WhiteBlaze Pages 2024
A Complete Appalachian Trail Guidebook.
AVAILABLE NOW. $4 for interactive PDF(smartphone version)
Read more here WhiteBlaze Pages Store

Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 38
  1. #1
    Registered User
    Join Date
    07-24-2011
    Location
    Chicago
    Age
    35
    Posts
    24

    Default Solar Powered Cell Phone Charger

    I was just wondering if anyone has had a successful thru hike using solar power to charge their smartphone. I really like the idea but I realize the trail is very shady. Regardless, I still think it can be done. I am considering this one which allows you to run a phone with a dead battery while its charging in the sun.

    I think I would just hike with the panels open on top of my pack and although it wouldnt be constant sun, you would still get gaps of sun, not sure if that would do the trick.

    I have never hiked the AT on a sunny day without needing sunscreen! Sound reasoning I think.

  2. #2
    Registered User Joey C's Avatar
    Join Date
    03-08-2011
    Location
    Maryland
    Posts
    169
    Images
    12

    Default

    I have yet to hear of anyone having any great success with these. The charge time is slow, like several hours for a 10 min call. Possible, yes. Practical, not really.

  3. #3
    First Sergeant SGT Rock's Avatar
    Join Date
    09-03-2002
    Location
    Maryville, TN
    Age
    57
    Posts
    14,861
    Images
    248

    Default

    Green tunnel. Not a lot of direct sunlight most of the time.
    SGT Rock
    http://hikinghq.net

    My 2008 Trail Journal of the BMT/AT

    BMT Thru-Hikers' Guide
    -----------------------------------------

    NO SNIVELING

  4. #4
    Registered User RevLee's Avatar
    Join Date
    10-30-2006
    Location
    Midlothian, Va
    Age
    62
    Posts
    164

    Default

    Take a look at chargers like the iGo Charge Anywhere. Saw a few of these last year, but no solar chargers on the trail. While recharging your phone in town or hostel, it also recharges its internal battery so you can get another phone recharge on the trail.
    The mountains are calling and I must go.
    - John Muir

    http://postholer.com/revlee

  5. #5

    Default

    I used something similar to http://www.rei.com/product/814774/go...:referralID=NA (but the one I have is discontinued.) I lashed it to the outside of my pack while hiking, but found that it charged better laid out while taking breaks/setting up camp. It does not need full sun to charge.

    I coupled that with an Igo cigarette lighter charger - http://www.amazon.com/Mobility-Auto-...1949641&sr=1-2 (but you need a tip for your phone.) This gave me a great charging solution for the trail, but I still needed a way to charge in town, and I didn't want to have to carry 2 chargers so I got http://www.amazon.com/Adapter-Conver...1949719&sr=1-2 which seemed to be the lightest route I could go for being able to charge anywhere.

    All in all, my electronics I carried came out to 2lbs, which was fine by me as I'm a techie.

    Reddog176 aka Gadget '07

  6. #6

    Default

    That's not to say my 'charging electronics' weighed 2lbs, I had other stuff as well, unsure of the weight of charging stuff.

    Reddog176 aka G

  7. #7

    Default

    Another option is a kinetic charger, like www.npowerpeg.com that uses the Faraday principle. It weighs about 9 oz. I'm waiting for someone to try it out. I personally use an extended life battery on my BlackBerry and have no problem getting between towns. But the extra weight of the battery and the recharger comes close to the nPower PEG, so I am tempted.

  8. #8
    Registered User
    Join Date
    04-02-2011
    Location
    Nashville
    Posts
    509
    Journal Entries
    1

    Default

    I tried the Freedom by Bruton (single panel) nice battery, but the solar panel was not able to charge on the trail, perhaps it'll work if you base camp. Now I carry two extra batteries for my droid.

  9. #9
    Registered User OldManWalking's Avatar
    Join Date
    07-22-2011
    Location
    Phenix City, Alabama
    Age
    69
    Posts
    19
    Images
    2

    Default

    I used the Goal Zero Guide 10 http://www.rei.com/product/825885/go...-solar-charger in March of this year section hiking on the AT in GA with limmited success. Hanging the panel from the pack was almost useless unless the sun was bright and comming directly from behind. Worked best while stopping for lunch or in camp. I was able to get enough sun to maintain a charge on the battery pack and keep two smart phones charged. Weight is as advertised at 16oz with the battery pack so a good deal heavier than just carrying a spare battery.
    GoalZero.jpg

  10. #10
    Captain Caveman paradoxb3's Avatar
    Join Date
    10-01-2007
    Location
    Dalton, GA
    Age
    40
    Posts
    230

    Default

    i saw alot of people last year with a solio strapped to the top of their pack. I saw alot of people get rid of them too because they simply didnt work on the AT. keep in mind they use the solar to charge the internal battery, then the internal battery to charge the phone... since the suntactics charger you posted does not have an internal battery to act somewhat like a buffer, it would be a safe bet that if you tried using it while hiking, you'd have very little luck getting it to charge.

