oldokie

When using lights with rechargeable batteries, how do you deal with the fact that electricity may not be readily available at all camping sites on tour.
As an example, my lights are designed to be used with rechargeable lithium batteries. They work great and have good run time while being lightweight. However, my lights cannot use normal batteries you can pick up at any convenience store.
Bottom line....if I want to use my good lights, I need access to electricy for my charger.

Cave

Yeah, problem.

I've moved to all-AA equipment (headlight, blinkie, taillight, camera) apart from my phone (and palm if I bring it). The palm and phone are used intermittently and last over a week. Lithium disposable AAs (expensive) last long enough for me, but won't be practical on long trips or if you ride a lot at night.

I've seen a few web pages with recharging systems linked to solar panels or dynamos - will look up - try Ian and Ju McLean

--- edit ---
https://www.mark-ju.net/ is the website, saw it posted on another thread here.

valygrl

Just charge whenever you stop for other stuff, like laundry, lunch, internet.

Wogster

For that kind of thing, your probably best to either use lights that can accommodate standard AA or AAA batteries, or carry spares. My front light uses 3 AAA batteries and the rear 2 AAA batteries, so If the rechargeable batteries die, I can pick up a set anywhere.

I actually need to get a couple more, because I am 1 battery short at the moment.

If you must use a charger, then maybe try one of those 12v solar panels. You just need a charger that will run off a car accessory socket, now you pick up a car accessory socket (auto wreckers), and attach a plug to fit the solar panel, what you also want to do is pick up a 12V wall wart, that has the same plug or one of the adaptable ones, with that plug as an option. Now, when you buy a device that uses batteries, you buy the car charger. You take your car socket adaptor, and plug it into the solar panel, and plug your battery charger into it, lash the solar panel to the top of the load on the rear rack, and by the end of the day, your batteries are nicely charged. If your at a camp site that has a mains supply you can use, you switch to the wall wart, and charge any batteries that might be low.

Losligato

Before leaving home we made sure all of our lights used rechargable AA batteries. Our shortwave radio also functions as a battery charger and we keep them topped up using it when we have power. In case of emergency the batteries in the radio are backup for the lights.

drcrash

I'm not trying to be flip, but how about leaving your lights at home and riding during the day. Summer tours in the northern tier of states means many hours of daylight. Just a thought.

n4zou

I also switched to all disposable AA batteries. I use a Mag-Lite Mini-Mag 3-Watt LED flashlight and Blinkies for night operations. The Blinkies go for 200+ hours and the batteries will go dead due to time than actual use. The Flashlight will burn for 2.5 hours on two standard batteries and 7 hours on disposable lithium camera batteries. I have an older cell phone and cut up an old battery pack and glued a Radio Shack AA battery holder to the back of it. This provides an easy way to power it from disposable AA batteries. All it's good for is calling 911 but I don’t need to pay a monthly service charge on it and only costs me batteries. I also can't be called on it, which is priceless!

SoonerLater

n4zou,

Did you make a frame of white pvc pipe and mount it on your bike so you could use a standard backpack/knapsack as sort of a saddlebag?

Cave

AA vs AAA - looking at the mAH ratings on the batteries, a AA holds about 3 times as much charge as a AAA (800-900 mAH vs. 1600-2500 mAH for NiMH rechargables) despite not being much bigger or heavier in practical terms. That's why I like AA.

n4zou

That’s exactly what I did. I've been using it like that for a little more than a year and it's got over 3,000 touring miles of use. I also made the cap at the top rear corner removable so I can haul a little extra water when required. It will fill a standard bicycle water bottle.

SoonerLater

Hmmm... I wondered before about solar. A quick Google search turned up these:

SP1V 3-6-9-12V Solar Panel -- Small solar panel will directly power many portable electronics. With its voltage selector switch and several different adapter plugs, you can power your favorite devices directly with the sun's energy! Also includes hookup cable with crocodile clips, built-in 2-AA battery charger, and 9V battery charger adapter. Two AA rechargeable batteries will take between 4-6 hours to recharge. An LED indicator confirms charging is taking place and a blocking diode is built-in to protect against power leakage at night time. Handle functions as a stand allowing you to tilt the panel to the sun for maximum energy. Dimensions: 6.5" x 3.5" x 0.9" (165 x 90 x 22mm)


Brunton SolarPort 4.4 -- The innovative SolarPort 4.4 offers an energy alternative to keep your cell phone running, your GPS tracking and your digital camera recording images. SolarPort 4.4 allows you to charge electronics via USB, and its durability is unprecedented. Take advantage our cable-free 12 volt connection in the hinge, and link up to three units together to increase power output. Lightweight but sturdy, our SolarPort 4.4 could mean the difference between a life saving phone call or a dead battery. Use the included BattJack™ Rapid Charger to juice-up your rechargeable batteries away from home. 9.3"x6"x1.5"
19 oz.
Max output: 4.4 watts (265mA @ 12V position and 530mA @ 6V position)
Includes BattJack AA/AAA battery charger
Polycrystalline solar panel construction
Reverse flow protection
6V / 12V depending upon the position of the voltage selection switch
USB output (5V 500mA) · Vehicle outlet in the hinge
20" extendable power cable with an exchangeable adapter plug in hinge
Link up to three units together for even more output
Designed for small electronics like PDAs, GPS units, cell phones and digital cameras



I suppose that the first two items and the smallest SolarRoll could be deployed while riding. The smallest SolarRoll puts out more current than the other two chargers, but I can't tell if it comes with AA and AAA battery charging adapters, so you might have to rig that up with parts from RadioShack.
Brunton SolarRolls -- The SolarRoll is, ounce-for-ounce, the most powerful, durable and lightest solar panel on earth. These state-of-the-art, amorphous, waterproof, rollable solar panels are the ultimate way to run or charge your electronics in the field. The 14-watt panel is ideal for running or charging satellite phones, video cameras, DVD players and any other small electronic device. Select the SolarRoll 9 for high-performance digital cameras, PDAs and any device that requires 9 watts of power. The SolarRoll 4.5 is ideal for your cell phone, GPS unit and any device that requires 4.5 watts of power.
Available:
4.5 Watt, 12" x 22", 6.4 oz.
9 Watt, 12" x 40", 10.6 oz.
14 Watt, 12" x 57", 17 oz.

