Solar Battery Chargers

[Jay Honeck]

I see these things available locally for around $40 bucks. They claim to be
able to recharge cell phones and laptops. They also say they're good for
trickle-charging vehicle batteries.

My thinking is that a solar charger would be great for Sun N Fun and
Oshkosh -- places where my cell phone (and walkie-talkies, and laptop)
batteries routinely die after a few days. It also looks like something I
could use to keep my motorcycle battery charged over the winter.

Anyone purchase one of these? Do they work as advertised? How long does
it take to charge? Do they require direct sunlight?

Thanks in advance!
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Jim]

I was looking at those in the Northern Tool & Equipment catalog and noticed
that there's also a controller avialable so you don't over charge your
batteries, some of the panels say that the controller is required.
--
Jim Burns III

Remove "nospam" to reply

[Jay Honeck]

> I was looking at those in the Northern Tool & Equipment catalog and
noticed
> that there's also a controller avialable so you don't over charge your
> batteries, some of the panels say that the controller is required.

The $40 version has a circuit built-in that supposedly prevents
over-charging or "voltage back-flow" (or whatever you call that...).
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[SFM]

Solar panel can easily deliver too much voltage to your device. Whenever
power a device with a panel you always want to use a charge manager. Yes
they do work but keep in mind how much sun you really are getting. Just
because sunrise is at 7 and set at 6 it does not mean you have a full 11
hours of sun. Typically in the Midwest (I am at the same latitude as you
Jay) you get about 4-6 hours of useful sun/day. So you need to get a panel
that can charge the battery in that amount of time. There is more too if you
expect to keep the device on you need to not only charge the battery but
also to have enough power for the device.

Scott

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-------------------------------------
"Jay Honeck" > wrote in message
news:5fSYb.340846$I06.3554232@attbi_s01...
> > I was looking at those in the Northern Tool & Equipment catalog and
> noticed
> > that there's also a controller avialable so you don't over charge your
> > batteries, some of the panels say that the controller is required.
>
> The $40 version has a circuit built-in that supposedly prevents
> over-charging or "voltage back-flow" (or whatever you call that...).
> --
> Jay Honeck
> Iowa City, IA
> Pathfinder N56993
> www.AlexisParkInn.com
> "Your Aviation Destination"
>
>

[Jay Smith]

Jay Honeck wrote:
> I see these things available locally for around $40 bucks. They claim to be
> able to recharge cell phones and laptops. They also say they're good for
> trickle-charging vehicle batteries.
> My thinking is that a solar charger would be great for Sun N Fun and
> Oshkosh -- places where my cell phone (and walkie-talkies, and laptop)
> batteries routinely die after a few days. It also looks like something I
> could use to keep my motorcycle battery charged over the winter.
> Anyone purchase one of these? Do they work as advertised? How long does
> it take to charge? Do they require direct sunlight?

Solar panels can produce voltage, but it is current that charges the
batteries.
Typical charging current is 0.1 c (1/10th the rated cell capacity).
If you have a 2000mA AA NiMH battery, you need a charging current of
20mA at a voltage of 1.5Vdc.

Is the charger a constant current of constant voltage?
It must be regulated one way or the other to prevent "overcharging" (ie-
frying the battery).

[C J Campbell]

"Jay Honeck" > wrote in message
news:hLRYb.340701$I06.3552733@attbi_s01...
> I see these things available locally for around $40 bucks. They claim to
be
> able to recharge cell phones and laptops. They also say they're good for
> trickle-charging vehicle batteries.
>
> My thinking is that a solar charger would be great for Sun N Fun and
> Oshkosh -- places where my cell phone (and walkie-talkies, and laptop)
> batteries routinely die after a few days. It also looks like something I
> could use to keep my motorcycle battery charged over the winter.
>
> Anyone purchase one of these? Do they work as advertised? How long does
> it take to charge? Do they require direct sunlight?
>

You know, I don't think they even bother to advertise those things here in
the Puget Sound region. :-)

[Jay Masino]

Jay Honeck > wrote:
> I see these things available locally for around $40 bucks. They claim to be
> able to recharge cell phones and laptops. They also say they're good for
> trickle-charging vehicle batteries.
>
> My thinking is that a solar charger would be great for Sun N Fun and
> Oshkosh -- places where my cell phone (and walkie-talkies, and laptop)
> batteries routinely die after a few days. It also looks like something I
> could use to keep my motorcycle battery charged over the winter.

