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https://hikearizona.com/dex2/
I'm not so sure about this.That looks pretty cool. How much does it weigh? Never have to worry about bringing extra batteries.pencak wrote:I've been testing a solar unit
It's a large Solio unit. I use the USB female connector on the small cord built into the Solio. The battery holder unit is a small plastic USB (male connector) 2 AA battery charger from Rayovac. The whole thing, with 2 Sony 2000mAH NI-MH AA batteries weighs in at 8.125oz. The Solio unit has an integrated battery so I don't have to have it hooked up. I just have to strap it to the pack and point it at the sun. Depending on the sun, the thing will easily charge the on board battery in a matter of hours. From there, I can change the batteries plugged into the Rayovac USB holder at night. Works like a charm. I have these rechargables in my camera, headlamp and GPS. They last longer than regular batteries. The headlamp runs a long time (probably 3 weeks of nightly use) and the power hog GPS runs for more than one and not quite two days. The camera seems to last forever and I use it constantly for work. I usually, give them a deep cycle charge from 110v outlet unit at home before I leave. For home, I use a Kodak unit for that because it will do 4 batteries at a time and it has a display on the charging status of each battery. 3 hours and it's done. I can also pre-charge the internal battery on the Solio unit with a special adapter cord to connect into a USB. Of course, I have to charge that off of a computer. You can get an adapter made just for the iPod or iPhone for this Solio unit. I like it. It seems to work.PLC92084 wrote:Pencak:
What brand solar charger are you using? Does it have an internal battery? I made the mistake of trying a "cheap" model. It didn't work with my Motorola phone or iPod... Testimonials readily accepted!!
Glad to hear good reports from solar devices in the field. I've been on the fence just because I hadn't heard much good about most of them. I think I may just have to play copycat and give that rig a try as well in the near future.pencak wrote:It's a large Solio unit. I use the USB female connector on the small cord built into the Solio. The battery holder unit is a small plastic USB (male connector) 2 AA battery charger from Rayovac. The whole thing, with 2 Sony 2000mAH NI-MH AA batteries weighs in at 8.125oz. The Solio unit has an integrated battery so I don't have to have it hooked up. I just have to strap it to the pack and point it at the sun. Depending on the sun, the thing will easily charge the on board battery in a matter of hours. From there, I can change the batteries plugged into the Rayovac USB holder at night. Works like a charm. I have these rechargables in my camera, headlamp and GPS. They last longer than regular batteries. The headlamp runs a long time (probably 3 weeks of nightly use) and the power hog GPS runs for more than one and not quite two days. The camera seems to last forever and I use it constantly for work. I usually, give them a deep cycle charge from 110v outlet unit at home before I leave. For home, I use a Kodak unit for that because it will do 4 batteries at a time and it has a display on the charging status of each battery. 3 hours and it's done. I can also pre-charge the internal battery on the Solio unit with a special adapter cord to connect into a USB. Of course, I have to charge that off of a computer. You can get an adapter made just for the iPod or iPhone for this Solio unit. I like it. It seems to work.PLC92084 wrote:Pencak:
What brand solar charger are you using? Does it have an internal battery? I made the mistake of trying a "cheap" model. It didn't work with my Motorola phone or iPod... Testimonials readily accepted!!
I'll know for sure how good it is for anything longer than a 4 day trip in July, I'm taking this setup on a 9 day trip. This will put it through it's paces. I'm pretty confident it will work well.
