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Topic Date User

Power Traveller Powermonkey Explorer Solar Charger 17-Aug-2014 At 1:29:16 PM climberman

Message

On 17/08/2014 IdratherbeclimbingM9 wrote:
>Regarding charging the slave unit with a small solar panel.
>The concept from what I gather from their promo-blurb, combined with my
>previous work-experience with smallish solar panels, has pros and cons.
>
>Small is light and travels well.
>
>Small output _{Output Voltage: 5V Output Wattage: 3W Output Current:} >200mA can vary depending on solar strength, effectively trickle
>charges the battery.
>This is good for battery longevity, but could be an inconvenience if you
>want instant results...
>
>The next model up (powermonkey extreme), states that the larger capacity
>(slave-power reserve) battery, takes 18-22 hours to recharge in optimum
>light conditions. This battery is about four times the capacity, so I'd
>expect about 6-8 hours to recharge the lighter model (165gm vs 456gm),
>that is available here.
>
>Apparently the units have a velcro strap to attach them to your pack /
>tent / etc, and this implies that you can charge them 'on the go'(?), ...
>plus the units have an automatic cutout switch when fully charged, to prevent
>overcharging.
>
>Both units have some magical property of optimising sun tracking in low
>light conditions... heh, heh, heh.
>
>For the places I want to go and duration of time I want to spend at same,
>any recharge ability is better than none!
>
>Technology is moving pretty rapidly in this area, but I think the thing
>holding back the independent charging systems is the batteries involved,
>more than the panels.
>

Yeah, I'm looking to make sure I can have some charge at the end of five or six days on the Main Range. My general strategy is to leave the thing off, only turning on to text once or twice a day and have some backup capability (i.e., power monkey)