I have one of these things that I occasionally use on a spare car that
we have (during periods of inactivity). I can't really tell how much
of a difference it makes, but I figured it couldn't hurt. I remember
running some little tests on it, after I bought it. It appears that in
bright sunlight, without any load, it would put out 12 or 13 volts,
but that second you put a small load across it (fairly high resistor),
the voltage would droop to almost nothing. I can't remember if I tried
to measure the current or not. I'd say this would be fine to leave on
your motorcycle over the winter, but I wouldn't bet on it charging your
cell phone, walkie-talkies, or laptop over the course of a few days.

--- Jay


--
__!__
Jay and Teresa Masino ___(_)___
http://www2.ari.net/jmasino/ ! ! !

http://www.oceancityairport.com/
http://www.oc-adolfos.com/

[Buff5200]

I'm from Buffalo, NY. What's a "solar charger"? And what's this
"sunlight" everybody
keeps talking about?

Jay Honeck wrote:

>I see these things available locally for around $40 bucks. They claim to be
>able to recharge cell phones and laptops. They also say they're good for
>trickle-charging vehicle batteries.
>
>My thinking is that a solar charger would be great for Sun N Fun and
>Oshkosh -- places where my cell phone (and walkie-talkies, and laptop)
>batteries routinely die after a few days. It also looks like something I
>could use to keep my motorcycle battery charged over the winter.
>
>Anyone purchase one of these? Do they work as advertised? How long does
>it take to charge? Do they require direct sunlight?
>
>Thanks in advance!
>
>

[Jay Honeck]

> I'd say this would be fine to leave on
> your motorcycle over the winter, but I wouldn't bet on it charging your
> cell phone, walkie-talkies, or laptop over the course of a few days.

Well, I bought the danged thing. It claims to be able to charge my cell
phone or walkie-talkie batteries in 5 hours, my lap top battery in 6 - 8
hours, and ni-cad rechargeable batteries, too. (It's got built-in slots for
AA rechargeable batteries.)

It's a handsome, well-made unit, with internal storage for the various
cords, cost $40, and seems to have all the bases covered. It claims to have
built-in circuitry to prevent over-charging, and it comes with a plethora of
plugs to fit virtually any device.

It even comes with the cord and cigar lighter plug so that you can keep your
car battery (or, in my case, motorcycle battery) charged over the winter.
It also has a built-in cigar lighter outlet, so you can plug your car
cell-phone cord directly into the unit.

Interestingly it claims to put out enough juice to power the cell phone
unassisted. Since the battery on my newest cell phone lasts over 3 days
without charging, I should be covered for most any fly-in.

We'll see how it works. Thanks for all the input!
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Mike O'Malley]

"Jay Honeck" > wrote in message
news:hLRYb.340701$I06.3552733@attbi_s01...
> I see these things available locally for around $40 bucks. They claim to
be
> able to recharge cell phones and laptops. They also say they're good for
> trickle-charging vehicle batteries.
>
> My thinking is that a solar charger would be great for Sun N Fun and
> Oshkosh -- places where my cell phone (and walkie-talkies, and laptop)
> batteries routinely die after a few days. It also looks like something I
> could use to keep my motorcycle battery charged over the winter.
>
> Anyone purchase one of these? Do they work as advertised? How long does
> it take to charge? Do they require direct sunlight?
>
> Thanks in advance!

We'd kept one on the dash of our Pawnee at the banner tow place I worked
(starter and battery, but no alternator). It sat outside all day, and
really only used the battery once or twice a day. We'd still have to bring
the charging cart out once every two weeks or so to charge the battery back
up though.

