Solar chargers?
 

Dear Forum,

I'm going to spend some time out in the woods and have started wondering how to charge my N770 + cellphone out there.

There seems to be some new small solar chargers out there now, http://www.urbanjunkie.co.uk/product...8218349d22a994

A whole solar charger bag thing:
http://www.voltaicsystems.com/


Fuelcells? handcranks, etc, etc?



Anyone here with experience and insight into this please?


edit Manual Power gyroscopic phone charger (via http://www.internettablettalk.com/fo...ead.php?t=1208)


http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/27/m...phone-charger/

http://www.manualpower-europe.com/EN/homepage.php


Here in Finland we have plenty of mosquitos, maybe one could use them to generate electricity somehow ;)?

how long are you planning on staying out in the woods? how about using one of those battery packs that plugs into a laptop. belkin, i think is the one who makes iit

http://www.solio.com/v2/explore-soli...-is-solio.html

I was looking into that product. It's a solar charger, with a battery built-in. That way, you wouldn't need sun to actually charge the 770/phone/gps. Just keep it open when you have the chance.

c_legaspi, Don't know how long, intersting battery pack that too...


The solio, wow, had forgotten about that one. It looks promising!

Backpack Solar Charger
 

This is what you need


http://www.voltaicsystems.com/bag_backpack.shtml

I don't know how long you have to sit in the sun waiting for your device to charge for maybe an hour or two with 4 WATTS OF POWER!!! WHOOO~

I just purchased the Solar E-Power Cellular Phone charger,
'cause it charges batteries, uses batteries to supply power,
and has adapters for both my Nokia 770 AND my Sony-Ericsson 710a!!!
http://www.modernoutpost.com/gear/ph...epower_kit.gif
so its only got 1.38 watts, but it provides 6 volts at full sun, folds up small, has "quality" seimens solar crystal, and costs only $39.99 USD here


I'll give a report when it arrives in a week or so.........

DCarter

More solar power products:


Soldius1
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2005...one_soldiu.php
http://www.soldius.com/ourproducts.html
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...MP=OTC-FROOGLE


Silva Solar II
http://www.silva.se/outdoor/products/inst_solar2.htm



http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...MP=OTC-FROOGLE

It does a great job on my phone, but when I hook it up to my Nokia770, it tells me it is charging but actually DOESN'T charge it at all!!

I'm gonna keep fooling around with it, but so far, the Nokia770 doesn't want to play ball with the solar charger at all..... :mad:

I even bought the converter cable to fit.....
Anyone have any clues as to why it might SAY it is charging when infact it is not??
Could it be that only a small trickle charge is happening (enough to indicate it is charging but not actually enough to CHARGE it??)

DCarter

The AC adapter that comes with the 770 (in the US anyway - AC-4) has a rated output of 5 Volts and can source 890 mA of current. That's a maximum of 4.45 Watts. While the actual current draw of the 770 while charging the battery is likely less than 890 mA, it's very likely to be more than the 230 mA available from a 1.38 Watt, 6V source.

To minimize the current the 770 is using in excess of what's needed to charge the battery, try removing the memory card and also charge it while it's powered on so the screen will blank. The LCD screen and it's backlight along with the memory card draw a significant amount of current.

You could also wire 2 or 3 of them in parallel. :D