Kawriverrat

What is the best way to keep camera, cell phone & maybe a laptop batteries charged while touring for a week or more. I figure I can pack spares. Leave the cell phone off until I use it. But the ability to charge the batteries while traveling would be a plus.

Newspaperguy

I carry a charger and if I'm at a campground with electrical power, I'll plug it in overnight. The camera batteries last a long time and the cell phone is usually turned off. The GPS batteries will drain down every couple of days. For my next trip, I want to take additional fully charged batteries for it.

Thasiet

Get one of these:

https://www.amazon.com/Datexx-MobileP...f=pd_sbs_hpc_1

Worked like a charm on last month's tour to keep cell and GPS running. Comes with a full suite of adaptors, but uses a standard USB port, so you can even charge anything that takes a proprietary connector, like say an iPod. Splurge for lithium batteries; alkalines only charge devices halfway. NiMHs don't work at all, since they're 1.2v instead of 1.5v, so disposables it is.

nancy sv

We charge our batteries every chance we get - we've even plugged them into the wall at a restaurant while eating! We've got it mostly under control now, and know about how long the various batteries will last and such, but it's still a constant struggle. If you take advantage of every opportunity you can find, you can generally get them charged fairly regularly.

Kawriverrat

Any of you all try the packable solar cells for charging?

Abneycat

In my opinion,

Worth it for extended trips without easy grid access but small packable power storage units like that "Mobilepower" device in a previous post are good options for jaunts where you just need a few extra charges to last the distance. I use a Brunton Solo 3.4 in tandem with a Solaris USB, personally. The Solo 3.4 is nice enough on its own to last you a weeks worth of a few small devices, usually does 4-5 charges of your things before running out. Depending on what the trip looks like, i'll pack the Solo if power will undoubtedly be available, and the Solaris as well if not.

Packing along the solaris, its really hard to run out of power, you really have to *try* to do it. However, for most people, power is available at least once in a while, so packing along a battery powered charger like the Solo alone is good enough. My particular combination is a bit heavier, but the Brunton panels will withstand rainfall and live to work again - get one of those little devices like a Solarfocus or a Solio wet, and you can probably kiss it goodbye.

P.S. on tour, the NiteRider Minewt Mini USB pairs *beautifully* with the Brunton combo. Its great to be able to have a fairly good front light thats able to pair up with small power solutions.

The only device smaller than this I would suggest is the SolarFocus SolarMio. As nice as having the cable options is, the Solio devices are too hard to lash down and don't work well except for in optimum lighting. The Solarmio is pretty easy to strap to a pannier, and does generate enough juice to make itself useful.

Juha

I have a small, foldable Silva solar panel that could theoretically feed my cell phone or battery charger (my lights, camera, radio and GPS all take standard AA/AAA rechargeable batteries) or laptop. BUT:

The panel is slow and requires pretty much optimal conditions to work well. Arranging it to face sun properly is impossible when riding. It's difficult even when paddling on open waters. In practice, it requires a full (sunny) rest day at camp, and adjusting the panel position every now and then.

In my case I've decided it's less hassle to carry required chargers and maybe a couple of sets of extra batteries (the GPS especially is a battery hog). On bike tours, I'm seldom completely off the grid for more than 3-4 days at a time. I would take the panel if I were to spend a couple of weeks on remote islands with kayak. If only...

But for bike touring, I'd look at one Forum member's (n4zou) diabolical circuit design that charges batteries, has a powered USB port and gets its power from hub dynamo. It's been posted several times, search should find it.

--J

Kawriverrat

This is exactly what I had in mind. I will do a search. A BIG THANKS to you & Abneycat!!!

wheel

I went on tour for 83 days found Laundromats, parks, libraries, restaurants, even visitor centers feed my energy needs. I even charged my batteries at a dam.

TheBrick

Here you go I have a thread with it booksmarked.

https://www.bikeforums.net/electronics-lighting-gadgets/452921-usb-charger-powered-dynamo-hub.html

BigBlueToe

I've taken a cell phone and MP3 player on my last two trips, along with wall chargers. I haven't had much of a problem finding outlets to plug them in. In restaurants I look for a table by a wall outlet. In campgrounds I've used posts on vacant full-service campsites. I've also found covered picnic areas often have outlets. I've used outlets in libraries. I've occasionally used outlets in bathrooms, though only when I didn't worry too much about my devices being stolen - usually in "low-traffic" bathrooms.

It's a bit of a pain to do it this way, but not too bad. I usually only turn the phone on to make a call, so it doesn't need charging very often. My MP3 player has flash memory so a charge lasts a long time, but if it runs down before I can charge it, no big deal. I don't listen to music when I ride all the time anyway - I'm fine if it goes dead and I have to wait awhile to charge it.

splandorf

Sunlinq makes flexible, lightweight, folding portable solar panels that are AMAZING... I don't know what happened to solar cell technology in the last couple years, but what used to require a 1'x2' glass plate can now be done with a thin plastic-like membrane.

The two sizes that are good for bike-touring are the 6.5 watt and 12.5 watt models.

Here's some links:

https://store.altenergystore.com/Port...wer-Pack/p572/
https://www.campinggeardepot.com/stor..._40419406.html

Also worth looking on Ebay.

The 6.5 watt model is about the size and weight of a paperback novel. 12.5 watt model is twice as wide (2x4 panels instead of 1x4) but still amazingly lightweight. It just folds up twice as thick.

I have the 12.5 watt model. I used it on a bike tour in Japan during the rainy season (late March & early April) and was able to recharge my cell phone and camera under perpetually overcast and rainy skies -- pretty much pessimal solar charging conditions. I was able to fully recharge both in about an hour.

The 6.5 watt model might take a bit longer, but it's a more convenient size for biking with... you should easily be able to drape it across your rear bag and/or panniers. (I can fit my 12.5 watt model across both panniers, but not much room to spare.)

Try to find battery chargers designed for car cigarette lighter adapters. (12v) The Sunlinqs come with a variety of output adapters, including a "cigarette lighter" model. This seems to be the most common interface for 12v input into devices/battery chargers/etc.


Sam

Kawriverrat

Hey, "THANKS" Splandorf!!

wahoonc

Check out this guy's posting on Crazy Guy on a Bike. He has a pretty extensive setup, might be something to get additional info from. FWIW the few electronics I carry, I try to purchase stuff that uses the disposable batteries, or in the case of a proprietary battery carry spares. I also have a universal charger that will handle different things. Most of my trips are under a week so battery power is not usually an issue for me.

Aaron

quester

I guess when you want power, go to the source...

staehpj1

My camera takes something like 800 pictures on a charge and I leave the cell phone off except when making a call. I leave the GPS home partly because it is so battery hungry. Anyway given that, it is really easy to find places to charge plenty frequently enough where I have toured. When we camped at campgrounds, city parks, and churches an outlet was usually available. If we ate in a restaurant we always found an outlet if we needed one. I have also charged batteries in libraries.

The only time it would become an issue is if I would decide to navigate by GPS and have it on all day.

seeker333

I recommend Sanyo Eneloop batteries instead of other nimh alternatives. They cost more, but they don't self-discharge like other nimhs.

They actually hold their charge for years. Just no comparison to the others.