Has anyone used solar panels to recharge batteries say, on a camping trip or during an extended power outage, such as the aftermath of a hurricane?

It seems to me a practical way to charge batteries. All you need is sunshine and the right gear. Anyone? I guess we're talking about roll-up panels, not rigid ones.

It's all very doable. I use a Sunlinq 4-panel for recharging portables. Powers up an iPhone with ease.



For standalone batteries I usually use a larger setup, with a larger, hard-case panel. The above 4-panel may also work depending on the charger you're using.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: kkina,

My brother has a place on a mountain top up in N. Idaho. 2 solar panels and some other gear like batteries etc and runs his whole place from the solar panels/batteries. Electric stove, water heater, etc, etc.

It can be done and given the state of the art today, should be simple enough.

Para I have a setup in my truck camper that allows us to camp "off the grid" virtually indefinitely.

In basic terms I have two 100 amp flexible panels that go through a solar controller and charge two 225 amp/hr 6 volt (golf cart) batteries. The batteries are wired in series and allow us to run a 12v/120v fridge as well as various lights etc.
Works well!

"two 100 amp flexible panels" Something is seriously wrong in this description.
I use lots and lots of solar panels on my farm. Classically to charge fence line batteries. Those panels measure about 3ftx1.5ft and produce about 20 watts (1.5a). In some bigger out buildings with bigger occasional loads we use std. panels which are approximately 6ftx3ft. These produce around 200 watts (about 15amps at 12v). Flexible panels always have less output. So I am too lazy to calculate the size of a 100 amp panel, but its huge.
To Para's question. Yes its easy to make a system that will charge batteries. Simple solutions are already prepackaged for things like cell phone batteries and 12v systems. With some 12v LED lighting one could be quite happy with light forever. Powering bigger loads takes some engineering to get enough input to match the output. But in a home situation its pretty easy to come up with an 'off grid' solution that will get you the basic's without too much trouble.

Used them as a trickle charger in an older car. Haven't had any battery issues for a few years.

quote:

Electric stove, water heater,

Just to be clear I have never seen a system of modest size (2 panels , but no size stated) that can do this. These are huge resistance loads measured in hundreds and hundreds of amps at 240v. Controlling a gas stove and hot water heater, sure. A hot plate or microwave, sure. Hot water heater, not so much. BUT generating power for both electrically it would take a massive system, both solar, batteries and inverter. This doesn't matter to Para's question but this isn't likely to be possible.

I'm pretty certain that smlsig meant to say "100 watt"

I just want to be able to charge D cell and AA cell batteries, and charge a cellphone and tablet. That's all.

What sort of interface would I need to hook a battery charger to a solar panel and how big a panel do I need to do the job in a timely fashion?

Goal Zero has lots of prepackaged systems. They overcharge, so always try to find a deal on them. https://www.goalzero.com/shop/...lus-solar-panel-kit/ This kit does what you want aside from D cells. You could use D cell spacers that you fit AA batteries into. Alternatively get one of the larger power banks, an eneloop battery kit, and phone charging cord.

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
I just want to be able to charge D cell and AA cell batteries, and charge a cellphone and tablet. That's all.

What sort of interface would I need to hook a battery charger to a solar panel and how big a panel do I need to do the job in a timely fashion?

You need about 25W and 5V or 12V, depending on your chargers. 5V = USB-style. Most NiMH/Li-ion battery chargers that I've seen that run on DC can use 12V. Some use 5V, I'm sure. I'd get something with a 12V output + USB ports.

25W @ 12V = just over 2Amp
@ 5V, it would be 5A

More watts = faster.
I'd suggest a Li-ion power pack that you can charge as well so you're not always waiting on the sun. Handy for travel too.
The goalzero stuff is nice, but expensive & proprietary. Amazon has all kinds of price ranges & you can mix/match to suit multiple purposes.

Very easy to charge personal electronics via solar. I run my entire house on solar and use small panels for camping.

This is a setup very similar to mine. Uses the AccuManager20 fast charger, which does AAA, AA, C, D, and even 9v. I swear by mine. Nice workhorse, not finnicky like many other chargers. This needs 10 watts DC or more to drive (can also use at home with the AC converter).

Coupled with a Sunlinq 12 Watt solar panel. I have the 4 watt for lighter duty, and again swear by it.

At $85 from this retailer, this is a great combo and what I would buy if in the market. Nothing else needed, just plug one into the other.



QUAWARE ELECTRONICS

BTW, they also offer these single-unit chargers with the solar panel in the lid. I have not heard good things about these. They tend to be flimsily made, and even when they work they work slow due to the small panel size.

quote:

Originally posted by Voshterkoff:
Goal Zero has lots of prepackaged systems. They overcharge, so always try to find a deal on them. https://www.goalzero.com/shop/...lus-solar-panel-kit/ This kit does what you want aside from D cells. You could use D cell spacers that you fit AA batteries into. Alternatively get one of the larger power banks, an eneloop battery kit, and phone charging cord.

I have a GoalZero system and I have not been impressed with the quality of their system. Granted mine is a smaller (portable) one solely for AA/AAA and cell phones but I would consider other options.

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
I just want to be able to charge D cell and AA cell batteries, and charge a cellphone and tablet. That's all.

What sort of interface would I need to hook a battery charger to a solar panel and how big a panel do I need to do the job in a timely fashion?

Solar generally puts out voltage in DC volts. I've found that generally a 100 watt panel is only going to put out 50-60 watts, unless the stars absolutely align perfectly and you're standing in the desert without a cloud in the sky with the panel at the exact optimum angle. The batteries, cell phone, charger are only going to charge at whatever rate their individual chargers charge at. The portable solar panels come with a 12 volt cigarette light plug and USB plug......If you're charging 2 items at a time a smaller watt panel would probably suffice, more items a little larger watt panel...….
2 https://www.rei.com/product/12...-14-plus-solar-panel
devices, something like this should work

4 devices something like this

https://www.rei.com/product/12...-28-plus-solar-panel

I think the best way to go about it, is one of those small battery packs that charge phones/tablets etc..... Use the solar to recharge the battery pack, then use the battery pack to charge items.....or both....depending on needs.

I bought this 24watt charging panel and 22000mAh power pack.
https://www.amazon.com/Charger...power+3+port+outdoor
https://www.amazon.com/Portabl...+22000mah+power+bank

Use the panel to charge the power bank, then charge phones off the power bank when needed. That way, the phones do not have to be connected to the solar panel to charge. I see several options for charging AAA, AA and even C cell batteries from a USB power source (the power bank), but don’t see any for D cells. Laptop would also be an issue.

I have a 12 volt solar panel that I use to charge my night vision batteries when I am away from the truck. It's just the simple panel from Harbor tools.

I plug a USB charger into it and stick the batteries in the charger.

I bought this one a few years ago and use it when we go hunting for 7 days. My Garmin GPS is quite finicky. If I hook it up to a solar charger it continuously cycles on and off. Not good. I also bring along a small charging brick. I charge the brick with the solar panels, then charge the Garmin with the brick.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/prod...02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I use a Goal Zero Guide 10 Plus and Nomad 7 kit to recharge AA and AAA. I’ve never tried a separate charger and D cells though so I can’t speak to that. Mine works well enough that I bought a second one. You’re looking at recharging 4 AA’s or AAA’s in a day or so depending on the season and sunlight. The kits also come with a hub built in so that you can recharge other items, USB, 12V cigarette outlet, etc.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: 10X-Shooter,