solar battery chargers

[scruffydog]

We are planning an Atlantic Coast trip next spring and want to use a GPS. Batteries can get expensive, so have been looking at solar chargers. Has any one had experience with them? Thanks for any and all help.

[FredHiltz]

Hi Scruffydog,

We had an extensive discussion about this here in the thread "Which GPS for Trans Am Touring?" that started on December 17, 2004. Please take a look and see if the experiences given there are helpful.

Fred

[JayH]

Just a heads up, I've seen the Brunton solar panel roll on sale at SierraTradingPost.com and at their Reno, NV outlet store for sale at around $130 (from the $180 retail). I can't tell you how good or bad they are cause I've never used one, but you might want to check out their website to see if it's still there...

Jay

[Badger]

It really depends on what type batteries you are trying to charge.  Regular nicad batteries I think will charge.  The Nickel-metal-hydride won't or least no very well.  You can look on the web sight Battery University and will give you an in depth reasons of why, probably more information then you need. I went to a electronic store the other day and found a small lead acid battery that will charge with a trickle charge and I am giving it some thought for charging a PDA and cell phone. Hope this might help.  

[scott.laughlin]

Batteries are expensive, but so are solar chargers, and it's just one more thing to shuffle around.  The longer the tour...well, you know.

I'm an amateur radio operator. I do APRS and send my position to the Internet.  I can't see where I am, but my wife can by checking www.findu.com.  

My GPS receiver will discharge a 9V battery to the treshold voltage in about six hours.  So, I run my system about 15 minutes of every hour, then turn it off.  A battery lasts all day.  It doesn't take much room to store a extra couple of 9Vs.