Configure and Setup a Solar
Charger System for use in the Grand Canyon
----- Original Message -----
From: "David Luinstra"
Wondering about how to configure and setup a solar
charger system for use in the GC, including cost. Tell me about your
system and how you use it.
will add this to the GCPBA Info Corner.
----- Original Message -----
From: <kmcasa@ >
Solar charger for what? Computer, camera, battery
charging? A friend bought a solar charger for his camera that was only
$75.
I can use the solar panel off my water filtration system to charge stuff
up.
----- Original Message -----
From: "richp4797" Hi Dave,
Here's my system.
I put a thirty-two amp hour sealed AGM battery in a tall ammo can, and
installed a waterproof cigarette-lighter type socket in the lid of the
can, wired to the battery terminals through a fuse. There is an
ensolite pad on top the battery to keep the terminals from shorting out if
the box gets turned upside down, but still leaving the terminals
accessible if needed.
Then I picked up a used ten watt solar panel from eBay, wired with a plug
to fit the socket on the top of the ammo can. This panel puts about a half
amp an hour back in the battery under ideal conditions,
so you might get 3-4 amps put back in each day, depending on time of year,
weather, shade or silt on the panel, and other factors.
I also carry a six foot extension cord for the 12-volt wire, in case I
need extra length from the panel to the battery -- depends on where I want
the panel to be mounted on the boat.
The waterproof plug in the lid lets me plug in the solar panel easily, and
still be able to quickly and securely disconnect for going through big
rapids if I want to.
It also means that when I need the power for a device, I simply unplug the
panel and plug in any standard 12-volt adapter without having to open the
ammo can. I can even invert to 120 volts to run up to about 90 watts of
some other device without having to use a 12-volt converter.
The fuse protects the system for normal loads, like small battery
chargers, etc. If I have to use it on the ramp with my LVM pump (very
handy!), I open the box and clamp directly on the battery terminals to
avoid blowing the fuse with that high-amp load.
Lately, I've been thinking the easier way to go would be one of those
battery jump start gizmos you can buy for $40-50, and plug the solar panel
into its charging socket. But they would not be waterproof, of
course, so you'd have to be extra careful about securing the system before
risking any spashy conditions.
----- Original Message -----
From: "richp4797"
Hi,
Nope, I worked WW earlier this year, and almost all of the rest of my
river time budget for a while is about to be consumed with a 24-day Grand
trip. (Will somebody please keep an eye on Marshall while I'm gone?)
On the iPod, it should charge off the inverter (my wife's does, at least).
More conventionally, any iPod compatible car charger will work straight
off the battery in this setup.
As to running devices straight off the solar panel during the day, the
current produced by the solar panel will be variable, as the angle to the
sun changes, clouds pass by, etc. And unless you have a very large
panel, the amperage is pretty small (my panel is about 14" square and puts
out 0.5 amps max and a lot less on average). That is why a lot of folks
have poor results. Instead, set it up to let the panel feed the
battery and run your device off the battery.
In my setup, to draw current for a device and feed the battery from the
panel at the same time, I could just use a splitter plugged into the top
of the ammo can -- one recepticle for the device and the other
for the panel's plug.
The folks who have battery-powered bilge pumps may want to chime in here.
Those setups are a bit smaller, but could be adapted to power small
devices in the same way. And they are a lot slicker than my setup.
Hope this helps.
----- Original Message -----
From: "richp4797"
Hi Wally,
Well, I guess I've been caught dead to rights. I run a small swamp cooler
over my cot -- you know, the one with the Temperapedic mattress and pink
striped sheets.....
Actually, I threw together this setup for a home-made bilge pump gizmo
when I had an 18' Avon bucket boat. Sold the Avon (big mistake) and kept
the solar rig. Because I often use my boats on long trips on the
Mississippi and Great Lakes -- I take this rig for keeping batteries
charged, running a CD player in the evenings, etc. Decadent, I know. But
what's a 20'/30" cat for, if not to carry stuff you never dreamed of when
you were a backpacker???
