solar charger capable charging 18650s

[kruse4130]

How effective would a solar panel like this

http://www.amazon.com/ALLPOWERS-Blackberry-Bluetooth-All-Compatible/dp/B00LGJ32CW/ref=sr_1_33?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1407464073&sr=1-33&keywords=solar+panel

charge two 18650s? Im going on a camping trip and am hoping to vape with the sun. I have few batteries paired for this. charging via micro usb is rated at .5 amps, which means each battery would get .25 amps during charge.

this solar charger ouputs 2.1 amps in direct sun.

What is my best strategy here ?

 

[Despraci]

Personally I go with a car charger adapter if your car is close. In not, I think it's possible that it might work....as long as you have 100% sunshine the whole trip.

 

[p7willm]

This will work fine at providing USB power. What you are missing is something that will take USB power in and charge your battery.

 

[denali_41]

its only a 10watt pack ,,i have a 45watt solar kit with 2 deep cells car batts for storage ,,45watts is no where near enough watts !!

better off getting a few of the portable power packs

 

[AzPlumber]

its only a 10watt pack ,,i have a 45watt solar kit with 2 deep cells car batts for storage ,,45watts is no where near enough watts !!

better off getting a few of the portable power packs

It comes with a 5400mah battery pack. I think it would work just fine

 

[v1k1ng1001]

I'm interested in how this goes. Please report back if you give it a shot.

 

[Mowgli]

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/batteries-chargers/536777-solar-charging-18650-a.html

12 volt output - Anker® 2nd Gen Astro Pro2 20000mAh 4-Port Aluminum Portable External Battery Charger

older threads - http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/search.php?searchid=25956091

 

[Stiiinger]

You really don't need much juice to charge these batteries. The Nitecore charges at 500mA, and this thing can output 2A max.... Not sure if that's exaggerated or what level of "optimal" sunlight you'd need or where you're going camping (angles come in to play, latitude matters). But even if you only get ~ 30% rated efficiency, it should work. If this is a descent quality solar cell, you shouldn't have problem getting that much for at least a few hours of the day.... but good luck if you experience cloudy days eh?

I haven't heard much about that particular brand, but I have heard good things about the Goal Zero products.

 

[Rickajho]

You don't directly connect your batteries to this panel. What battery charger are you planning to connect to it? The smallest single cell charger I have seen that can be run off 5v USB still requires 500 mA minimum to charge a single battery.

 

[Rickajho]

You really don't need much juice to charge these batteries. The Nitecore charges at 500mA, and this thing can output 2A max.... Not sure if that's exaggerated or what level of "optimal" sunlight you'd need or where you're going camping (angles come in to play, latitude matters). But even if you only get ~ 30% rated efficiency, it should work. If this is a descent quality solar cell, you shouldn't have problem getting that much for at least a few hours of the day.... but good luck if you experience cloudy days eh?

I haven't heard much about that particular brand, but I have heard good things about the Goal Zero products.

Nitecore requires a 12 volt power supply. This solar panel setup outputs 5 volts.

 

[denali_41]

It comes with a 5400mah battery pack. I think it would work just fine

my 6000mah pzck won't even charge a simple ego battery !!!

most of these set ups don't have enough amperage to be of any real use

 

[ImThatGuy]

Solar panel + XTAR MC1 Battery Charger - Single Slot - Charges 10440, 14500, 14650, 16340, 17500, 17670, 18350, 18500, 18650, 18700, 22650, 25500, 26650 = able to charge a single battery

 

[yzer]

I have used thin film solar panels to charge 12V batteries on my boat for years. Sure beats running a motor at anchor.

A PowerFilm foldable solar panel in the the neighborhood of 15-20W would probably power the 12VDC input of a Nitecore i-4 nicely. Not cheap, though. PowerFilm products are first rate. They contract to the military.

F16-1200 20w foldable solar panel - PowerFilm Solar

I have 64 watts of thin film panels on my boat. I use the panels to keep two 12V deep cycle batteries charged (topped off) on the boat. A PWM charge controller is in circuit between the solar panels and the batteries. These batteries provide house 12DC power on the boat. The 12VDC house power is used to power my Nitecore i-4.

