Re: Solar chargers?

Thomas Wright wrote: 
Hi

I'm looking to buy one of the above for charging two AA batteries whilst on
expedition - does anyone have any recommendations (or disrecommendations
for that matter?)  I've seen one from Silva, and a foldable thing from
Coleman/ICP - has anyone used either of these?

Thanks! 

Thomas,

No experience of the brands you mention but I have successfully used a couple of Maplin cat No RR538 variable voltage charger panels to charge my GPS NiMH AAs and a rechargeable 9V PP3 battery all spring and summer this year. One set in use, one charging.

Maplin do sell other types.. try

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Search.aspx?criteria=solar%20battery%20charger&doy=14m9&source=15)

The variable voltage charger panel is versatile. It is fairly large, but not overso, and is not very heavy. Size and weight may be an important consideration for you if backpacking.

The better the charging ability, the larger area of solar cells you need, so a small device is unlikely to recharge high capacity batteries, like those GPS devices need, at any useful rate. They might keep already charged batteries fully charged for emergency use but little else.

I find you really need only light cloud cover or better still direct sunlight to really charge well. With 12 hours bright sunlight a day I can usually recharge 2000 mAH batteries in a couple of days.

I don't think these solar chargers will be any use soon as we go in to autumn and winter. Whether they would work for you would depend where you are going and how much sun and daylight hours you expect.

DDM in sunny Brum with batteries charging happily.
.

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