For sure, it's handy on the ramp when I'm using my LVM pump. Just pick up
the ammo can and carry it to wherever you need the juice. Yes, I've gotten
lazy in my old age.
FWIW.
Rich Phillips
----- Original Message -----
From: "Marshall"
Ask Rich, he's the one with the charger setup.. I
personally don't want anything electrical, past my camera that is, along.
On the sole GC trip I did, I had a no electrical stuff rule, even managed
to get a shepherds ring sundial to tell time with. I would however take a
sat phone for emergencies, but for emergencies only, and if I didn't have
one, it would not be a trip stopper..
Marshall
----- Original Message -----
From: "richp4797"
Hi Wally,
Thanks for that small positive shred at the end of your last post. For a
minute there I was worried I'd lost your vote in the next election.
Like lots of things I have (anchor, drift sock, aircraft and
marine/weather radios, etc.) the solar panel/battery rig gets used
intermittently and in particularized ways -- many of them not on the
Grand. I did two weeks on Powell reservoir a couple of springs ago, and it
was nice to have a little Aaron Copeland in the evenings, and to be able
to recharge the digital camera batteries as needed. Same
thing when I go on the water back East for extended periods of time, which
is something I do far more than Western rivers. I wouldn't bring a CD
player or other obtrusive stuff on the Grand, but will have the battery on
my upcoming trip so the Official Trip Photographer will be able to stay
full charged the entire time.
If I hadn't built this setup for the bilge pump gizmo and had it left over
after the boat sold, I probably wouldn't go to the trouble of putting one
together. Sure, I could take lots of spare batteries, but
since I have it, why not use it? It's quiet, convenient, and
environmentally sound.
FWIW.
Rich Phillips
----- Original Message -----
From: <kmcasa>
I can hear the traditionalists groaning with this
thread. But yes, people take all kinds of electrical things on the
river. I've been on trips w/blenders, computers, battery chargers and
even generators to charge them. I don't care much for the noise of the
generator, but it wasn't my trip, so I ignored it.
The concept of all the electronics may seem bizarre to many, but it takes
all types, and some folks are really happy snapping 200 photos a day and
downloading them into a computer... some people are really happy jamming
out to music all day... some people are happy with their 30 year old
bucket boat and hand carved oars... some people are happy with eating
Diny Moore Beef Stew for 18 days in a row....
It takes all types and we should welcome everyone into the boating realm.
If it's your trip, you get to set the parameters for it. If it's not,
and it's just a discussion on the list, well, try reading without
reaction; trying to put yourself into someone else's PFD. An iPod may
not be your thing... but to some it's just as enjoyable as the silence
may be to you.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bob Marley"
OK, I admit it. I take electrical things on the
river, primarily photographic and music things, which is probably what
most others take.
A car battery in an ammo can has always been more charging time than I
need for a three week trip. Trip participants usually share the charging
time for camera batteries. Used to be more important with my
previous digital camera. The one I'm using now runs a long time on a its
rechargeable battery if I'm not using the flash and I have three batteries
for it.
The problem Wally is most rechargeable batteries loose charge over time
even if they aren't used and 16-20 days is a long time without recharging.
It's kind of nasty to have your marvelous digital SLR go kaput because you
are out of charge with many days to go on your trip.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Shane Jimerfield"
I just built a similar system as Rich's.
I did not go water tight, other than stashing the entire lot in a ammo
box. I figure I won't use it on the river, just at camp. I will also use
it when out in the wilds doing other stuff so I can charge my
computer. It is not a cheap system, but it has very good and reliable
components. I've been testing it here at home, and it works great.
First thing: I would never connect the panel directly to my expensive
electronics. The power is too irregular. Charge a battery and use that
battery to charge or run your devices. There is a bit of waste, but
not nearly as much if I were to fry my $350 iPod.
For the iPod specifically you'll need that AC adapter, car adapter or you
can plug in a USB hub and charge off that.
