While there are many ways to make work to recharge the batteries and electronic devices through solar energy, we will focus on the various solutions that have been successfully tested and examined the most common needs. We recommend using the PowerFilm rollable solar cells that are more appropriate in the market for mobile and marine applications for binding to the decks of kayaks and canoes.
Step 1: Estimate your power needs
The first step in creating a solarPower kayaking expeditions and canoe needs to assess the overall performance, and choose to meet with a solar panel. Watt-hour is a measure of battery capacity. For example, Digital cameras need 50-10 watt-hours, mp3 player needs 5 need for laptops up to 65 years.
Next, decide how often you should monitor the equipment for free. For example, if your Digital SLR camera is loaded when the canoe or kayak, and you know that under conditions of typical use, you will receive 3Days from the camera's battery must be recharged before then your needs are 15 WHRS over 3 days = 5 WHRS / day
For example, this is added the need for two AA batteries each day for a GPS device and charge your iPod every other day. A total daily power consumption: 12 WHRS
For portable applications, as we will be cautious in assessing the electricity from solar cells. It 's almost impossible to get the ideal exposure for a solar panel if simply due to the bridge of yourCanoeing draped over the tent, or the distribution of railroad track on your own. Thus, the production of solar energy, only about half of what could be a properly designed roof system. Based on this assumption we can calculate that a 5 watt panel would meet our needs, minimize costs and to minimize the size and weight to carry. Remember that this is our budget authority, and therefore we have to live in this amount. A further advantage of minimizing the sun as much as possible is that you can adaptthe deck of the canoe or kayak. PowerFilm Solar manufactures a range of flexible solar cells developed for use on boats. Help the splash with marine applications were linked, and the best links we've seen on a portable solar panel-equipped. The R-7 7Watt sliding panel is the smallest in this line of marine-grade so that the panel would have chosen for our example.
Step 2: Choose a Battery & conectors
In addition,a battery, you simply choose to store your solar energy. Should be small and light so that it is not loaded canoe or kayak is no longer necessary. He has the connections necessary to ask all the available devices. It must also retain sufficient power to get you through times when the sun is not shining as we hope to receive. We want to make an estimate, at least equal to the daily requirement. In our example, this would mean a storage capacity of at least 12 watt-hours.
WouldWorking directly from the solar panel, and carry no energy storage? We must, if the devices you want to download, see to do this. Read more ...
In our previous example, we need the following links ... USB outlet for our Smartphone for our camera and battery charger AA. Wait! Power is not an option in these small power plants. AC inverter does not operate directly from solar cells, and the small Li-Power Packare not able to power a small inverter. What to do?
Fortunately, there are many after-market lithium-camera battery charger with 12V car adapter in addition to the supplied AC adapter. There are also AA battery charger that can be run from a USB port or 12V auto power outlets. So, since we can 12VDC output directly from the solar panel and a USB adapter for the car, at this point it seems that you could choose to load all our equipment directly from solar energy and storage battery pack. Butgo solar?
We recommend that you almost always short of direct solar energy only for the race, the weather forecast is good (and reliable), and the solar panel is really just need to recharge the batteries if necessary. After that the package of energy storage is an important source of energy reserve for times when the sun do not mix. Also allows the charger to the best prices instead of late at all costs, the solar panel can receive isYou'll also be able to capture more energy from the sun during the day.
For our example, we recommend the package of Voltaic. The capacity is slightly greater than our need for a day and is very small and light. It also contains all the USB connector and 12V capability we need. Even if the package is not supported Voltaic battery charger for camera Targus 7.4 V, this function to connect the charger the camera can be obtained directly from the pot. If thepack energy storage is needed to guide the Targus charger for 7.4 volt, then the best option would be to select the unit of Voltaic "Generator" of the battery.
What is with the AA batteries?
For most canoe and kayak expeditions, one of the most common needs that we hear from AA battery is charging for things like GPS receivers and radio. It recommends that customers consider two scenarios ... 1. Direct solar battery AA second term with a battery energy storage
Inthe first option ... The solar panel is directly connected to a battery charger DC input AA. It is recommended that the couple following equipment ... 12V Mini PowerFilm R15-300 or R-7 PowerFilm AA Targus DC charger
The charger is at any time the light is bright enough, and is free for the maximum rate of solar panels in the lighting conditions. For example, the 5-watt solar panel 2 batteries a day from late spring to early autumn for free. Most people have a "batteryRotation, with pairs of charged batteries in the charger and the unit is ready and waiting will be charged. Every day, he changed the battery and moving the rotation. In this way, the batteries never mixed with partially charged batteries in the device. If you want more power and more batteries per day to update the PowerFilm panels from 10W or 14W. These are up to 8 AA batteries in a charge in the summer.
The second option ... This feature allowsThey store solar energy during the day and the emergence of power when needed, even at night. Apart from access to power at any time, an important advantage of using a means capable Battey charger are working at their peak, and not just at the present rate of solar panel. We recommend the following equipment ... PowerFilm R15-300 or R-7 PowerFilm ZAP! R07-PL2 Targus USB AA battery charger
Or, for more performance, combine the panels with the 10W or 14WVoltaic battery and battery charger USB Targus AA.
NOTE: It 's essential that all batteries have enough air space and vents are something while they are loaded. If you use a dry bag, leave a space plane, and preferably not completely close the bag. This is ... Are you ready to paddle with Power Start!
