Looking for battery pack alternatives as not planning on spending much time stopped in town to recharge...I can get 2-3 days from phone in airplane mode but use for music, gps and photos...
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Looking for battery pack alternatives as not planning on spending much time stopped in town to recharge...I can get 2-3 days from phone in airplane mode but use for music, gps and photos...
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10-K of WhiteBlaze used that charger for his PCT thru. Give him a shout.
Wayne
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Eddie Valiant: "That lame-brain freeway idea could only be cooked up by a toon."
https://wayne-ayearwithbigfootandbubba.blogspot.com
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I have a suntactics S5 solar panel and a goal zero flip 10 battery. It worked fabulously on the Colorado Trail. I'd hike with the solar panel on top of my pack with the battery down inside my pack to keep it cool - just snake a USB extension cord into your pack. the battery would fully charge every day, charged my phone at night.
There's a guy on youtube named Hurlgoat who filmed his entire thru (45 days worth), and I see some sort of solar panel on his pack in every vid. You maybe able to touch base with him by commenting on one of his videos.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...zj8NODhjd9Zjru
We used a Suntactics charger on the AZT. It did a great job, but about 500 miles into the hike, The USB connection on the top of the panel began failing, and had to be taped to still make a connection. The USB cable is very hard to stabilize on the pack.
image.jpeg
After thre hike, the unit with the bad connector was repaired at no charge, and we asked Suntactics to install the replacement one upside down. Then one of us got another unit and requested that it be built that way. This makes it possible tape the USB cable to the bottom of the collector and prevents it from wearing
This is a Suntactics with the reversed USB connector. If you get one I highly recommend that you get it set up this way.
image.jpeg
Last edited by bearcreek; 03-17-2017 at 19:37.
May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view.
~ Edward Abbey
Great info thx....after talking w 10k and guys at suntactics looks like I really should use panel to keep battery back up charged while moving as the iPhone is more fussy with the shade etc. maybe plug into phone directly on a longer lunch break etc...
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We had better luck charging a external battery to charge the phone. When connected directly to the phone with the phone on, the phone would beep every time you moved in or out of the shade.
Last edited by bearcreek; 03-17-2017 at 19:33.
May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view.
~ Edward Abbey
Exactly what 10k said as well as guys at suntactics said...debating just getting a 13oz 20mah charger vs solar and 6-10mah same wt....like idea of not having to overnight in town to recharge battery though...assume Co and Az have about same summer sunny days.....
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Apparently phones are finicky about getting a certain amount of juice to charge vs a battery back up not so much but will take anything. I learned something new today...
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Eddie Valiant: "That lame-brain freeway idea could only be cooked up by a toon."
https://wayne-ayearwithbigfootandbubba.blogspot.com
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On the PCT the Suntactics charger was amazing when I wasn't moving and could position it in sunlight.
Hiking though, no matter where I put it on my pack, my phone (iPhone) would start going ding - ding - ding - ding as it started and stopped charging. Hugely annoying. I ditched it at Kennedy Meadows and switched to a battery. It wasn't a problem to find electricity often enough to charge the battery.
Battery weighs a little bit more... pour out a cup of water to compensate.
edited to add: I was using Apple lightning cables so it wasn't a cabling issue.
I've used the Suntactics on several thru-hikes/expeditions with good success. I wouldn't hesitate to use it on the CT.
...looks like I really should use panel to keep battery back up charged while moving as the iPhone is more fussy with the shade etc. maybe plug into phone directly on a longer lunch break etc... I agree.
After we spoke I contacted Suntactics and they said iPhones are finicky.....much better off charging a 6-10,000mah battery then charge phone off that at night....I'm thinking I'll try this as I need the solar charger for sup trips and already have a couple batteries...
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Yeah, carrying a solar charger and a battery then I have something else to keep up with. Like I said via PM, I carry a 20k mAh battery that'll last way longer than I ever need.
I just did a weight check. My 20k mAh battery weighs 3.01 oz less than my 10k mAh battery with Suntactics (without case) charger together.
https://www.anker.com/products/A1271021 - weigh the solar charger and 10 mAh battery against this and consider now you've got 1 more thing to keep up with.
Suntactics charger, no case - 8.3 oz http://imgur.com/a/zCgTV
Last edited by 10-K; 03-19-2017 at 10:42.
All good info. Thanks. Chris Berry hiking the AZT as we speak is carrying this solar charger. Another possible resource to reach out to. He is posting to YouTube.
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I used the suntactics charger on the CT and for my Tour from denver to dallas after the hike. I got good use out of it for sure. You cant just plug into your phone, you have to charge a battery bank then charge off of that. I would honestly recommend just getting a battery bank instead if you are hiking the trail.
I hike with a dog. Please, tell me why i shouldn't.