Solar/Batterypack Phone Chargers

PowerChimp and say 4 rechargeable AA batteries.

The problem is that something like the Freeloader might be OK for triclle charging a small mobile but to charge a smartphone/GPS you need something bigger.

andymiller wrote:

The problem is that something like the Freeloader might be OK for triclle charging a small mobile but to charge a smartphone/GPS you need something bigger.

Their site says that the Freeloader Pro can charge power hungry devices... I did see a good review of one by a touring cyclist who was going to be at the Adventure Show...

Whatever you do, don't buy the Freeloader Pico. Fantastic at charging something like an iPod shuffle, useless at charging an iPhone.

As above, in real world light conditions, even after 2-3 days it was never full when the website says something like 8-10 hours.

I'm just back from two weeks away in Wales and Normandy and kept my new Motorola Defy charged from AA rechargeables via a PowerChimp, the batteries were charged during the day in my B&M Ixon IQ light connected to a Shimano hub dynamo via the B&M Ride & Charge unit which converts the dynamo output to the correct voltage to charge the Ixon IQ batteries.

I don't think the PowerChimp is a very efficient means of getting the power out of the AA rechargeables but 3-4 hours riding was enough to put a 60% charge into my phone from the four AA batteries which was enough for me.

Phone used for a few texts and maybe 20 -30 minutes internet each day plus the occasional call and some gps use.

The only day when I didn't generate enough power was a really hilly day in Wales when my speed was pretty low for most of the day.

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nwallace wrote:

Review:

I think I will get a Chimp too though and see what that's like with decent Ni-Mh AA batteries in it, because where I'm going I don't expect to find power sockets for use.

Where ARE you going?

andymiller wrote:

So when you say 'does what it says on the can' do you mean (for example) charge an iPod or iPhone from 20 to 100 percent (which would be pretty good).

Where are you going? A short campsite hookup lead doesn't cost that much and doesn't weigh that much and is quite a useful thing to have - unless you are going somewhere remote.

I have three PowerMonkey aux batteries, and the one SolarMonkey panel (now broken.)

In my experience one full PM battery will charge my iPod Touch (1st gen) from 0 to 100% twice, with maybe a tiny bit left over. The manufacturers suggest it will do an iPhone 1.5 times, which would tally with this (the iPhone has a bigger battery than the iPod, 1400mAh vs 900mAh.)

The issue is the charging of the PM battery by solar panel which is really slow. A full day in strong sun (e.g. in the Arabian desert) might get it 1/3-1/2 charged. The charge it would give was just slightly less than what my GPS (Garmin Edge 705) would use in one day if I was careful to always turn it off when stopped, etc.

When I camp it is rarely in a campsite so there isn't the luxury of a power hookup. So far on this trip it has been mostly in the desert in Iran and UAE and the mountains in Oman, although I also used the batteries a lot in the Himalayas where although not camping there wasn't always electricity either. But even in Europe I would avoid a campsite more often than not so there isn't any more mains power there in the circumstances.

When the solar panel broke in Oman I found myself taking extended lunches so I could recharge all my gadgets in a restaurant, which was a pain in the neck to have to do. The 3 aux batteries alone could keep my GPS going for about a week if I rationed the iPod and phone, but we spent near a month camping rough with no overnight power.

It would be great to have something that would give complete freedom from the electricity socket for an arbitrary period of time... the SolarMonkey when working in good sun would just about keep my GPS going if I didn't use any other electronics I reckon, or at least push out that week with the three batteries to two or three. But it is still weak and limited. Their SolarGorilla is much more powerful (by a factor of around 10 I think) and would be more practical, but at the expense of size/weght.

To be honest I think a hub dynamo is the best option and I'd be interested in getting one if possible before I hit Australia where I'll be back in the tent full time away from any electricity. Solar is a big thing here in Nepal though (the grid is not exactly univeral; some towns get all their limited electricity from solar) and more powerful panels are available here for not that much money so I may give one of them a go. They are not small, light or ruggedised for travel though priced at £14 for a panel with a power output similar to the SolarGorilla rather than £140.

If you are planning to be away from power for only a few days at a time though, the aux batteries on their own are more than sufficient (they charge up from the mains quickly enough.) I also carry a very small little USB charger that runs off a single AA for emergencies. That cost a fiver in Maplin IIRC.

nwallace wrote:

The islands between St Kilda and the Inner Hebridies, with a tent.

In other words the Outer Hebrides/Western Isles?
I think you will find plenty of opportunities to access mains electricity there if you need to. Wild camping won't have a supply of course, but formal campsites will have, and there are several cafes etc where you could probably borrow some electricity, or you could camp at the hostels and charge up your stuff there.

I used the freeloader a couple of years ago and it was pretty rubbish - very long time to charge even in bright sunlight.

i also bought a Solio which was equally rubbish, but much better built and designed than the freeloader

Totally agree with posts about trickle charging and would add that charging the unit at the mains whenever you can will improve the use you get.

I think it is a case of adjusting expectations. If you want a rechargeable batttery that you can also trickle charge using solar power, and can provide emergency juice to a phone or GPS, then one of these is great. Expecting it t provide you with all your power needs in a desert would be a mistake.

I recently heard a podcast on radio 4 (excess baggage 25h june) and one of the guests mentioned carrying solar panels, but I suspect these were more specialist and powerful units than the kit mentioned in this thread.