SoonerLater

You put water IN the pvc rack? How do you get it out? Turn the bike over, or is there drain at the bottom?

mkauffman

I just made my way through Washington and head into Montana, so far even the most remote campsites have had places to charge. I'd say just give it a go with what you have and chances are, it'll work out.

gbenth

Just to let you know that your 1st panel will charge 2 AA batteries that are 800-900 mA in that time (8-10 hrs) but will take 3 times that long to do the new 2400 mA batteries. You need to read the charging rate and keep your batteries in pairs. This idea knocks out the items that use an odd number of batteries.

gbenth

Peaks

If you are on an organized tour, there is usually a support service that will allow you to plug in to recharge phones, batteries, etc. In addition, people get creative and plug in their recharger where ever they find an outlet.

If you are not on an organized tour, then just take advantage of outlets in bathrooms, neighboring campers, etc.

Dahon.Steve

Agreed.

All of these expensive alternatives are very costly and time consuming. It takes 9 hours to recharge a battery!!

These batteries recharge in 15 minutes.

https://www.amazon.com/Energizer-15-M.../dp/B0000DIIAS

jharte

Hmmmm.....on the last tour I went on I stopped at a small grocery store. There was a pop machine outside and I was able to plug my headlight battery charger in the vacant outlet. I've also plugged in at city parks. For years I've carried a small cheap socket tester.

Charging while grocery shopping.

SoonerLater

It's not the batteries; it's charger that makes 15 Minute charging possible. Additional information and reviews about the Energizer 15 Minute Charger at Energizer.com, Amazon.com TigerDirect.com
A little bit bulky and it weighs 1.3 lbs., but except for extremely remote riding, this is probably a better solution than anything solar.

Energizer 15 Minute AA/AAA Battery Charger Specifications
* Charging Current: AA (1-4 Cells) 7.5 Amps
* Charging Current: AAA (1-4 Cells) 2.85 Amps
* Trickle Charge: AA 100mA
* Trickle Charge: AAA 60mA
* Dimensions (mm): 131.0 x 40.0 x 78.0

ken cummings

Could one of you electronic gurus come up with a circuit that would take the current from a basic headlight generator and alter it to recharge your Ipods, phones, and other widgets?

SoonerLater

Yep, but it would take about 200 miles to charge a phone; 500 for an iPod.

Are you speaking of the old headlight generator which mounted to one front fork and engaged by running against the side of the front wheel? Or a dynamo hub (which requires rebuilding your front wheel)? Neither produces much current, but the latter is certainly better. Shimano claims 6.0 volts @ 3.0 watts. That's Watts/Volts = Amps. This would produce 0.5 amps of current. Compare this to the Energizer 15 minute charger which uses 7.5 amps to charge up to four AA batteries. Yes, you could, theoretically, rig up a bike powered way to recharge your batteries, but you'd have to ride 20 hours a day to keep up.

john bono

The biggest problem is that dynamos are AC, not DC. You need to convert the current to whatever you need, and there will be power loss by going through a transform/voltage regulator etc. It would still be nice to have, though. Even though it wouldn't give all that much power, it might give you a few more hours of battery life.

d_D

Lots of devices charge through USB. USB is 5V @ 500mA, thats 2.5W. Most dynamos produce more than 3W once you get above ~12mph. As long as your regulation circuitry is reasonably efficient there shouldn't be any problem charging devices that normally charge via USB.

ecpowertap

I saw something in the magazine "ready made" couple months ago were they told you how to easily make a solar cell, cell phone charger out of one of the soft solar cells, I think they said the total cost was $45, I kept meaning to look into it for touring reasons

videticj

I'm in the process of building a power supply for charging 5V devices (cell phone, camera) and AA batteries (via constant-current trickle charge) from a DC input of 8-16V. This input will be from a solar panel or, if I'm near power, the power supply for the laptop (which will also be charging the laptop). I may try to put something up on here if/when it's up and running... I'm hoping for efficiency in the >90% range since it'll be all switching supplies. Probally going to use a microcontroller PWM output to create the constant current supply and maybe turn devices off if the input drops too low... the cell phone is tricky as it thinks it is done charging if its supply voltage drops too low and it just stops charging, requiring a power cycle to top it off.

avatarworf

Is electricity really a problem? We've been on the road for 10 months now and never once paid for electricity at a campsite, yet have managed to keep 2 cameras, an iPod and a laptop on the go. If it isn't included you can:

1) Plug it in at the sockets in the bathrooms (in Europe they don't have those funny razor safety sockets)
2) Ask a friendly RV owner if they mind helping you out
3) Ask at reception if you could plug something in for a while (they usually don't mind)
4) Take a hotel once every few days and charge everything there