power being drawn for camera battery charging & video editing/archiving. The power budget was designed around the need for 2-3 Canon LP-E6 charges per day. Because it is never a good idea to drain a lithium battery below 50% on a regular basis, the videographer will be bringing several battery packs that he will top-off at various times during the day & at camp at night.
Lastly, I do not like the DC input connector provided with the Brunton Sustain2. Too fragile, and introduces a mysterious voltage drop that makes it incompatible with slightly lower voltage panels like the Powerfilm series. So, I sent one of the Modern Outpost Solar Input Cables... a tougher & much longer cable that makes camp set-up options easier.

For Mick : Voltaic Fuse 10W with Ansmann Vario Pro Charger

This is a fantastic solar kit. 10W of premium Bosch crystalline solar cells in a rugged encapsulation, set into a rugged case that can carry a laptop & tablet at the same time. The case features webbing on the back, so strapping it to the outside of a backpack is a simple task. Having all the solar charging gear in one place instead of being spread around with wiring has its advantages too. Mick simply opens the case and connects his camera charger, tablet, phone, radio, or virtually anything else he might need.
The panels produce the power he needs each day, and just in case he runs into bad weather, he has 60 Watt-Hours of power stored in the Fuse10W's internal V60 battery pack.

While laptops, tablets, and USB devices can all be connected directly to the Fuse10's internal battery pack, getting the power from the Fuse10 kit into camera batteries is done via an Ansmann Vario Pro universal charger. Plug the charger into the 12V socket on the Fuse10, snap your camera battery into the cradle, and the charger selects the correct voltage, polarity, and begins charging. It even shows you the state-of-charge so you can better manage your power usage.
Simple. Elegant. Functional. Reliable.

Mick's Client Pick :  Fuse 4W with Pixo Charger

Mick and I talked about an option for his clients, should they want to bring a charger of their own. Something simple to use, simple to pack, rugged, and able to charge virtually any type of camera, phone, iPod, etc. The Voltaic Fuse 4W fits perfectly. 4 Watts of German-made Bosch panels in a small pack that straps to a backpack. Inside is room for small gadgets, & the 4000mAHr solar storage battery, capable of charging or powering everything USB including tablets.

The German Pixo charger is universal, adapting to all 3.6/3.7V camera batteries, plus all 7.2/7.4V dSLR & camcorder batteries (a neat trick not seen in other USB chargers).
This kit is able to offset approx 75% of a dSLR battery every day, or a mix of devices adding up to same.

Well, that's it. Trekking with electronics made easy.
Should you need any further details, or want help with the math concerning your own trekking power needs, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Best!

Camping With Your CPAP or BiPAP Machine

As a portable power guy, I get asked quite frequently about powering CPAP & BiPAP machines while camping. My former business partner uses a ventilator in managing his Duchenne's Muscular Dystrophy, so this application is important to me.

First Things First… What is a Watt?

It's difficult to have any discussion of electricity without some basic math. But, I will try to keep it to a minimum. All you really need to know is that I have done some calculations to know how fast your CPAP or BiPAP machine will be taking power out of a battery pack, so that I can estimate how many hours you can operate your machine while camping away from a power source before the battery needs to be recharged.

Powering the Machine…

What I have found in my research, is that a typical machine (Respironics, ResMed, and the like), will draw between 20 & 30 Watts (2-2.5Amps) when not using the humidifier. What this means is that you can use fairly standard battery packs to support your machine through several nights out in a tent.

For example, I have had clients use a battery pack with 150 Watt-Hour capacity to get a full night's sleep of 8 hours with plenty of room to spare. Others have been able to get two 6-hour nights using stingy CPAP machine settings.

Here are a few battery pack options to consider…

Brunton Impel : 145 Watt-Hours : 1-2 nights

Novuscell C150 : 150 Watt-Hours : 1-2 nights

Novuscell C220 : 220 Watt-Hours : 2-3 nights

100 AHr 12V Deep Cycle : 600 Watt-Hours : 3-4 nights

Making Connections...

Most CPAP & BiPAP machines either come with a car adaptor, or have one available as an option from the manufacturer. This is a key piece of equipment, because all battery packs are DC, and this "CLA" connector will let you plug your CPAP into the battery pack exactly as you would plug it into the dashboard of your car. All the battery packs listed above come equipped with this 'CLA' socket just like in your car, and are plug-n-play with your CPAP machine.

Can you use AC power if you want? It can be done, but it is NOT recommended for several reasons. First, inverters waste 20-30% of your battery power in making AC power which your CPAP will be turning back into DC power anyway. So don't waste this power if you don't need to... use the DC car plug for your CPAP. Secondly, most Lithium batteries do not support AC inverters. The Novuscell models listed above are able to handle small 200W inverters, but save them the stress and stick to DC. Lastly, using an inverter just adds one more piece of equipment to carry, so use only when necessary.

Portability…

One of the most important aspects of camping is to be able to go into remote areas. To do this comfortably means NOT packing anything too heavy, so it becomes a balancing act between weight and the amount of power you need each night.

The lightest battery packs are lithium-based, such as the Brunton Impel, and Novuscell models listed above. In a battery that weighs only 2-4 pounds, you can store enough power for up to 3 nights.

Recharging In The Wild…

What do you do if you need more than 1-2 nights' support for your CPAP or BiPAP machine?

In the absence of a vehicle to act as a generator for recharging your CPAP camping battery, one of the most logical solutions is to use portable solar panels. For example, a 20 Watt panel will offset approx 50% of your CPAP power usage, while a 60 Watt panel will completely replace the power you use each night.

Here are a few examples of such panels (smallest I would recommend). I have selected the panels that perform best in partial shade (ie under trees), and in low-light conditions (ie overcast), because you never know what you might get out there…

Powerfilm R-21 : Waterproof, rollable, tough

Solaris 26 : Folding efficiency

Powerfilm 20 : Folding sensitivity (the lightest option)

Affording A Portable Power System…

At this point, you might be thinking that these products are rather expensive for someone who might only be going camping with their CPAP or BiPAP machine a couple of times each summer. To help, Modern Outpost has introduced a power system rental program. Now you can save the expense of owning a portable solar power system, and be sure of getting the latest & greatest equipment for supporting your CPAP while camping.

I hope this helps.

If you have any comments, questions, suggestions, or experience that will add to this discussion, please share it with us.

Best!