USB port equivalent solar panel?
 

Hello all,

I'm wondering if someone has something they either like or has seen that would make a good traveling solar panel? The specs I'd like to see is the output being about what you would see for a good USB port. That being 5 volts and about 2 amps. Having it small and light would be a big plus.

Anything?

Goal Zero; Sorry I don't own one but it's one of the ones that gets talked about alot.

edit: Some phones require a steady power source, particularly when their internal battery is very low. That being the case you might consider the Nomad 10 or just buy a spare battery phone charger and then charge that on the solar and then use to charge the phone. If it were me I'd use the spare battery to charge the phone and use the solar to charge it.

Their site is kinda whack! You click "live chat" and it's a page to enter info and send off an email message! :lol:
You call the 800 number and it's a message that it assumes you're calling after hours. :notamused:

I guess I'll try a thread here on people talking about the panels. I'm guessing they're just in a good marketing position for their product, and not actually because they have a good product. I could be wrong. :rolleyes:

Suntactics.com! Thought I'd chime in, I hiked the PCT with this thing and the output of their small sCharger-5 panel is 5v x 1amp, but if you want 2amps you would need their sCharger-14 which puts out 2.8amps at 5 volts. They make small, light, waterproof and powerful travel solar chargers. Hope this helps!

Actually the sCharger-8 looks like would do the trick on what I would need. It's rated at 1.6 amps, but there's two USB ports. Nice setup and a good looking company. Thanks I'll keep them in mind.

I use the Goal Zero Guide 10 setup. I picked it up after meeting several thru-hikers on the AT with them who had enough juice to top off their phones, plus offer some to me. Actually, I planned on getting one after that experience but only pulled the trigger after meeting a guy riding from Canada to the FL Keys who was using one.

I ride with it all the time. I leave it on my handlebar bag charging my phone and bike lights. On most days it will let me run my GPS tracking apps and music indefinitely.

AFAIK it's surface area that gets you the output. so small w enough power may be polar opposites .

going to stay in one place and keep moving the panel perpendicular to the sun, as it the sky?

I ride with mine draped over the front of my handlebar bag and unless we have pretty nasty weather that's fine to keep the phone's GPS running all day long, so for the Goal Zero Guide 10 Setup, no, you dont really have to worry about re-positioning the panel.

I have an Anker solar panel that i use while camping. It is kinda big for use on the bike, but I suppose it would sit over a trunk bag. I use it to charge a battery pack (also from Anker), and then use the pack to recharge USB devices. Check Amazon.

I've big-upped the Joos Orange on these forums before, specifically for the apparent suitability for on-the-bike charging while riding: SolarJOOS.com ? Products

I haven't used it, so I'm just going on the features and design, which offer some distinct advantages over more common systems like the Goal Zero fold-out panels, particularly within the context of cyclotouring.