[pct-l] solar charger

[CClark]

Thanks for all the input about solar chargers.I am now looking at the Anker website.I see three external batteries.Astro 3 (10000mAh) has some bad reviews.Astro 5 (16000mAh) weighs 11 oz.Do you recall which battery most hikers opted for? 
Carolyn "Souldoctor" 
<<<<Message: 3
Date: Sat, 23 Jan 2016 10:40:30 -0800
From: Tim Umstead <tumstead96 at gmail.com>
To: PCT-L <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Subject: [pct-l] Solar charger
Message-ID:
    <CAD3yqM3Oo6GEA16JWTHVcN+WsbJGYM+0jiaUXtiWhcKizbJO5w at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

On last summers thru hike we use an Anket 6k external battery. I had two
cell phones, four mp3 players, a camera, and a tablet to keep charged. The
single external battery did the job just fine. I never ran it dry. Under
normal usage I had to charge the mp3 players and maybe a phone or the
camera. On some of the longer sections I needed to also partially charger
the tablet. I never ran out of power.

I know of several thru hikers who stated out with solar panels and switched
to external batteries. They found that they it took to long to charge their
phones. This was especially a problem farther north where the trees shaded
their panels as they hike and they could not get the full power of the sun.

Take an external battery and skip the solar panel.

The Ravens































































there heavy ,works good
 

    On Saturday, January 23, 2016 3:23 PM, David Austin <davidaustin777 at gmail.com> wrote:
 

 I have a Goal Zero Nomad 7 as well as a Nomad 20 and multiple 30 watt
panels. The trick with solar panels is that you should use the solar panel
to charge a battery pack. When the battery pack is charged you can use that
to charge your phone. Many phones include charging circuitry that only
works with proper strength charge is coming in. Solar panels will not
provide consistent output. It will vary depending on many factors,
including weather/clouds and angle to the sun. Other devices such as
headlamps should charge ok even on weaker signals but still best to charge
a battery pack then charge the device.

Goal Zero makes excellent products that may be better quality than their
competition but they are more expensive. The panels are heavy. I would just
buy a big battery pack that will charge your phone and other electronics
between resupply/town stops. This is what I'm doing. Since I already own
many Goal Zero products, I'll be taking only a battery pack, the Venture
30. Many people use Anker and they are good too (and cheaper). Just get one
that has enough charge for your use and doesn't weigh a ton.

David

On Sat, Jan 23, 2016 at 7:38 AM, CClark <dr_carolyn at yahoo.com> wrote:

> I'm considering purchasing a Goal Zero Nomad 7m solar charger or a Goal
> Zero Switch 10 Multi-tool Kit to keep our electronic devices charged while
> thru-hiking.Has anyone tried using these?Can anyone recommend other/better
> ways to stay charged?
> Carolyn "(Souldoctor")
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-- 
- David Austin
davidaustin777 at gmail dot com
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