Now back to solar power and APVs or mods... Because I use standard 18xxx series replaceable batteries in my APVs I usually don't bother charging batteries for an off-grid trip of just a few days. I simply pack along extra charged batteries. Packing charged batteries along is a lot cheaper than a solar powered charging solution.

There are practical considerations to work around if using solar power for charging. The solar panels don't work at night. Thin film panels can work very well in light overcast but not under heavy cloud cover. You will be using the solar panels during the day so the panels must be kept facing sunlight all day long if they are going to work and that must happen regardless of your activities during the day.

 

[yzer]

How effective would a solar panel like this

http://www.amazon.com/ALLPOWERS-Blackberry-Bluetooth-All-Compatible/dp/B00LGJ32CW/ref=sr_1_33?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1407464073&sr=1-33&keywords=solar+panel

charge two 18650s? Im going on a camping trip and am hoping to vape with the sun. I have few batteries paired for this. charging via micro usb is rated at .5 amps, which means each battery would get .25 amps during charge.

this solar charger ouputs 2.1 amps in direct sun.

What is my best strategy here ?

This recommendation is a bit iffy for charging our IMR and hybrid vaping batteries. I worry about the output from the included battery pack which must be connected to your 18650 battery charger.

Power output: 5V Standard USB port x 2
Maximum output current: 2 amp

Basically, what this system lacks is a battery charger that will work with the above output for charging say an IMR or hybrid 18650 high drain battery. Maybe something like the Miller ML-102 Universal USB Smart Charger for 18650 and 26650. Connect that to the output of the supplied 5200mAh Battery Pack.

By the time you add up the bill for all of the solar charging equipment the cost of packing along charged 18650s (depending on how many you need for the trip) may seem like an attractive alternative.

 

[denali_41]

I have used thin film solar panels to charge 12V batteries on my boat for years. Sure beats running a motor at anchor.

A PowerFilm foldable solar panel in the the neighborhood of 15-20W would probably power the 12VDC input of a Nitecore i-4 nicely. Not cheap, though. PowerFilm products are first rate. They contract to the military.

F16-1200 20w foldable solar panel - PowerFilm Solar

I have 64 watts of thin film panels on my boat. I use the panels to keep two 12V deep cycle batteries charged (topped off) on the boat. A PWM charge controller is in circuit between the solar panels and the batteries. These batteries provide house 12DC power on the boat. The 12VDC house power is used to power my Nitecore i-4.

Now back to solar power and APVs or mods... Because I use standard 18xxx series replaceable batteries in my APVs I usually don't bother charging batteries for an off-grid trip of just a few days. I simply pack along extra charged batteries. Packing charged batteries along is a lot cheaper than a solar powered charging solution.

There are practical considerations to work around if using solar power for charging. The solar panels don't work at night. Thin film panels can work very well in light overcast but not under heavy cloud cover. You will be using the solar panels during the day so the panels must be kept facing sunlight all day long if they are going to work and that must happen regardless of your activities during the day.

I am in Alaska and we are just getting past the 23 hours of sunlight now,i have the newest amorphous [sp] panels too

i move around a lot in the summer for work so i am trailer trash this time of year,,my panels do not put out enough power to keep me supplied with just the basics:
laptop,water pump,lights and charging vape batteries

also.some types of solar panels discharge batteries at night

my buddy has a 100watt polycristyline panel [sp] and it doesn't keep up his basics,which are less then mine

both of us have and need to use a small gen-set

 

[yzer]

I am in Alaska and we are just getting past the 23 hours of sunlight now,i have the newest amorphous [sp] panels too

i move around a lot in the summer for work so i am trailer trash this time of year,,my panels do not put out enough power to keep me supplied with just the basics:
laptop,water pump,lights and charging vape batteries

also.some types of solar panels discharge batteries at night

my buddy has a 100watt polycristyline panel [sp] and it doesn't keep up his basics,which are less then mine

both of us have and need to use a small gen-set

Although there are solar power success stories in Scandinavia it come at a lot of expense. Generally, the higher the latitude in which photo voltaics are used the less efficient they will be. You can't find a more challenging location for solar power generation in the USA than Alaska: not due to the hours of sunlight but due to the low height of the sun in the sky. I am inland a little from the SF Bay Area at lattitude 38. If this map had better definition I would be using solar power in a fairly deep orange area.