Don't know how often we'd have to without the solar panel, probibly the same
:-)

[Ron Rosenfeld]

On Wed, 18 Feb 2004 22:09:31 -0500, Buff5200 > wrote:

>I'm from Buffalo, NY. What's a "solar charger"? And what's this
>"sunlight" everybody
>keeps talking about?

Buffalo, NY? That's where folk with extreme sensitivity to sunlight live,
isn't it?


Ron (EPM) (N5843Q, Mooney M20E) (CP, ASEL, ASES, IA)

[Jay Honeck]

> I'm from Buffalo, NY. What's a "solar charger"?

I've often wondered: What could possess someone to live where 3-foot
snowfalls are the norm?

I hope you like snowmobiling!
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Dennis O'Connor]

Yup... You get to make snowballs with it, snowmen, snowmobiling, skiing,
sledding, photographs ...
later in the year you get to swim in it, go sailing on it, more
photographs...
later still you get to water your lawn with it, wash the car, take a shower,
more photographs...
and finally you get to watch it flow down the river towards the setting sun,
more photogrpahs
and next year it evaporates off the lakes and comes back to us as snow...
Nice stuff, snow..
denny

"Jay Honeck" > wrote > I've often wondered: What
could possess someone to live where 3-foot
> snowfalls are the norm?
>
> I hope you like snowmobiling!
> --
> Jay Honeck

[Jay Honeck]

> Nice stuff, snow..

After 22 years in the newspaper business, I still shudder in sympathetic
pain when the snow flies.

With 100 drivers on the road, a major snowfall always meant that my phone
would ring all night long. I can't even count how many cars I jump-started
or pushed out of snowbanks...

Now, I look out the window and smile as those big flakes float gently to the
ground...

And then I remember that I now have eight 70 foot-long balconies and four
parking lots to shovel... ;-)

I hate snow.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Mike Rapoport]

What is the brand and model that you purchased? Where did you buy it?

Mike
MU-2


"Jay Honeck" > wrote in message
news:ORVYb.349821$xy6.1746841@attbi_s02...
> > I'd say this would be fine to leave on
> > your motorcycle over the winter, but I wouldn't bet on it charging your
> > cell phone, walkie-talkies, or laptop over the course of a few days.
>
> Well, I bought the danged thing. It claims to be able to charge my cell
> phone or walkie-talkie batteries in 5 hours, my lap top battery in 6 - 8
> hours, and ni-cad rechargeable batteries, too. (It's got built-in slots
for
> AA rechargeable batteries.)
>
> It's a handsome, well-made unit, with internal storage for the various
> cords, cost $40, and seems to have all the bases covered. It claims to
have
> built-in circuitry to prevent over-charging, and it comes with a plethora
of
> plugs to fit virtually any device.
>
> It even comes with the cord and cigar lighter plug so that you can keep
your
> car battery (or, in my case, motorcycle battery) charged over the winter.
> It also has a built-in cigar lighter outlet, so you can plug your car
> cell-phone cord directly into the unit.
>
> Interestingly it claims to put out enough juice to power the cell phone
> unassisted. Since the battery on my newest cell phone lasts over 3 days
> without charging, I should be covered for most any fly-in.
>
> We'll see how it works. Thanks for all the input!
> --
> Jay Honeck
> Iowa City, IA
> Pathfinder N56993
> www.AlexisParkInn.com
> "Your Aviation Destination"
>
>

[Jay Honeck]

> What is the brand and model that you purchased? Where did you buy it?

The brand is "Brunton" ( http://brunton.com/ ) I bought the product
locally at a "Fin & Feather" camping/outfitter store.

Brunton appears to be a Canadian company, with offices in Riverton, Wyoming.
The unit is "assembled in China from European solar panels" according to the
box.

