Solar charger?

november_moon

Veteran Member

• Sep 4, 2013

• #1

Does anybody have recommendations for a solar charger? I am thinking of something light (obviously) that I can attach to my backpack and charge a phone or an eReader while I am walking - this way I don't have to rely solely on shared outlets to charge stuff. I am going to be walking in June, so I anticipate having plenty of sun along the way.

Thanks

 

chocky

New Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Camino del Norte - 18/03/15
Camino Frances - 2016

• Sep 4, 2013

• #2

I'm after the same thing as well so thanks for asking

 

jimsantiago

New Member

• Sep 4, 2013

• #3

I looked high and low for one as well, but they were all too heavy. The Brunton Solarroll seemed to be about the best in terms of weight, output and compactness, but I figured there will be plenty of power available at albergues for charging, and in any case, I don't plan to use my phone much anyway.

 

P

pudgypilgrim

Active Member

Time of past OR future Camino

voie de tours 2015

• Sep 4, 2013

• #4

You might want to read through this thread, and there are a couple more over there in the Equipment forum as well:

http://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/solar-cell-phone-chargers.19950/

 

T

tgb1

New Member

• Sep 5, 2013

• #5

november_moon said:

Does anybody have recommendations for a solar charger? I am thinking of something light (obviously) that I can attach to my backpack and charge a phone or an eReader while I am walking - this way I don't have to rely solely on shared outlets to charge stuff. I am going to be walking in June, so I anticipate having plenty of sun along the way.

Thanks

Click to expand...

GoalZero. Check them out at REI

 

Bajaracer

Camino Frances 2013 Jun-Jul SJPDP to Finisterre

Time of past OR future Camino

Camino Frances (2013) Jun-Jul SJPDP to Finisterre

• Sep 5, 2013

• #6

this way I don't have to rely solely on shared outlets to charge stuff.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BRENNENSTUH...al_Components_Supplies_ET&hash=item5af2715538
Just get one of these from a ferriteria (hardware store) when you get to Spain.

 

D

Deleted member 3000

Guest

• Sep 5, 2013

• #7

When you are considering whether an item is "may use," remember that the charger is just so you MAY not have to compete for a wall outlet. Attaching things to the outside of your pack may not be a good idea, so ponder that as well. Solar chargers are generally inadequate to the job, particularly the light weight ones. There is little to do after washing yourself and your clothes, so you may enjoy sitting in a bar over a coffee or wine while your device charges in one of their outlets.

 

N

NicoZ

Veteran Member

Time of past OR future Camino

2013

• Sep 5, 2013

• #8

november_moon said:

Does anybody have recommendations for a solar charger? I am thinking of something light (obviously) that I can attach to my backpack and charge a phone or an eReader

Click to expand...

In general the bigger the device the more power it uses. There is a big difference between charging a little feature phone and a big tablet sized device. So unfortunately any suggestion given isn't going to be worth much.

I have a little USB battery pack. It's only 2200 but for most phones that's more then big enough. For a tablet size device it isn't a full charge.

The advantages are it's small. Cheap. If you lose it no great harm. Being so small it's easy enough to attach the cable to your phone and charge the phone while you walk. When you get a chance recharge the battery pack.

You can get bigger batteries but they'll be both heavier and more expensive. OTOH being bigger you might go most of a week .

 

A

Adam Rodriguez

New Member

• Sep 6, 2013

• #9

There's a lot of hikers including me talking about Suntactics sCharger-5, don't know about attaching it to a backpack but you can put holes in the corners of the sCharger-5, it only weighs half a pound which is much lighter than any portable solar chargers out there, most solar chargers use inverters and batteries that make the unit weigh too much. Plus the scharger-5 is thin, about the size of a cd case when closed. check it out here: http://www.suntactics.com/shop/usb-scharger-5/

They are also giving away free storage batteries if you buy one.