    Not to shoot this idea down... if the info on their website is in fact accurate this suntactics charger looks to be possibly one of the best devices i've seen for portable solar charging, but i would still imagine if you wanted to get a full charge you would simply have to work out a plan to stop on an exposed mountaintop around noon and spend a minimum of 2 hours with the panels at a right angle to the sun on a clear day. (what happens when you experience 1 or 2 weeks straight of clouds and rain?)

    Its not a bad idea, and the device is at least fairly light. if you choose to try it i wish you the best of luck. personally i carried a spare battery, charged both when in town, and when used sparingly would last fine between towns, even in a battery hungry smartphone.
    "...Though the road may wind, yea, your hearts grow weary, still shall ye follow them, even unto your salvation." -Blind Seer, O Brother, Where Art Thou?

  11. #11

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Magua View Post
    I am considering this one which allows you to run a phone with a dead battery while its charging in the sun.
    Actually, that one looks pretty good. A little bulky, but you need an large panel with high output to be of any use.That way when it's not in direct sun, it still has the ability to produce useable current. The little chargers with the built in battery simply don't cut it. Read the fine print and they need 10 hours of noon day sun to fully charge thier battery. In practice, that means a week or more.

    Mounting the panel on your pack (if you can figure out a way to do that) will work okay until the leafs come out in force. After that you will need to remember to put it in the sun each time you take a break. Charging a dead battery will still take time, as the limiting factor is how fast the charger built into the device your charging allows it to charge - usually at least a couple of hours or more. But if you can get 30 minutes of good sun a day during breaks, you can go a long way to keeping the batteries pretty well topped off.

    As for the npower PEG thing, I belive it is still vaporware, likely because they still can't get to work well enought to be even remotely practical. Maybe if you did jumping jacks for an hour at time, but not just walking around.
    Follow slogoen on Instagram.

  12. #12
    First Sergeant SGT Rock's Avatar
    Join Date
    09-03-2002
    Location
    Maryville, TN
    Age
    57
    Posts
    14,861
    Images
    248

    Default

    Here is a thought I was planning on using for hiking out west. Get one of these: http://www.instructables.com/id/Solar-Altoids-USB-Charger/

    I
    t is a solar charger that can charge USB devices and also charges rechargeable NiMh batteries, or can charge the device off of NiMh batteries or non-rechargeable Li batteries or Alkaline batteries. You can also just buy one or the parts for one here: http://www.browndoggadgets.com/

    This way you can have a solar charger you can pop out and charge your re-chargeable batteries and/or device when the sun presents you an opportunity, but you could also carry some standard batteries with you to recharge your device when the sun doesn't cooperate.

    I've bought a kit and a pouch for my pack to build it into for this, but I haven't finished the project. I have played with it some off trail and find that it works for my phone.
    SGT Rock
    http://hikinghq.net

    My 2008 Trail Journal of the BMT/AT

    BMT Thru-Hikers' Guide
    -----------------------------------------

    NO SNIVELING

  13. #13
    Registered User
    Join Date
    07-24-2011
    Location
    Chicago
    Age
    35
    Posts
    24

    Default

    I am hearing a lot of mixed reviews. I think I am going to go for the one that I mentioned in my original email. Its a little pricey but I figure Ill use it at home as my standard charger when Im finished hiking, so if I end up sending it home early on in the trip then I wont be out the $140. At which point ill just go with the spare battery method.

    Ill let everyone know how it goes. And if the worse thing to happen is that I have to hear a couple of "I told you so's", then I can live with that.

    Thanks everybody

  14. #14
    Registered User darkage's Avatar
    Join Date
    12-14-2007
    Location
    Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, United States
    Age
    45
    Posts
    618
    Images
    113

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by OldManWalking View Post
    I used the Goal Zero Guide 10 http://www.rei.com/product/825885/go...-solar-charger in March of this year section hiking on the AT in GA with limmited success. Hanging the panel from the pack was almost useless unless the sun was bright and comming directly from behind. Worked best while stopping for lunch or in camp. I was able to get enough sun to maintain a charge on the battery pack and keep two smart phones charged. Weight is as advertised at 16oz with the battery pack so a good deal heavier than just carrying a spare battery.
    GoalZero.jpg
    This is the one i'm gonna be trying ... i don't like doing the town stops an wait for charging ... so even if it takes a week of charging during rest stops for some battery, so be it ... i'm not out there to be on the phone daily ... a 25% charge a day would keep me happy ... full pack charge in 1 1/2 hours during prime time ... that sounds good to me ... then the pack charges my phone, or use the batteries for headlamp, or digital ... if it don't work, oh well .. but damn if i'm not gonna give it a good try, my expectations are low ..
    http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fb...06485526057330

    Facebook Group - Appalachian trail hiker's

  15. #15
    Registered User
    Join Date
    08-08-2011
    Location
    Gainesville,Georgia
    Posts
    5
    Journal Entries
    1

    Default

    I used one for 200 miles in Virginia and I had a false sense of security in obtaining "juice" for my cell/mp3. Two constant days of the solar power pack duck-taped to the top of my pack only to get an hour or two of "mojo". Hope it works better for you than it did for me.

