Hi folks
In an ideal world, I would like to get a solar panel charger for a mobile phone, ipod and also a camera (Canon Ixus) and a video camera.
However, the Ixus has an external battery charger, i.e. the battery comes out of the camera and into the charger, which then plugs into the mains.
My video camera though can be plugged straight into the mains, albeit not by mini usb (like a blackberry) but via a funny shaped plug.
Does anyone know if you can get solar chargers that can be used for mains sized plugs? If not, then anyone get any general recommendations? This would not be for backpacking over distances, more for taking with me to a camp in the rainforests. I'll probably have a new Sony Ericsson phone.
So far I have seen this which would do for the phone and ipod but not the camera
Cheers
Si
Simon - have a look at a Powermonkey
I can't see how you'll get anything to work with a mains PSU though
EDIT: you've already seen the Powermonkey - must read more carefully 🙂
Si - Maplin are doing some offers on portable solar panel units from 1W to 13W.
The problem with them is that they arent reallu sufficient to power even the smallest inverter (100w) for a 3 pin/240v output. Some do come with lots of different 12v adaptors though which might suit your electronics.
Forunately nearly all movbile phone manufacturers are now signed up to the policy of producing mini USB charge sockets for all of their phones in an effort to minimise adaptors being produced. If you do a lot of travelling etc then I would recommend you consider how all your electronics can be charged from a miniusb charger or 12v connection.
Solar panel efficiency is still woefull compared to the power consumption we as users are used to.
If you could get car chargers for some of your kit - you should be able to put something together but with all that kit you'll spend all day swapping stuff around
simon, this will charge Ixus batteries from a 12v car supply.
It has it's own low power inverter by the look of it.
However, you may not be able to run it directly from some of the solar power units and might need to go via a battery. Some of the fold up solar power systems have an integrated battery.
If you take your bits to maplin and ask a geek to help, you may come awy with what you're after.
Stoner thanks but err, what are you referring to? I am hoping to be in Sheffield in maybe 3 weeks time and will pop into Maplins then.
d'Oh
http://www.battery-charger-store.com/goods.php?id=327
the boys with pocket protectors at Maplin would be your best bet.
I would also consider getting a different camera that could take AAAs for example and then you can easily use a 12v charger.
for example this charger
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=223748
will do mini usb and has an internal 5x AAA charging bank.
Cheers Stoner - looks promising.
I have not seen it for a few years now as it has been in storage, but if I can find my 35mm film camera I may take that as a back up, just like the olden days.
I will also be buying one or two spare batteries from jessops, so that may be enough to get me through 30 days without access to mains.
For the phone, I know that where I plan to be, you can just about get a signal so I will be sending one text a week to my folks to let them know I am still alive as they do worry about me, but then they worry about me anyway even if I am near a 240v power supply 😀
if you need AA batteries (Canon powershot is AA I think)
then this would do the job
http://www.thesolarcentre.co.uk/products/Solar_Multi_Charger-8-1.html
[b]Stoner - have you seen this? It seems to do cig lighter chargers
http://www.thesolarcentre.co.uk/products/Sunlinq_12W_Folding_Solar_Charger-10-10.html
pricey but nice.
I wasnt sure what the minimum W for a cigarette lighter supply needed to be. If they're confident that 12W will do it, then that seems a good plan.
Again Maplin guys will know the numbers.
Have you considered multiple batteries for the Ixus rather than faffing with the charger? You could get three batteries for less than £10 from somewhere like 7dayshop or dealextreme, which would cover you for something like a 1000 photos.
Which I would imagine easily last you between trips to places with easy access to mains electricity.
http://www.solartechnology.co.uk/products/solar_chargers/freeloader.asp
A little gadget called the Freeloader from Solar Technology. I got one for Christmas a couple of years ago, it comes with loads of adaptors for most mobile phones, iPods, BlackBerry etc etc.
Charges either via USB or solar. It's very good, I've used mine a fair bit recently. Topped it up at Enduro 6 off the sunlight. 🙂
My sister has one too, she took it with her travelling round Australia & New Zealand last year. Dinky little thing, doesn't weigh a lot but very efficient.