Interestingly, they don't seem to sell my exact model on their website.
However, there are several similar units for sale there.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Mike Rapoport]

Thanks

Mike
MU-2

"Jay Honeck" > wrote in message
news:U49Zb.360049$na.537399@attbi_s04...
> > What is the brand and model that you purchased? Where did you buy it?
>
> The brand is "Brunton" ( http://brunton.com/ ) I bought the product
> locally at a "Fin & Feather" camping/outfitter store.
>
> Brunton appears to be a Canadian company, with offices in Riverton,
Wyoming.
> The unit is "assembled in China from European solar panels" according to
the
> box.
>
> Interestingly, they don't seem to sell my exact model on their website.
> However, there are several similar units for sale there.
> --
> Jay Honeck
> Iowa City, IA
> Pathfinder N56993
> www.AlexisParkInn.com
> "Your Aviation Destination"
>
>

[Ron Natalie]

"Jay Honeck" > wrote in message news:U49Zb.360049$na.537399@attbi_s04...
> > What is the brand and model that you purchased? Where did you buy it?
>
> The brand is "Brunton" ( http://brunton.com/ ) I bought the product
> locally at a "Fin & Feather" camping/outfitter store.
>
I'd like to know just how much power it puts out. They seem to be confused
as to specifications on their web page. mAh x volts does not yield watts.

[Morgans]

"Ron Rosenfeld" > wrote> Buffalo, NY? That's where
folk with extreme sensitivity to sunlight live,
> isn't it?
>
>
> Ron

Nope, that's Seattle! <g>
--
Jim in NC


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[Jay Honeck]

> I'd like to know just how much power it puts out. They seem to be
confused
> as to specifications on their web page. mAh x volts does not yield
watts.

My unit puts out a maximum of 140 mAmps on the 6 volt setting, and 70 mAmps
on the 12 volt setting.

This is enough to charge batteries, and power small radios.

They've got more powerful ones, for more $$$.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Jay Masino]

Jay Honeck > wrote:
> This is enough to charge batteries, and power small radios.

I'm still skeptical that this is enough, but I hope it does work. It
would be a great little product if it is. Can you run some tests and
let us know? First, try running your cell phone until it's almost dead
and then see how long it takes for this thing to charge it up to full.

--- Jay


--
__!__
Jay and Teresa Masino ___(_)___
http://www2.ari.net/jmasino/ ! ! !

http://www.oceancityairport.com/
http://www.oc-adolfos.com/

[Jay Honeck]

> I'm still skeptical that this is enough, but I hope it does work. It
> would be a great little product if it is. Can you run some tests and
> let us know? First, try running your cell phone until it's almost dead
> and then see how long it takes for this thing to charge it up to full.

Thus far the only test I've run is to see if the cell phone "recognizes"
that it's being charged. (I've got a newer "LG" phone. It has some sort of
logic circuitry that "knows" when it's being charged, and changes it's
appearance and state while it's charging.)

It was night-time, so I just held the unit up next to a regular incandescent
bulb. The cell phone "recognized" that it was being charged, even with such
a dim light source.

I figure direct sun will really make it go, but I'll test it out.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Ron Natalie]

"Jay Honeck" > wrote in message news:FtgZb.356674$xy6.1876363@attbi_s02...

>
> My unit puts out a maximum of 140 mAmps on the 6 volt setting, and 70 mAmps
> on the 12 volt setting.
>
> This is enough to charge batteries, and power small radios.
>
> They've got more powerful ones, for more $$$.

Have you tried it yet? How long does it take to charge up your cell phone?

It won't run a handheld...the transmitters take ten times that.

[Leez]

70 mA = .07A
at 12V .84 watts
Good for trickle charging during storage. (assuming no or low loss
during dark hours)

The $$$ panels use better technology and need more space but may be
worth it if you want more power (Tim toolman grunt).

On Fri, 20 Feb 2004 04:58:13 GMT, "Jay Honeck"
> wrote:

>> I'd like to know just how much power it puts out. They seem to be
>confused
>> as to specifications on their web page. mAh x volts does not yield
>watts.
>
>My unit puts out a maximum of 140 mAmps on the 6 volt setting, and 70 mAmps
>on the 12 volt setting.
>
>This is enough to charge batteries, and power small radios.
>
>They've got more powerful ones, for more $$$.

[Jay Honeck]

> It won't run a handheld...the transmitters take ten times that.

Nope, but it'll keep it charged for RECEIVING -- which is all I want if for
in OSH.

