Solar Chargers for Camping

I've been been asked about the use of solar power for camping for some time now, so I've decided to write a short article on how solar energy can be applied when camping.

Solar energy is far more accessible in the wild than you might think- although one has to consider how much energy you will be needed while on the trail.

There are a variety of portable solar panels and solar chargers that can be used in the wild. Lets start with something small and work our way up from there.

Solar battery chargers come in different forms. A solar charger can be a small solar panel that you hook up to your battery charger or cell phone, but for this setup you will need a bit of in-depth knowledge on watts and voltages. You could also with a hybrid solar charger which has a battery back included.

These hybrid solar chargers are readily available on the market. Some of the more well-known brands of hybrid solar chargers are Brunton and Solio. Solio produces a handy little solar charger that will collect solar energy and store it the device's internal battery. The Solio charger stores enough power to recharge a cell-phone or to provide several hours of music on an MP3 or iPod (though it is not limited to just these devices).

The advantage of having a solar charger with internal batteries is that you will not have to fuss around with cables or position yourself in the sun while you use or charge your equipment. All you have to do is place the solar charger in the sun to recharge its internal batteries. Later on, you can recharge your cell-phone, iPod, or MP3 player from the internal batteries of the solar charger. You just need to make sure you have the right connection cables to attach your device to the solar charger.

Brunton has a similar solar charger which works on the same principle.

Solar chargers that will recharge or power small devices, such as cell phones and MP3 players, are relatively small and are easy to fit into your backpack with your travel gear. These are ideal for bike trips, hiking trips, or camping.

Larger Solar Panels for Camping

Another option, if you want something slightly larger, is a foldable or rollable solar panel. Portable solar panels of all sizes are now readily available.

The Brunton SolarRoll is, as the name implies, a flexible solar panel which can be rolled up for easy storage and transport. It is also very lightweight and has eyelets which allow you to attach it to just about anything. This is a solar panel that you could attach either to the roof or the side of your tent. You could also strap it across the top of a kayak, or leave it hanging from your backpack while it charges. As the SolarRoll is larger than the smaller hybrid solar chargers (such as the Solio), it will provide more power, and can be used to recharge larger batteries. Due to its light weight and its flexibility, the Brunton SolarRoll is really a great option for a variety of different situations. And it is even powerful enough to recharge a laptop battery within a reasonable amount of time.

If you want something slightly larger, another option is a foldable or rollable solar panel. Portable solar panels of all sizes are now readily available.

The Brunton SolarRoll is, as the name implies, a flexible solar panel which can be rolled up for easy storage and transport. It is also very lightweight and has eyelets which allow you to attach it to just about anything. This is a solar panel that you could attach either to the roof or the side of your tent. You could also strap it across the top of a kayak, or leave it hanging from your backpack while it charges. As the SolarRoll is larger than the smaller hybrid solar chargers (such as the Solio), it will provide more power, and can be used to recharge larger batteries. Due to its light weight and its flexibility, the Brunton SolarRoll is really a great option for a variety of different situations. And it is even powerful enough to recharge a laptop battery within a reasonable amount of time.

If you are going camping with an RV, that is an entirely different story all together. In this case you can simply mount the solar panels to roof of your RV. There are many RV solar kits available in all sizes, which are sold with mounting brackets included. Aside from providing clean energy, RV solar kits have an added benefit. Unlike generators, RV solar chargers do not make noise or produce any exhaust fumes while producing electricity. Thus they allow you to actually enjoy the peace and quiet of your vacation.

When we are working with small electronic gadgets, this does not involve a lot of power consumption. So even a small solar panel or solar charger will get you somewhere. Size does, however, play a role in the amount of time it will take for the solar panels to recharge your batteries. This is where you need to decide for yourself how much you are willing to lug around and how much power you really need for your equipment.

To get a better idea of the types and sizes of solar chargers which are needed for different electronic devices, you can look at this Solar Charger Guide.

Thanks to Lounce Mountain and Curious Lee for permision to use photos according to the Creative Commons License.