Taperssection.com
Gear / Technical Help => Remote Power => Topic started by: tapinfool on August 09, 2009, 10:19:14 PM
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was just wondering if anyone was using solar chargers at festies or any other outside taping events
if so, where did you get it, do you like it (does it charge enough for our needs ?)
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was just wondering if anyone was using solar chargers at festies or any other outside taping events
if so, where did you get it, do you like it (does it charge enough for our needs ?)
i did the math a few years ago with whatever product was current (no pun intended) back then, and no... it was nowhere close. unless technology has taken a few great leaps in the last few, i'd guess it's still a no.
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Same here - you'd need a 4' x 8' panel or something like that to gen enough current for it to be useful. Think about the new Prius solar panel option - it uses the entire roof and only generates enough power to run a small ventilation fan.
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let me clarify
i was thinking of using a small (like the size of the solar outdoor lighting panels that charge the AA's that are used to run the lights at night)
or something like this .... http://www.siliconsolar.com/isol-plus-2x-p-16636.html
you're just charging dvd batteries or AA's or whatever
not actually powering the gear
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Interesting, but I would never dare to rely just on solar power for my festival needs.
Think about it: one rainy day, and you're bust!
I would still bring enough pre-charged batteries to keep me going for the whole festival, rather than risk running out of power.
But a solar panel would be a nice backup solution if all else fails, or if you want to give fellow tapers some extra charge... :)
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well that was astonishing!
Did anybody report that?
Back to topic. I got bought a solar charger for Xmas and it's got a PV cell on it the size of a playing card! I haven't tried it but I'm not under any illusions. I would have thought that there have been advances in PV cell technology over the last few years but as with all tech- the leading edge demands a cost.
I've done extended recording trips (weeks of footage, not hours) on three continents and I've always taken all the power I need in the form of batteries- some weight admittedly- but you don't have to bring them back.
I'd definitely be interested in solar energy sourcing but for me it would be a top up rather than a deep cycle charge.
We could continue this thread with a couple of readings of DC current consumption of something like an M10 in record mode... then we'd know what we'd need?
anybody?
JimP
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I had reported it
and posted a WTF
but my post was deleted too I guess
--Ian
If you got some big panels like at harborfrieght http://www.harborfreight.com/45-watt-solar-panel-kit-90599.html (http://www.harborfreight.com/45-watt-solar-panel-kit-90599.html)
might work - but most solar panels output 12v
here's a baby one http://www.harborfreight.com/5-watt-solar-battery-charger-41144.html (http://www.harborfreight.com/5-watt-solar-battery-charger-41144.html)
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I swear by Brunton fold able 26 watt solar array.... you can link them if you need higher current. These are the latest technology, much more powerful and durable than those just a short time ago. I'm running on two years of hard use without failure of any kind. Here's an Amazon link.. read the reviews.
http://www.amazon.com/Brunton-Watt-Foldable-Solar-Array/dp/B000GEFFBO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1296698655&sr=8-1
Best,
John
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I swear by Brunton fold able 26 watt solar array.... you can link them if you need higher current. These are the latest technology, much more powerful and durable than those just a short time ago. I'm running on two years of hard use without failure of any kind. Here's an Amazon link.. read the reviews.
http://www.amazon.com/Brunton-Watt-Foldable-Solar-Array/dp/B000GEFFBO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1296698655&sr=8-1
Best,
John
this may work. using it to charge a 12v battery pack, like a car jump pack, and run a AC inveter off of it. wont charge everything, but a 9v dvd batt sure will. ed
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I don't think the original post specifies any voltage in particular. I use them with NP1 12V batteries and it works out well for almost all my audio kit. You could configure a sled, or battery pack out of AA's to just about any voltage you need and charge the AA's through a Maha MH-C204FA-DC AA - AAA Charger that comes with a 12v cigarette plug to run the charger on DC straight out of solar panel. You don't need an inverter, that just wastes energy.