  16. #16
    Registered User Wise Old Owl's Avatar
    Join Date
    01-29-2007
    Location
    High up in an old tree
    Posts
    14,444
    Journal Entries
    19
    Images
    17

    Default

    There is a lot of old ideas about solar out there. As I posted in the other thread - miss information too. If I bought a Solio panel the watts would not provide enough juice (watts) to push the battery to charge in a low light condition. Here is the deal - Lithium batteries have changed the bar on phones. Kyrocera Panels discovered smaller thinner wires closer together provides more watts in less light. I can get a charge light at Sunset when I have the panel poked in the general direction of the sun an hour before sunset. I can continue that charge light in the twilight.

    So lets be honest - smart phones are gaining in popularity, I doubt anyone has taken one from Maine to Georgia yet.... But it will happen this year or next... The idea that you need direct sunlight all the time is an old idea, New panels work from ambient light. I have posted lightweight ideas on Backpacking panels you can make in two threads here on WB.

    I am still learning here - my smart phone arrived last month and I am paying $145 a month for the service. In the Google GPS mode the phone gets really hot and the manufacture recommends plugging in to defray the discharge. So in the GPS mode it eats batteries.... But here is the interesting moment. you can turn off the GPS and use the cell towers to get a general idea of where you are and it uses less power. But here is something that has not been addressed, and there have been numerous posts on solar power here on WB.

    Lets say the panel doesn't have the push one day to charge the phone... Low light, too much leaves, panel too small... The panel will provide a longer time before reaching zero of off. So a panel off the back or dangling will send some electric to the phone for use.

    Over the counter panels at REI or EMS are too small and low in watts.. Keep an eye out for new products from Bruton & Sunling


    http://www.backup-power.ca/catalog/i...32/3743166.htm

    Please avoid buying low watt panels.
    Dogs are excellent judges of character, this fact goes a long way toward explaining why some people don't like being around them.

    Woo

  17. #17
    Registered User DavidNH's Avatar
    Join Date
    01-02-2005
    Location
    Concord, NH
    Age
    61
    Posts
    2,050

    Default

    You may go many days with no sun due to weather and most of the time.. you will be in the woods.
    But I need to ask.. why the hell to you or anyone else need a smart phone to hike the AT?

  18. #18
    HIKER TRASH birchy's Avatar
    Join Date
    05-08-2011
    Location
    Michaux State Forest
    Age
    57
    Posts
    260

    Default

    I like to use the hot shot charger, which uses standard batteries to hot shot the phone. I also have used the ETON radio which has a USB charging port, and works off of a hand crank, solar, ac adapter or battery. Plus the radio has NOAA weather. It weights around 1 lb.

  19. #19
    Registered User Wise Old Owl's Avatar
    Join Date
    01-29-2007
    Location
    High up in an old tree
    Posts
    14,444
    Journal Entries
    19
    Images
    17

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by DavidNH View Post
    You may go many days with no sun due to weather and most of the time.. you will be in the woods.
    But I need to ask.. why the hell to you or anyone else need a smart phone to hike the AT?
    Why not? I can still get calls - messages - I can pull up Radar weather pictures, digital maps, take photos, read a book in camp, identify a star, find true north during the day, get reminded how many hours it is to civil twilight, look up magnetic declination. Look up the next meteor shower and stay up for it. Identify an edible plant other than a ramp. Listen to Jimmy Hendricks play the anthem...Post here on WB from the trail... Find the nearest Restaurant or tavern when entering a trail town with Google Maps. Read the local news back home.... Connect to spot. Find and call a Pizza delivery. Call for transportation.... Store a picture or write a journal entry.... record a voice note. I will think of some more.

    ON A 4 oz platform. Yea thats UBER!
    Dogs are excellent judges of character, this fact goes a long way toward explaining why some people don't like being around them.

    Woo

  20. #20
    Registered User
    Join Date
    09-29-2008
    Location
    West Palm Beach, Florida
    Age
    69
    Posts
    3,605

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Wise Old Owl View Post
    Why not? Post here on WB from the trail...
    Best reason ever given to leave it at home.
    The trouble I have with campfires are the folks that carry a bottle in one hand and a Bible in the other.
    You never know which one is talking.

Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast
++ New Posts ++

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •