Solar Battery Chargers

Jay Honeck wrote:
I see these things available locally for around $40 bucks. They claim to be
able to recharge cell phones and laptops. They also say they're good for
trickle-charging vehicle batteries.

My thinking is that a solar charger would be great for Sun N Fun and
Oshkosh -- places where my cell phone (and walkie-talkies, and laptop)
batteries routinely die after a few days. It also looks like something I
could use to keep my motorcycle battery charged over the winter.

I have one of these things that I occasionally use on a spare car that
we have (during periods of inactivity). I can't really tell how much
of a difference it makes, but I figured it couldn't hurt. I remember
running some little tests on it, after I bought it. It appears that in
bright sunlight, without any load, it would put out 12 or 13 volts,
but that second you put a small load across it (fairly high resistor),
the voltage would droop to almost nothing. I can't remember if I tried
to measure the current or not. I'd say this would be fine to leave on
your motorcycle over the winter, but I wouldn't bet on it charging your
cell phone, walkie-talkies, or laptop over the course of a few days.

--- Jay


--
__!__
Jay and Teresa Masino ___(_)___
http://www2.ari.net/jmasino/ ! ! !

http://www.oceancityairport.com/
http://www.oc-adolfos.com/

I'd say this would be fine to leave on
your motorcycle over the winter, but I wouldn't bet on it charging your
cell phone, walkie-talkies, or laptop over the course of a few days.

Well, I bought the danged thing. It claims to be able to charge my cell
phone or walkie-talkie batteries in 5 hours, my lap top battery in 6 - 8
hours, and ni-cad rechargeable batteries, too. (It's got built-in slots for
AA rechargeable batteries.)

It's a handsome, well-made unit, with internal storage for the various
cords, cost $40, and seems to have all the bases covered. It claims to have
built-in circuitry to prevent over-charging, and it comes with a plethora of
plugs to fit virtually any device.

It even comes with the cord and cigar lighter plug so that you can keep your
car battery (or, in my case, motorcycle battery) charged over the winter.
It also has a built-in cigar lighter outlet, so you can plug your car
cell-phone cord directly into the unit.

Interestingly it claims to put out enough juice to power the cell phone
unassisted. Since the battery on my newest cell phone lasts over 3 days
without charging, I should be covered for most any fly-in.

We'll see how it works. Thanks for all the input!
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

What is the brand and model that you purchased? Where did you buy it?

Mike
MU-2


"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:ORVYb.349821$xy6.1746841@attbi_s02...
I'd say this would be fine to leave on
your motorcycle over the winter, but I wouldn't bet on it charging your
cell phone, walkie-talkies, or laptop over the course of a few days.

Well, I bought the danged thing. It claims to be able to charge my cell
phone or walkie-talkie batteries in 5 hours, my lap top battery in 6 - 8
hours, and ni-cad rechargeable batteries, too. (It's got built-in slots
for
AA rechargeable batteries.)

It's a handsome, well-made unit, with internal storage for the various
cords, cost $40, and seems to have all the bases covered. It claims to
have
built-in circuitry to prevent over-charging, and it comes with a plethora
of
plugs to fit virtually any device.

It even comes with the cord and cigar lighter plug so that you can keep
your
car battery (or, in my case, motorcycle battery) charged over the winter.
It also has a built-in cigar lighter outlet, so you can plug your car
cell-phone cord directly into the unit.

Interestingly it claims to put out enough juice to power the cell phone
unassisted. Since the battery on my newest cell phone lasts over 3 days
without charging, I should be covered for most any fly-in.

We'll see how it works. Thanks for all the input!
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

What is the brand and model that you purchased? Where did you buy it?

The brand is "Brunton" ( http://brunton.com/ ) I bought the product
locally at a "Fin & Feather" camping/outfitter store.

Brunton appears to be a Canadian company, with offices in Riverton, Wyoming.
The unit is "assembled in China from European solar panels" according to the
box.

Interestingly, they don't seem to sell my exact model on their website.
However, there are several similar units for sale there.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Thanks

Mike
MU-2

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:U49Zb.360049$na.537399@attbi_s04...
What is the brand and model that you purchased? Where did you buy it?

The brand is "Brunton" ( http://brunton.com/ ) I bought the product
locally at a "Fin & Feather" camping/outfitter store.

Brunton appears to be a Canadian company, with offices in Riverton,
Wyoming.
The unit is "assembled in China from European solar panels" according to
the
box.

Interestingly, they don't seem to sell my exact model on their website.
However, there are several similar units for sale there.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message news:U49Zb.360049$na.537399@attbi_s04...
What is the brand and model that you purchased? Where did you buy it?

The brand is "Brunton" ( http://brunton.com/ ) I bought the product
locally at a "Fin & Feather" camping/outfitter store.

I'd like to know just how much power it puts out. They seem to be confused
as to specifications on their web page. mAh x volts does not yield watts.

I'd like to know just how much power it puts out. They seem to be
confused
as to specifications on their web page. mAh x volts does not yield
watts.

My unit puts out a maximum of 140 mAmps on the 6 volt setting, and 70 mAmps
on the 12 volt setting.

This is enough to charge batteries, and power small radios.

They've got more powerful ones, for more $$$.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Jay Honeck wrote:
This is enough to charge batteries, and power small radios.

I'm still skeptical that this is enough, but I hope it does work. It
would be a great little product if it is. Can you run some tests and
let us know? First, try running your cell phone until it's almost dead
and then see how long it takes for this thing to charge it up to full.

--- Jay


--
__!__
Jay and Teresa Masino ___(_)___
http://www2.ari.net/jmasino/ ! ! !

http://www.oceancityairport.com/
http://www.oc-adolfos.com/

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message news:FtgZb.356674$xy6.1876363@attbi_s02...


My unit puts out a maximum of 140 mAmps on the 6 volt setting, and 70 mAmps
on the 12 volt setting.

This is enough to charge batteries, and power small radios.

They've got more powerful ones, for more $$$.

Have you tried it yet? How long does it take to charge up your cell phone?

It won't run a handheld...the transmitters take ten times that.

70 mA = .07A
at 12V .84 watts
Good for trickle charging during storage. (assuming no or low loss
during dark hours)

The $$$ panels use better technology and need more space but may be
worth it if you want more power (Tim toolman grunt).

On Fri, 20 Feb 2004 04:58:13 GMT, "Jay Honeck"
wrote:

I'd like to know just how much power it puts out. They seem to be
confused
as to specifications on their web page. mAh x volts does not yield
watts.

My unit puts out a maximum of 140 mAmps on the 6 volt setting, and 70 mAmps
on the 12 volt setting.

This is enough to charge batteries, and power small radios.

They've got more powerful ones, for more $$$.