Solar power for Coast to Coast Walk

styks · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jun 02, 2009 Posts: 8

Hi,

I'm going to do the above walk in late September.
I will be camping with propably only 1 or 2 B&B stops.
I'm looking to take my time and soak up all the views.
I'd like to keep a continuos track with the Active 10 so need to charge up the Lipo en route.
So I guess solar has to be the way.
I've done a search and found some info, but.
Just wondering if any of you guys/gals have found the ideal lightweight system of powering over a 2 to 3 week stretch away from power sources.

Cheers!

mediaguycouk · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jul 04, 2009 Posts: 34

I've got a freeloader http://www.firebox.com/product/1796/FreeLoader-Solar-Charger which isn't too bad, but it does take a long time to charge up and requires a lot of sunshine.

It would be best to actually place it on the outside of a rucksack to charge while walking.

It can, however, charge through USB and you should find that campsites have mobile phone charging for 50p or so. Charge the GPS and the freeloader and it should last a while.

Darren · Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 8:19 pm Post subject:

How about this PowerMonkey Solar charger/battery or this rucksack with solar panel and battery?
_________________
Darren Griffin

styks · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jun 02, 2009 Posts: 8

Darren · Posted: Thu Jul 09, 2009 7:26 am Post subject:

I've got a freeloader and it's not great, you can at least hang the PowerMonkey off your pack whilst you walk and leave it charging the PowerMonkey battery pack. Waterproof too.
_________________
Darren Griffin

mikealder · Posted: Thu Jul 09, 2009 7:37 am Post subject:

Have a read of This Thread for a few ideas on portable power packs fr the a10, not solar as we are talking about use in the UK - Mike

styks · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jun 02, 2009 Posts: 8

decay · Occasional Visitor Joined: Nov 23, 2006 Posts: 16

If you take a look at Outdoormagic.com they are doing a review on a wind USB charger.
http://www.outdoorsmagic.com/news/article/mps/uan/6161

styks · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jun 02, 2009 Posts: 8

4ndynorfolk · Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2009 4:02 pm Post subject:

In the other thread mike refered to above I suggested this wind charger http://www.mymemory.co.uk/Portable-Power/Uniross/Uniross-HYmini-Wind-Charger at £26.99. looks like the same thing.

mediaguycouk · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jul 04, 2009 Posts: 34

Also, it's only cheap tat but for a fiver you may as well pick up http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=225747 for emergencies

mikealder · Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2009 4:09 pm Post subject:

Wind up charger plus LiPol battery pack (2700mAHr capacity) equals five and half hours of turning the handle - each to their own, I would head for a pub and ask if I could plug the device in to the wall socket - much easier - Mike

4ndynorfolk · Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2009 7:12 pm Post subject:

There is always good old fashioned AA lithium or rechargeables (I recommend the ready to use variety of rechargeables). Lithium AAs are not particularly cheap in the number you might need, but neither are your other options. There is also the possibility of picking some up on route.

Some method of charging AAs on route has advantages over charging the device itself. Because the A10 needs to be left on while it charges it is using power while you try to replenish the battery. It's like filling a bucket with a hole in it. When you are not using the mains, it could make a difference. You could however, charge on the move if you can cope with the cable, and switch it off at night.

AA's can be charged in 30 minutes, which may make it easier to "borrow" a mains socket.

In addition you may also wish to switch it off at night to prevent distortion of your data from the static meandering and the running clocks.

styks · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jun 02, 2009 Posts: 8

satmapian · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jan 14, 2009 Posts: 59

For day walks and weekends I use the Li Poly rechargeable, but for longer trips I use Energizer Li ultimates (non rechargeable). These are very much lighter than alkalines as you probably know, and I carried 18 of them as I couldn't be sure of finding more en route. I expected to buy Duracell alkalines towards the end, but found that I could get 22 hours out of a set by using 40% screen brightness and as many energy saving settings as I could think of. This meant I used only 15 of the Li Ultimates, and the weight drops by 3 batterries every other day. I wouldn't carry this many alkalines.

You can record your trail either as sections as you suggest, or as a single trail. The trail continues without a hitch when you turn on the next day in roughly the same spot as you turned it off (if not it draws a straight line from turn off point to turn on point, and then continues adding to that). Keep a close eye on it when you expect the battery to run out or you'll lose some of the trail to the above straight line scenario drawn from the battery run out point to the new battery point. There is not much warning with these batteries.

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