Solar Accessories for Useful Gadgets
Aug 8th, 2011 | By Andrew | Category: Energy, Solar | Print This Article
In today’s world, we rely on electronics to do everything from guiding us through the wilderness to cooking our food to keeping us connected. Whether your need is for a short-term or long-term emergency, there are likely ways you can keep powered using photovoltaics (PV or solar power).
Every modern 72-hour kit, for instance, should include a solar-charging radio and flashlight combination (at minimum). But what about cell phones, GPS units, and other needs during an emergency?
Emergency Essentials with Solar Power
Besides the flashlight/radio combination, there are plenty of other things that use solar power that can be included in an emergency kit. Solar-powered battery or gadget chargers are almost a must. Simple chargers for cell phones, GPS units, and the like can be used, and they are relatively inexpensive.
The price tag for these solar charging units will be directly related to its portability. The more portable (and powerful) the unit is, the more it will cost. So if the charger and panels are for your bug-out bag, they will likely be very expensive; but for a stay-home kit, they can be as cheap as $40.
In fact, for about $20, a solar charger for rechargeable batteries (C, D, AA, AAA NiMH) can be added to your kit. These units take about six or eight hours in the sun to charge 4 AA batteries and a little longer for larger cells. With batteries they are relatively heavy, but still portable enough for most bug-out kits.
A more portable unit can be purchased for about $150-$200 that will charge a laptop or smart phone in three or four hours. These are about the size of a notebook computer and open up to reveal two panels. They have both a USB and standard cable outlet for 24v charging of many devices. They are portable enough to be put into a bug-out kit.
Larger units, sold as “solar briefcase” or “large panel” units, are not quite as portable but are still possible for short-distance hiking. These units sell for $100-$800 each, depending on their size and output, and can be used for camping, short-term outages, and emergencies. They generate from 13W to 120W and are capable of powering most simple communications devices (radios, cell phones, satellite phones, etc.).
Small, folding, portable solar ovens are also a must-have for any good 72-hour or emergency kit. These can cook a meal in very little time using only sunlight. They are easy to make yourself or can be purchased as a kit or ready-to-go setup for just a few dollars. The most elaborate (about $250) can be used for long-term cooking and survival as well. When the firewood isn’t available and the esbit pellets are gone, this oven will keep on cooking.
Solar for Long Term Needs
Large solar panels, mentioned above, can be used for somewhat portable, long-term needs. These can generate as much power as is needed to charge car batteries, power simple machinery, or provide lighting for a family. They can be large enough to power HAM and similar radio systems as well.
There are solar panel kits available to mount on boats, RVs, and other structures as well. These range from battery maintainers, which are small units that keep batteries charged during the day when not in use, to full panels that can provide power for the whole RV or boat and its occupants. These can cost a few hundred or a few thousand dollars.
An emergency or grid-destroying event doesn’t mean you have to be without power. It’s all a matter of having the right solar units and setup when needed.
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©2013 Off The Grid News
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If we would all go to renewable energy, we would reduce our use of fossil fuels and this would also save us money and help the environment.
Our environment is fine, better than it has been in several hundred years. Fossil fuels are renewable, at a much faster rate than scientists ever thought possible. However, I am all for as much energy INDEPENDENCE as the budget will allow. The less control this “out of control” government has over us, the better.
In all a pretty empty article. Almost everyone that has spent any time at all even thinking about going off of the grid knows all of this. What is missing are some names of the products, brands, website links, or anything like that that could be of some use.
Yes, name brands and websites would be very helpful regaring solar chargers.
Good evening hope everyone is doing all right theses days, it’s not easy. Hey,Just received a solar battery charger form Emergency Essentials and at first glimpse I thought it looked rather ‘cheap, and sorta juvenile”. I took a second look and actually used the charger and was impressed. It stood up to the 100 degree weather on the deck, and it charged 4-AAA batteries and 2-size D batteries. They actually were “cooking” when I went back to unit and took my batteries out. So far I’m a believer in this charger. Small but powerful. Thanks for letting me add my 2-cents. Oh,paid $30 for my solar charger. Thanks southern Patriot
I don’t believe this article was intended to be a complete compendium. Some of your felt the author should have supplied everything for you. That’s not going to be the case when the SHTF and no one is going to do it for you. If you are already serious about getting off the grid you already know how to find stuff on the net. Do you own homework; and if you feel that no one should be slighted, post YOUR results here for the rest of us. As for me and mine, I’ve already got my stuff together. Finding it is easy, just take the first step.
I am a prepper and “do” my homework. However, having said that I do look to blogs, magazines and articles such as “Off the Grid” to supply pertinent information that can be useful such as references to products that are featured in an article. It is the expertise of other preppers and such articles that help us to make the most of our purchasing dollars.
Slightly off topic, but it is neat to see the electric/hybrid car manufacturures offering a hookup to your homes electric panel to run your home with your car/generator.(wonder if they sell another hose that vents the exhaust out of your garage?)You would get about three days of power or more if you ration electrical usage.
I bought a solar generator from solutions from science. It was expensive but has lived up to what was advertized. I think of it this way. Insurance is expensive. I buy fire insurance and hope I never have a fire. I buy a solar generator and hope I never REALLY need it but I have it. I have played with it and found it will run my dehyderator for about 3 hours. It will cook a meal in my crock pot and it will run light to watch tv by for over a week. So was it dollar wise. no not for every day use to save electricity but it is an insurance policy that I may be glad I have.
I often wondered if it would keep your fridge or deepfreeze cold for a week without commercial power.??
I am retired, energy needs are sm to med, depending on my activities. I know EMP will render “chips” useless unless shielded by a (faraday cage). Is there a solar generator available that is not affected by an EMP event, even manmade.
I believe the 1800 is not shielded. Is this correct ? The price point seemed much more attainable at my socioeconomic level. I have long believed the time would come for my area, as it has with Hurricane Sandy.
Thank you,
L. Flora