Solar Charging Systems

Anybody use one on a tour? We have a two week, self supported, mostly camping adventure in the Canadian Rockies planned for this summer. :D :D I have been refining my touring gear and the last item I would like to have is some sort of solar charging system for my garmin and phone. I tried a Solio charger last year and it didn't work at all. I'm currently looking at this, www.voltaicsystems.com We would be buying the parts and making our own carrying system to cut down on the weight. Anyone have any experience with this system or any system? I still have some time, but want to decide on something by late spring. bikerHen

This is so timely- I was just researching the same thing! I don't have any advice, but thanks for starting this thread- I'll be watching it :)

REI's web store has some pretty good reviews from people who've actually used the solar chargers that they carry. I had a gift certificate from x-mas and was looking at them. The reviews were handy - though mostly in talking me out of getting one. I was looking specifically at the High Gear Solar Pod - because it claims to be able to charge under artificial light.

I just saw this at CES: http://dvice.com/archives/2010/01/hymini-portable.php

It seems pretty cool -- charge at night with a breeze, or day with the solar pad - there's a shot of the spokesman holding up the solar panel.

I recommend Power Monkey by Power Traveller (that's the company). I've found their solar chargers to be efficient & also robust. By the way - they even do power packs that will charge/power a laptop. Great company - have given Power Monkeys to most of my friends as presents now (just wish I had kept a record of who!)

Alimey, thanks for mentioning the power monkey. It was one of the ones I was looking closely at last summer. I forgot about it. :rolleyes: Sounds like you use one? You must like it if you have given it as a gift! Can you tell me more about what you charge with it and how it works? Thanks, bikerHen

Try one of the Xantrex systems. I have never tried the small ones but used to have the huge home emergency one with the large solar panels, and it kept house appliances going during several tropical storms. Too bad that it did not survive hurricane Ike :(
They are very reliable and the internal batteries last forever, so I would trust their small portable systems too. You can use the solar panels or charge from the grid if you are near a working power supply, they charge fast and are really powerful.

We just received some solio chargers with our new cell phones last month. They charge the phone fine (when used from the outlet) but I haven't tried the solar charging component yet :p I will keep you posted. What sorts of problems did you have with yours?

Good luck on your search.

This looks pretty cool: https://powertraveller.com/iwantsome...nkey-explorer/

I need a Stokemonkey, a PowerMonkey, and a Monkeylectric for my bike... What's with all the things using "monkey" in their name?

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Originally Posted by Ana

We just received some solio chargers with our new cell phones last month. They charge the phone fine (when used from the outlet) but I haven't tried the solar charging component yet :p I will keep you posted. What sorts of problems did you have with yours?

Good luck on your search.

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I charged it with full sunlight. I tried charging my Garmin. After a very short time it showed my Garmin fully charged, but it wasn't charged at all. Tried it a couple of different time, charged it up in the sunlight some more, tried charging my phone but it just didn't seem to have enough power to charge anything. So took it back. :( I was really hoping it would work. How to keep my phone and garmin charged are my biggest question for touring. I'll have to check out the Xantrex systems. I did take a quick look at the Hymini. I like the idea of the wind generator on a bike. I'm not known for my lighting fast speeds but I guess even my 10-15 mph touring speed would create a little bit of a breeze. :rolleyes: bikerHen

If you need flashlights - they do have a fairly nice set of solar flashlights at costco. They are 2 for $20.

They weigh 4 ounces and they're these ones:
http://www.hybridlite.com/Default.asp?Redirected=Y


I use 'em while touring in my kayak - leave them strapped to the front deck at night and have them while I'm camping at night.


I've been avoiding solar chargers for now... I figure the longer I avoid buying them, the longer the technology will have to mature. There's a company that is working on making flexible paper thin solar cells, I can't remember the name.

Obviously, while I'm kayaking, weight & space isn't as big a deal as it is while backpacking or touring on a bike... but I have 2 batteries for my cell phone, and I've got a little thingie that I can pop a couple AA batteries into and charge my phone from the AA. My GPS uses AA batteries. I buy several hong kong cheapies batteries from ebay for my digital cameras and charge all fo those and just take along spare charged batteries. The rest of my headlamps or anything like that take AA, but i use those solar flashlights as much as possible. So I just take spare AA batteries with me.

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Originally Posted by bikerHen

Anybody use one on a tour? We have a two week, self supported, mostly camping adventure in the Canadian Rockies planned for this summer. :D :D I have been refining my touring gear and the last item I would like to have is some sort of solar charging system for my garmin and phone. I tried a Solio charger last year and it didn't work at all. I'm currently looking at this, www.voltaicsystems.com We would be buying the parts and making our own carrying system to cut down on the weight. Anyone have any experience with this system or any system? I still have some time, but want to decide on something by late spring. bikerHen

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Really a good bag! There are many this kind of products in the market. A common disadvantage is take long time to recharge it by sunlight, because solar panel is too small. But in some special situation, for example, no grid area, it's really a useful product. I had a solar charger for my cell phone. If put it under the sun light only takes about 4 hours to fully charge, I have used for several months, work well now.

I asked my DH to look at some of the products I've found and ones mentioned here. He wasn't real impressed. Being a DIY'er he has decided to make me one. :eek: Says he can make it cheaper and work better. Hmmm . . . guess I'll have to wait and see what he comes up with. If it works, I'll be sure to share his design with everyone! :p bikerHen

Hello BikerHen

I have the expedition PowerMonkey (I think) which is nice & rubber covered & also has a little solar panel. I use it to charge my iphone, my husband's Samsung phone. In addition I can use it to power my camera (but not charge it as most cameras will only charge a battery once it is out of the camera), also mini speakers - oh yes, and of course my Garmin 705 (in fact, you could probably set it up so you could charge it on the bike!!). One of the best things about it is that it holds a charge for up to a year so you can keep it in your handbag as an emergency. Fully charged it will charge up most mobile phones about twice - and you can also make calls whilst it is charging. There is a little screen on the PM which shows you how much charge it has.

