[pct-l] The technique of charge a lithium-ion battery of DSLR camera by the solar panel

[Ryan Weidert]

I too have come across the inevitable, "my camera requires rechargeable
lithium batteries and I plan on draining more than one" situation. My
solution is to go to Amazon and buy 3 or 4 (or more) cheap ($5-10) knockoff
batteries, fully charge them before the trip and just carry them. In the
end they weigh less than the solar charger and charger docking station
needed to recharge them. I've never had the batteries damage my cameras
(Canon 7D and Rebel XTi or s100) and only one has ever failed after a year
or two after use. They may not last as long as the manufacture battery
(probably on order of 80-85% of OEM capacity) but do the trick without
hurting the wallet. Plus you'll have more batteries as backup for other
trips! On my last speed attempt, I had my mail drop person charge a battery
then put it in my resupply box, thus I could get charged batteries and not
have to carry charging gear. The other battery goes into the hiker box (is
cheap enough to leave) and off you go.

cheers,
Tuna Helper


On Fri, Apr 11, 2014 at 6:31 AM, Yoshihiro Murakami <
completewalker at gmail.com> wrote:

> A few PCT hiker may need such a technique. The easy way is to bring two or
> three batteries, and to charge them at the hotels. But, I would like to
> stay in wilderness for 20 days in this summer ( I will purchase a food drop
> service, and stay in the wilderness ). And I changed my main camera to
> Pentax K-3, which need a lithium-ion battery. Therefore, I have tested
> several technique.
>
> 1. The recommended technique by the maker. I am using GoalZero Nomad 7
> solar panel. In this case,  the combination with the lithium re-charger
> Shelpa 50 was recommended. But Shelpa 50 was very expensive and heavy ( 500
> gram ) Therefore, this technique is unrealistic.
>
>
> http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-81k7VKW--g4/U0XPwt37dfI/AAAAAAAAW-M/ygMlTdCoPnk/s1600/sherpa-50-v2-solar-ac-kit_05.jpg
>
>  2. Use of 12 V DC output.
>
> GoalZero has 12 V DC output, and there are many chargers which have 12 V DC
> input using cigar socket. Therefore, I connected the 12 V DC output of
> GoalZero and the charger. The charge lump did not work, but the battery was
> charged under the direct sunlight. I think 3 days may be needed to make the
> battery full.
>
>
> http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zInjwEPRjIM/U0M7i4ONgCI/AAAAAAAAW9E/VIh2Q27FxJg/s1600/P4085916.JPG
>
> I thought cigar socket was too bulky and unnecessary. I cut the cable and
> connected directory to the charge plug.
>
>
> http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PoUlNMrGuLg/U0fapiBHFzI/AAAAAAAAXAc/1wLNYe0uMio/s1600/1011794_847926918556973_5478490540748181359_n.jpg
>
> It works!  I did not recommend this. But it is the lightest technique.
>
>
> 3. Use of battery case.
>
> In order to make 12 V DC power supply, it is the simplest way to use 10 AA
> re-chargeable batteries. The battery case is very cheap. I also changed the
> plug. 10 AA batteries weigh around 250 gram. Therefore, this technique is
> heavy, but the indicator of the charger works rightly, and you can use more
> light weight solar panel.
>
>
> http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LyI57cXKE_M/U0fr7J2p7kI/AAAAAAAAXA4/3J7aent2-dk/s1600/10151915_847958208553844_4309656248154375236_n.jpg
>
> In detail, please see my blogs.
>
>
> http://completewalker.blogspot.jp/2014/04/how-to-charge-lithium-ion-battery-of.html
>
>
>
> --
> Sincerely
> --------------- --------------------------------------
> Low Gear (trail name) ---  Low Gear Song was written by Diane with Trail
> Hacker and Shroomer  https://sites.google.com/site/completewalker/low-gear
>
> Hiro   ( the short name of Yoshihiro Murakami  村上宣寛 )
> facebook  http://www.facebook.com/completewalker
> Blogs  http://completewalker.blogspot.jp/
> Photo  https://picasaweb.google.com/104620544810418955412/
> Backpacking since 1980 in Japan, A foreign member of PCTA;  JMT( 2009,
> 2010, 2011, 2012), Wind River Range, Glacier NP (2013)
>
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-- 
Ryan Weidert
Geologist
530-263-8029 Cell