It's main function is to charge batteries for my camera and iPod.
here are the components and the links:
battery: a 12 volt 18 amp hour battery
http://www.gruberpower.com/gruberpower/advertising/batteries/cutsheets/UPS-58-GPS-1218.asp
inverter: Samlex 150 Watt Pure Sine 12 Volt Inverter
http://www.batterystuff.com/inverters/PST-15S-12A.html
panel: SUNLINQ 6.5 Watt Solar Panel
http://www.batterystuff.com/solar-chargers/PF6.5w.html
Solar Charge Controller:
http://www.batterystuff.com/solar-chargers/GS12V7A.html
other components are specific to the devises.
Shane
----- Original Message -----
From: "Richard Martin"
Why yes - I do have a battery powered bilge pump from
JJ Surprise at Raftin' Style's.
It works fabulous, especially because it cuts the whine level to near
zero.
It uses a 13.6 amp hour panel and it charges very well, never came close
to running out of power - even with a rather overcast trip. The pumps
(there are two) would consume far more power than any ipod ever created.
The battery, about the size of a 750cc motorcycle battery is connected
via a mercury switch that turns off the show if the boat is upside down.
The battery is in one of those yellow pelican water
tight boxes.
Biggest problem is keeping "awareness challenged" from walking on
solar charger "##!!!@!!%%&!!
GET OFF OF THAT!"
I understand you can charge a iPod with it as well. I prefer to leave
such devices at home for a variety of reasons so I haven't tried it.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Josh Grigg"
My brother wanted to take his professional video
camera and underwater housing down the grand last summer and asked me to
build him a solar charger... It consisted of a rocket box, with d rings
welded ( jb weld would work as well) inside, a smaller atv 12 volt gel
battery strapped down. Then I bought a Brunton Solar Roll- which is a
flexible waterproof solar panel, than when rolled up fit inside the rocket
box as well. Brunton also sells a controller that adjusts the amount of
power coming into the battery.. from full charge to trickle charge, and
also stops any battery drain when connected to the solar panel and there
is no sun (night). Also attached was a standard power inverter ( $40.00)
that would allow you to run small standard 120 things, while also
charging things that needed a cigarette lighter. So he mounted the video
camera to the boat and shot all the rapids and most of the interesting
side hikes they did.. then would charge his camera at night... and
recharge the battery during the day. He
said it worked great.. and it wasn't that much to carry.. as I said it all
fit in a rocket box.. I found the solar panel on ebay- but that was the
most expensive part of the whole process.. I think around $250- but it can
also stand alone and charge laptops, ipods ect.. directly.
Josh
----- Original Message -----
From: "richp4797"
Hi Josh,
Sounds like a nice rig -- the flexible panels sure do drive up the price,
but from what I can tell they are slick.
I got my 10 watt panel on eBay for about $50, as I recall, and made a PVC
pipe frame to bolt it onto. Then I can lash the PVC tubes to the raft, and
move it around easily if I want to.
Granted, the flex-panels are nice -- and I think that is what comes with
the commercial bilge pump setups. But I was doing it on the cheap. The
other cost-saver for me was I didn't need a controller
because the panel's amperage input was so low compared to the amp-hour
capacity of the battery.
Bob Marley has a good point. For moderate use, a properly secured, sealed
automotive battery will re-charge a whole lot of camera and other small
appliance batteries, and never need a solar panel at all.
And by the way Wally and Marshall, there are some inarguably legitimate
uses for electricity on the river. Case in point, an interesting rig I saw
at Westwater a couple of years ago. A guy had a
CPAP breathing machine set up for 12 volts and was powering it off a
marine battery for his overnight trips. Wasn't gonna let a little sleep
apnea get in the way of his boating!!! And with the addition of
a moderately sized solar panel, he could have done a complete Grand trip
with that setup.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Christina King"
I bought a solar charger from the company below for
my Olympus camera lithium battery. Haven't used it yet but will
experiment this summer and report back to the group. They have lots of
choices for solar chargers.
http://store.sundancesolar.com/
|