hiking and camping with solar power
hiking and camping with solar power:
A friend asked for information on using solar power while hiking, here's my advice:
For starters I'll say that laptops take a lot more power to charge, meaning more solar panel area, meaning
larger and less portable. So portability and charging laptops (or large batteries) are competing goals that
you have to decide how you want to prioritize. Your activities are going to heavily influence what works best
if you want to be able to charge up larger items.
If you're packing up every day and moving in a steady path to some destination (or just want to stay on the move)
then your solar probably needs to be on your pack so it can change while you're moving during the day. You've
probably seen pictures of solar wallets unfolded and draped over hikers packs and tied down to them with the
eyelets they have in their corners. You could just leave your phone plugged in while hiking, but another option
is to charge up a power bank. Then in the evening (or overnight) you can charge your phone (or even laptop)
from the power bank. Or you can save a little weight not bringing a power bank and just leave your phone
charging in the wallet's pouch while you hike. A small solar wallet like that will easily fit in a pack when
not in use, and will have almost no weight.
If you're returning to the same camp most of the time, then you can set out larger solar panels and leave them
charging a power bank while you're away hiking or collecting firewood, hunting, etc. The point with the larger
wallets is the panels can be less portable, but will collect much more power. While those larger wallets do
fold up, they still take up a lot more space - they're somewhat thin but are wide. They're still pretty light,
but do weigh more than a small wallet. For reference, the Powkey wallets I have here are about a foot tall and
18" wide (folded up for transport), and come with a handle on the top to make them easy to carry, but the handle
isn't meant for hiking. You'll need to find a way to tie it down to your pack while on the move, and probably
won't be able to use it while moving. (it's possible but awkward, due to the increased size)
In either case, it's usually a good idea to use a power bank. Charging that instead of your accessories directly
allows you to use your phone/gps/radios while the solar collects the power and charges up the bank to recharge
all your accessories later when it's more convenient. (and after the sun's gone down) So a power bank is a tool
for "time-shifting" your solar power where you don't have to use it while collecting it. It's a bit like how a
VCR time-shifts your TV shows so you can record now and watch later when more convenient.
All of the solar wallets I've seen are designed to be "water-resistant". The shells are tight nylon fabric and
have a zippered compartment where the power box is located and has space for cables and small accessories that
are charging. Good enough for moderate rain but not something you'd want to toss in a lake. The larger ones
you set up at camp usually have "kick stands" on the back to help angle them in the morning and afternoon. (lay
them flat when its closer to noon) Wind can be a nuisance blowing the panels over, but you can secure them
somewhat with paracord through their eyelets.
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