I leave that thing on for days at OSH, and always end up going through a
bunch of AA batteries...
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Mike O'Malley]

"Jay Honeck" > wrote in message
news:Jj2Zb.220288$U%5.1332409@attbi_s03...
> > I'm from Buffalo, NY. What's a "solar charger"?
>
> I've often wondered: What could possess someone to live where 3-foot
> snowfalls are the norm?
>

Umm, this from the guy that used to live in Wisconsin?

> I hope you like snowmobiling!

Weren't dey street legal oop dere fur 6 months oof da yeer? ;-)

[Jay Honeck]

> Umm, this from the guy that used to live in Wisconsin?

Hey, I lived on the leeward side of the Big Lake. Lake effect snows were
something of an aberration -- not a way of life, like they are in Buffalo!

> > I hope you like snowmobiling!
>
> Weren't dey street legal oop dere fur 6 months oof da yeer? ;-)

Back in the mid-to-late 70s, when we had that decade of really bad winters
(remember the Blizzard of '78?), snowmobiles were often the only reliable
transportation available in Wisconsin. We lived in Southeast Wisconsin,
however -- not street-legal down there.

Ya gotta go to Eagle River for that, doncha know?
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Morgans]

"Jay Honeck" > wrote in message
news:R6wZb.363385$xy6.1913600@attbi_s02...
> > It won't run a handheld...the transmitters take ten times that.
>
> Nope, but it'll keep it charged for RECEIVING -- which is all I want if
for
> in OSH.
>
> I leave that thing on for days at OSH, and always end up going through a
> bunch of AA batteries...
> --
> Jay Honeck

Get some fast charge batteries, then walk around until you see an un-used
outlet, and hang out for 15 minutes while they get charged up. Make friends
with someone in the camping area, and get them zapped up while you drink a
beer or three. Get one of those rechargeable car boosters, with the gel
cells inside, and plug them up in someone's car for the day, and then charge
your stuff at night, with a 12 Volt charger, or an inverter. Inverters do
have a bit of lost efficiency, though.

I didn't buy a single battery at my last OSH, and I doubt that anyone has
more battery powered stuff than I do! <g> The one that dies with the most
toys, wins, right?
--
Jim in NC


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[Jay Honeck]

> Get one of those rechargeable car boosters, with the gel
> cells inside, and plug them up in someone's car for the day, and then
charge
> your stuff at night, with a 12 Volt charger

Yeah, I've got one of those heavy-duty, battery-operated compressors. It's
got a 12 volt power outlet, from which I can charge my phone and hand-held
for quite a while.

It's really heavy, however, and about bulky. We're not weight-limited in
the Pathfinder, but we ARE space limited -- remember, we must fit and pack
for four people, for a week, including all camping gear. Packing has become
a true art, with everything assigned it's own station -- and there just
ain't no stations left for that compressor.

The solar cell, on the other hand, weighs practically nothing, and folds up
compactly. I should be able to "swedge" it in, somewhere! :-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Dan Luke]

"Jay Honeck" wrote:
> Hey, I lived on the leeward side of the Big Lake.

?

That would be the windward side, wouldn't it, Jay?
--
Dan
C172RG at BFM
(remove pants to reply by email)

[Jay Honeck]

> That would be the windward side, wouldn't it, Jay?

Uh, yeah. Like Dan says!

;-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Dan Luke]

"Jay Honeck" wrote:
> > That would be the windward side, wouldn't it, Jay?
>
> Uh, yeah. Like Dan says!

I'm nautically sensitive: I've been reading Patrick O'Brian's
Aubrey/Maturin novels, from which the recent "Master & Commander..."
film was taken. HIGHLY recommended. The movie was good, but the books
are much better. Fascinating and entertaining reading.
--
Dan
C172RG at BFM
(remove pants to reply by email)

[Jay Honeck]

> I'm nautically sensitive

Despite growing up on the shores of Lake Michigan, I'm remarkably ignorant,
nautically. Sailing strikes me as WAY too much work.

Just give me a big motor, and a hand-full of throttle, and I'm okay, though!
:-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"