Solar Battery Chargers

LittleBoPeak · Tar Sands Joined: Apr 18, 2008 Posts: 24

Hello All! I'm new to the forum. LOTS of great info here!

I've been thinking about a solar battery charger as part of my preps. If the spam hits the fan, we will need loads of AAA, AA, C, and D cell batteries, at least for the short term, for flashlights, radios, etc. Does anyone have any experience or recommendations for a solar battery charger?

Or would it be more practical to have a larger solar panel charging a deep-cycle 12v and using an inverter to run an AC charger?

A solar charger seems to make more sense than storing a truckload of Duracells.

Thoughts?

Fishman · Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2008 3:49 pm Post subject: Re: Solar Battery Chargers

A reasonable charger can be purchased at most Boaters World or equivalent. Regular batteries are worthless if big problems arise, rechargables are the way to go. I have one cheap small battery charger from Major Supplies that does fair along with 12 volt chargers from boating stores.

sciencegirl · Heavy Crude Joined: Jul 17, 2006 Posts: 305

Speaking of solar panel battery chargers, check out this link. (link embedded -- skyemoor)

Has anyone tried one of these, if so do you think they are a good purchase. I have been thinking of picking some up.
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We are the Borg. Resistance is futile. Your culture will adapt to service ours. We will add your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own.

sciencegirl · Heavy Crude Joined: Jul 17, 2006 Posts: 305

This link requires a postal code to see what I am taking about, if so use mine, hee hee

T5h3B8

copy and paste
_________________
We are the Borg. Resistance is futile. Your culture will adapt to service ours. We will add your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own.

tsakach · Heavy Crude Joined: Mar 09, 2005 Posts: 326

I have one of those solar AA battery chargers. It charges batteries as advertised if you have enough patience. This type of battery charger produces less than 1 watt, and the one I have produces around 0.6 watts in full sun.

Another small scale setup I experiment with is a 5 watt solar panel connected to a 12v nimh battery charger. For example, here is a good 5 watt mono-crystalline solar panel for $40:

5 Watt Black Frame Mono-crystalline Solar Panel and Battery Charger

Here is a battery charger designed to work with small solar panels:

Battpack Battery Charger (AC, DC)

This setup works much better than those small solar battery chargers - definitely worth the few extra bucks.

bobaloo · Heavy Crude Joined: Oct 14, 2004 Posts: 485

I have a couple of folding 5 watt panels I use with a standard 12v battery charger for AA and AAA batteries. The fold up to the size of a paperback book, about the same weight, then unfold to about 8" by 2' or so. I can hook them in parallel, they'll charge 4 dead AA batteries in about an hour or hour and a half of good sun.

Used to be able to get them from Northern Tool for $39, not sure if they still have them. Nice units, I've used mine quite a bit when camping.

WisJim · Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 1:45 pm Post subject: Re: Solar Battery Chargers

Check eBay for the little 3 or 5 watt PV panels that were used in VW autos on the way to the dealer. Typically sell for $30 or so each including shipping. Sometimes they are less, but watch the shipping charges. There are differences between the older and newer styles, so read the descriptions. I got a few of them at a good price and realistic shipping charges and they are useful as battery maintainers or charging small batteries.

RedStateGreen · Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 3:49 pm Post subject: Re: Solar Battery Chargers

I got this one, works pretty well.
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tsakach · Heavy Crude Joined: Mar 09, 2005 Posts: 326

LittleBoPeak · Tar Sands Joined: Apr 18, 2008 Posts: 24

After doing some more research and thinking (wow, what a concept!), seems to me like the most practical thing is to get a larger panel (5+ watts) as mentioned above to charge a 12v battery and use that for all your DC stuff, including charging your AA and AAA's.

Thanks for the input, everyone.

fraggie · Coal Joined: Dec 27, 2006 Posts: 3

I myself have the Rc hobby , which meansi have a good (digital) batt charger. 220v AND 12v Smile

all i need is a solar panel (atleast 3A) and i can charge any battery.(including car batteries) haven't tried phones and such yet, but i'll just add a cigarette lighter from a car for it.

charging amp is 100mah to 5A 1 to 10 cells Smile

taizy8 · Posted: Sat May 31, 2008 11:52 am Post subject: Re: Solar Battery Chargers

Hi ..newish here and I 'm trying to as much preps as I can as a nomad with no chance of growing a garden and putting up windmills or solar panels Sad

but meanwile I have several recharchable 12v tools....drill, lamp. Also wondering about charging a laptop and cellphone...... and am looking for a good portable solar charger which could also be adapted for ordinary batteries. Some of the things listed above are helpful- thanks . I've been looking at flexible panels and suitcase type things, but don't want to rush into something crappy.

Also at some stage I will be going back to Ireland and am considering bringing back things that are cheaper in the US. Believe it or not solar works in Ireland 6 months of the year. I don't think a windmill will fit in my suitcase Smile

Polemic · Posted: Sat May 31, 2008 12:23 pm Post subject: Re: Solar Battery Chargers

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careinke · Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 3:33 pm Post subject: Re: Solar Battery Chargers

I would love to find a solar powered recharger for my 18 Volt Lithium power tools. I'm going to miss those tools when the power goes off.

Cliff (Start a rEVOLution, grow a garden)

tsakach · Heavy Crude Joined: Mar 09, 2005 Posts: 326