There are many types of thin film panels being made by many manufacturers. Each type will have different power production characteristics. The thin films I use are fairly good in light overcast and don't loose much efficiency by being faced up and flat down as opposed to facing flat to the sun. The Unisolar panels I use on the boat are about 10 years old now. Radiation of battery power at night is blocked completely at two locations by blocking diodes: 1. at the panel power junction 2. at the charge controller. So, I have effective blocking diodes at two locations.

My boat uses very little power at anchor. I don't use electric heat or AC and use block ice for refrigeration. My system will replace 35 Ah per day: enough to run a Type 1 marine sanitation system, anchor light, interior lighting, marine radio, LCD DVD/TV and other small draws every day. I have three 12V Group 27 deep cycle batteries on the boat. One is kept charged and in reserve for starting the motor. All batteries can be switched into solar charging.

 

[iamthevoice]

You could look into something a little more portable, like a Joos Orange!

 

[denali_41]

Although there are solar power success stories in Scandinavia it come at a lot of expense. Generally, the higher the latitude in which photo voltaics are used the less efficient they will be. You can't find a more challenging location for solar power generation in the USA than Alaska: not due to the hours of sunlight but due to the low height of the sun in the sky. I am inland a little from the SF Bay Area at lattitude 38. If this map had better definition I would be using solar power in a fairly deep orange area.

.

yea that only really applies in the winter time ,,summer solstice the sun is basically straight above for a good 20 hours

tonight there will only be about 6 hours of actual darkness here .and on the winter solstice the sunlight is only about 7 hours

 

[cthulhufan]

I have used thin film solar panels to charge 12V batteries on my boat for years. Sure beats running a motor at anchor.

A PowerFilm foldable solar panel in the the neighborhood of 15-20W would probably power the 12VDC input of a Nitecore i-4 nicely. Not cheap, though. PowerFilm products are first rate. They contract to the military.

F16-1200 20w foldable solar panel - PowerFilm Solar

I have 64 watts of thin film panels on my boat. I use the panels to keep two 12V deep cycle batteries charged (topped off) on the boat. A PWM charge controller is in circuit between the solar panels and the batteries. These batteries provide house 12DC power on the boat. The 12VDC house power is used to power my Nitecore i-4.

Now back to solar power and APVs or mods... Because I use standard 18xxx series replaceable batteries in my APVs I usually don't bother charging batteries for an off-grid trip of just a few days. I simply pack along extra charged batteries. Packing charged batteries along is a lot cheaper than a solar powered charging solution.

There are practical considerations to work around if using solar power for charging. The solar panels don't work at night. Thin film panels can work very well in light overcast but not under heavy cloud cover. You will be using the solar panels during the day so the panels must be kept facing sunlight all day long if they are going to work and that must happen regardless of your activities during the day.

I agree completely and although this is a bit out of the realm of the OP I feel it is pertinent to the discussion.

I am currently using a 60 Watt array to charge a single deep cycle 12 Volt battery out in the "stix" that is used for recharging 18 Volt battery tools plus a laptop plus an XTAR VP-1 etc, etc...

That was a bunch of yadda yadda to say, "if you're just gonna be out and about for a few days, get a power pack". I, personally, find the RAVPower units to be exceptional and easy on the wallet.

 

[kruse4130]

You don't directly connect your batteries to this panel. What battery charger are you planning to connect to it? The smallest single cell charger I have seen that can be run off 5v USB still requires 500 mA minimum to charge a single battery.

im going to be charging the batteries with something like this $14.00 ENB 1A 1/2/3*18650 Li-ion Battery USB Emergency Charger Power Bank - w/ Q5 LED flashlight at FastTech - Worldwide Free Shipping

or i could go dirrectly into the mod through its usb charging board