It's extremely flexible - there are loads of tips (monkey nuts) available for all different kinds of devices. Mind you - it comes packaged with loads of tips too.

So - I can charge the PowerMonkey via the mains (also comes w/ plugs that work all round the world - but are v compact), via the car (I bought a really cheap USB/cigarette lighter charger), and from my computer using the usb charger, oh yes - and using the solar panel (seems pretty efficient).

If/when I buy an iSlate I might even look into the Gorillas - or maybe the PowerMonkey will be enough. I definitely recommend it - I like the company too - their website has a section entitled 'Coming Soon' - oh the price of being an early adopter . . .

Just had another thought - I've just got a brilliant little Blackburn front light which charges using USB - I bet my little PowerMonkey would charge that too.

By the way - I did have one of those Solio solar chargers & to be honest I didn't find it that great. One of the problems (aside from charging) was that it didn't come w/ many/any tips & they were really expensive. The PowerMonkey nuts are really cheap.

Looks like the next generation of solar charging systems will be here soon - at least some devices in time for your tour.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/31/bu...novel.html?hpw

Good info alimey. Does anyone know if the powermonkey eXplorer will charge a Garmin Edge 500? The website only seems to mention things like the 305 and forerunner, and I'm not sure if the 500 has the same USB and voltage.

The Edge 500 comes with a cable that is mini usb on one end and standard usb on the other - the mini end goes into the Edge The great thing about usb charging is that it is (as far as I know) all standard. My husband who is an electrical engineer tells me Europe has specified that hence forth all chargers for small electronics should be the same to cut down on waste of having 1000's of proprietary charging systems that are useless once you no longer have the original device, and they've standardized on usb. I've already used the wall charger that came with my (new!) Edge 500 to charge my Ipod with no ill effects, so if the solar charger you are looking at has a plug in for standard usb, I would think you should be in business.

Thanks Eden. Sounds like it should be right but I emailed the local distributor and got a quick response, so it sounds like 95% sure :). It's on the way.

I FINALLY got to try out the solar charging system my DH but together for me. Three of us ladies did a 2 1/2 day bike tour over the weekend. The weather was kind of marginial, but a good trial for the solar panel because we did have more clouds than beating sun.

Here's what my DH put together: He purchased a charging unit through Amazon, called "myPower All" from a company called Tekkeon. He got a Brunton solar charging panel at REI. The charging unit came with a bunch of different charging tips but all I need is the mini USB. The unit can be charged up with a regular wall plug or the solar panel.

I rigged the panel across the top of my back panniers. The first night out I recharged two Garmins and my cell phone. The next night, one Garmin.

I'm very happy with the set up and I think it will work fine for my upcoming trip. Two weeks camping in the Canadian Rockies. I should have taken a picture of the set-up, but I never think of that when I'm in the moment. :o If anyone wants more information, I'm sure my DH could tell you all you need to know. bikerHen

I want to hear every detail about your Canadian Rockies trip.:)

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Originally Posted by divingbiker

I want to hear every detail about your Canadian Rockies trip.:)

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me too!!!!!:D

OK, I'll keep notes and take pictures. :D But we don't leave until August 26. Our mini trip over the fourth was a good warm up. I think I'm ready. Just have to spend a little more quality time on pannier organization and packing. We're riding just over 500 miles and giving ourselves two weeks to really enjoy the journey. Well that and extra time to get over a couple of BIG mountain passes. :rolleyes: bikerHen

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Originally Posted by bikerHen

OK, I'll keep notes and take pictures. :D But we don't leave until August 26. Our mini trip over the fourth was a good warm up. I think I'm ready. Just have to spend a little more quality time on pannier organization and packing. We're riding just over 500 miles and giving ourselves two weeks to really enjoy the journey. Well that and extra time to get over a couple of BIG mountain passes. :rolleyes: bikerHen

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This sounds like a lot of fun! Looking forward to reading your report after your return - every detail now, leave nothing out :D

At a smaller, lower level, on alternative sources of energy: I had the opportunity to have bike front light and back light self-powering, self-lighting from merely cycling along. It was an option for my folding Dahon bike model.

There must be a term for this.

Anyway, I decided not to have it. If you can believe it, it was weight. I wanted the experience of having the lightest bike for the lst time in my life...before throwing on the panniers for self-loaded touring trips.

Yes, I'm a duh. :o

Just an update on the powermonkey eXplorer. I used it on a three-week trip in Canada last month, charging the pod from mains when we had power every few days and using solar the rest of the time. The panel sat on the rack bag though mud and rain quite happily. The Garmin was as low as 34% some days so it needed charging every day. The solar kept up with the Garmin OK, but it would have struggled with the phone as well. It could do both in a day but that seemed to drain it too much and I didn't want to risk losing data. Glad to have it though; very neat and light.

Solar Charging Systems sounds great. But I'v never use it before and wanna have a try about it

I know this thread is a couple of years old, but I've had it bookmarked for when I was ready to seriously start shopping. Since electronics so quickly change, I'm wondering what folks are using these days for solar charging. We have an iphone, ipad, and camera batteries that will need charging over a month long ride. We'll be staying half the time camping, and half the time in motels. So, we need the options of solar as well as plug in.