One of my daughters called the other day asking me if I knew of any good portable solar chargers. She is wanting to get it for a gift and it's use would be for backpacking and off-grid type stuff.

I told her I had an Earth-X jump pack but I guess sheis mainly looking for something that rools up or not overly big to throw in a backpack.

Thanks!

look into Goal Zero and similar products

I'm "a solar guy", and have been for decades. But nowadays, I'll just throw my jump pak in the plane rather then a small PV module. I can charge my phone, my kindle, my bluetooth for the intent SAT radio speaker, all with no concern as to whether the sun is out or not! Plus it has a super bright strobe function, and a conventional flashlight. Not that those uses even makes a dent in the amp capacity of the jump starter, and when i get home I then recharge it with....my home's grid tied solar array.

I've got a Big Blue, and seems to work well.

The trick is to use a batt pack to charge your stuff, and the solar panel to charge the batt pack.

If backpacking I think a battery pack would be too heavy

Being out for more than a couple of days is too long to keep my devices charged with a power pack. I'm sure the technology is going to keep improving, but I have used Anker portable solar panels with USB ports for two years. They definitely charge better in direct sunlight, but I am able to keep my portable devices charged as long as I want without having to find an outlet. Funny to think that I used to drag a portable generator around with me at times.

https://www.anker.com/products/variant/anker-powerport-solar/A2421011

What Squash said.
I've had the Anker 3 panel 21 watt with 2 USB ports for 4 years now.
It charges two devices fast.
Something to think about... If you are away from power for extended times; it can charge your little jump pack if needed. I have needed that.
Anker has a good reputation and free shipping on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/Anker-Charger-Po ... 152&sr=8-3

I advocate getting a bigger panel than you think you might need as low light conditions will net you less power. A bigger panel will sometimes be the difference in getting enough power on a cloudy day.

Do the math on how many AH's the jump starter battery can provide, and what it weighs, versus the PV panel's output and it's weight,, and don't forget to derate it for inclement weather! . I would strongly expect the numbers would favor the PV panel only after a week or so. I've been using solar/PV for over 35 years, full time, not just as a camping thing... and with the advent of the modern jump packs and their insane capabilities, I'll take one of them before a small PV module. Backpacking, is a different deal, airplane camping I'll take the jump pack. For sure, the best of both worlds would be both, it all depends on how long you are out, and how many 'essential" electronic gizmo's you need to survive. BTW: I recharge my jump pack off my home's grid tied solar/wind/hydro systems. My smallest PV module is a 15 watt one I use to top off my dump bed trailer's battery. my largest is over 3000 watts. The really great thing is both will work, and we have a choice, and both beat packing disposal alkaline cells like we had to in the old days!

courierguy wrote:Do the math on how many AH's the jump starter battery can provide, and what it weighs, versus the PV panel's output and it's weight,, and don't forget to derate it for inclement weather! . I would strongly expect the numbers would favor the PV panel only after a week or so. I've been using solar/PV for over 35 years, full time, not just as a camping thing... and with the advent of the modern jump packs and their insane capabilities, I'll take one of them before a small PV module. Backpacking, is a different deal, airplane camping I'll take the jump pack. For sure, the best of both worlds would be both, it all depends on how long you are out, and how many 'essential" electronic gizmo's you need to survive. BTW: I recharge my jump pack off my home's grid tied solar/wind/hydro systems. My smallest PV module is a 15 watt one I use to top off my dump bed trailer's battery. my largest is over 3000 watts. The really great thing is both will work, and we have a choice, and both beat packing disposal alkaline cells like we had to in the old days!

Ok, I'll take a stab. One of the most popular battery jump packs is the Micro-Start XP-1. The published capacity is 44.4 Wh. The iPhone 8 Plus and the iPhone 10 battery capacities are both just over 10 Wh. The iPad Air has a 30.2 Wh battery.

The rudimentary math would suggest that the Micro-Start XP-1, under perfect conditions, can provide roughly 4 complete charges of an iPhone 8 Plus or 10, and a little over one complete charge of an iPad Air.

The Anker solar panel claims 21 W at roughly 21-23% efficiency. Making some gross assumptions here about efficiency and inclement weather, let's say the panel really gets 17% efficiency and let's also say that its overcast each day. A 50% sunny day for 10 hours yields 17.9 Wh. After 5 days in the field, the solar panel potential energy might be 89 Wh. This is double the overall capacity of the Micro-Start XP-1. This is why I have a solar panel.

Good number running, close enough. You are for sure needing enough wattage, over a long enough time, to make a module pencil out. In my case, I'm more wanting to make sure I can recharge my phone over 1 or maybe 2 days, that's about it. Oh, and my Bluetooth thingie and also run my SAT radio, those I run direct off my start pack when camped out. I get a perverse kick out of having SAT radio in my tent at night, in the middle of nowhere, and NO, if anyone else is nearby I wouldn't do that! AND, I just recently got my first ever Kindle, so I guess I need to consider charging it too! But again, my trips are short, most overnight, maybe 2 days, so the pack works for me. IF I was needing more power over longer periods of time, I'd have both PV and a pack, the best of both worlds. AND, I'd mount the panel under my lexan skylight (and take the efficiency hit, by using a larger one) as I like the shade in the summer up there anyway. The bottom line is we have plenty of options to keep our e devices charged, fun stuff.

Good info here! I have ambitions to do more/longer camping and enjoy learning about this sort of stuff. I have a few solar led inflatable lanterns that I scatter about the airplane for lights. Two Anker batteries that if I recall are 16000 mAh to recharge my phone/ipad and maybe a go pro a few times. But no way to recharge them outside of airplane power from a receptacle mounted in the wing root when enroute. I like the panels listed. May have to give that a shot as the price is not bad.

As to learning more about home systems and the like, do you guys have some recommended sites or things to read where I can get a better education??

I have a couple older Goal Zero's and an Anker. The Anker is a lot of bang for the buck, and I would do it again in a heart beat.

A couple years ago this topic came up in a slightly different context, and I offered the tiny goal zero as a suggestion. The idea was immediately poo-poo'd by the number crunchers. I don't think I ever got to the reason why I carry the little solar panel.

Funny thing is, I am NOT a huge solar fan, for the most part. I love horsepower, and again, am patience challenged. Neither being a good match for a solar mindset.

But, I still keep a fold up in the planes or jeeps almost every time they go somewhere. I too have several jump packs, including the cool little EarthX, but one piece of math the jump pack can't solve is where do you get power from when IT is dead? Assuming off grid activities of course...

Since we don't get to choose when or how we get stuck somewhere, I find that even the most inefficient power source available is going to be better than the one that went paperweight....

Take care, Rob

Rob wrote: than the one that went paperweight....

Great phrase, I'm stealing that.

I have jump pack, and its great, but on longer trips I am often looking to charge it. I just bought one for my wife that recharges from a cigarette lighter, I think Ill be taking that with me, but a solar panel adds another layer. More stuff to buy.

I use an Eco-Worthy 5w 12v solar charger in my Cub to keep the battery charged. Keeps the Odessy battery charged all summer when the Cub is outside on floats. It measures about 8" x 9" and weighs less than 1 lb. Cost is around $20. http://www.eco-worthy.com
Don

Thank you everyone! She read this thread and is getting the Anker. Thanks again for the help!!