Outdoor enthusiasts of today can sometimes venture far from the old-fashioned ways of backpacker, hikers, climbers, and campers in that they’ve got technology on their side. Within even the past 10 years, technology has helped to revolutionize the way that we think of the backcountry. Consider the advent of cellular devices, GPS tools, and now solar chargers and portable power.
Portable methods of powering your electronic devices have become more essential to long-term outdoor excursions, as your cell phone app is only as good as the battery that powers it. There are a wide range of options from pocket-sized to large panels, so let’s break down some of the intricacies of portable power sources to find the right one for your needs.
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Technical Terms
With the design of portable power comes the introduction of many modern terms typically associated with at-home computers or technologically-savvy analysts. As an outdoor enthusiast looking to capitalize on the modern technologies of portable power, you too will need to have a basic understand of some of the more common terms:
Wattage
The electrical power known as watts help to determine to power and performance potential of any given device, and even the most standard of cellphones today are power-hungry. Thus, the watt spec on your solar charger or panel needs to be high enough to supply your equipment with power.
Wattage | Guidelines | Best for: |
Low (5 or lower) | Best for small devices. |
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Medium (6-15) | Useful for many common smaller items, but can only charge one or two at most. |
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High (15-25) | Best for power-hungry devices or multiple devices to be charged. For items like laptops, you’ll likely also need a battery and an inverter. |
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Heavy Duty (25+) | Reserved for multiple devices or units requiring lots of power to recharge. |
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Remember that while buying smaller panels may save you some money, you’ll likely become frustrated at charging times, as these take longer to fully charge your devices. When you pay for a bigger solar panel or charger, you’re in essence paying for less time waiting for your device to charge while out on the trail.
Amps
Amps refers to the electrical current, so larger amp USB ports will transfer higher amounts of electrical current to your device. This, in turn, helps to decrease charging times and increase efficiency. This is where you need to sit down and consider your needs (you match your use to your watts).
For amps, you’ll need to consider how much daylight you have and how much charging time you have available, as a short window of sunlight means that you’ll want more amps to get the job done faster. If you foresee having bright, sunny days and lots of downtime for charging, then you can squeak by with fewer amps, but it’s always better to not run the risk, or you may find yourself with a half-charged or dying device because of poor planning or inopportune weather.
A fast-charging (higher amps) panel with higher wattage will get your devices charges the quickest, making them an ideal choice for those who may only get a glimpse of sunlight for a short period of time.
Volts
You can find the voltage input rating of your device in the manual or under ‘DC output’ on the wall charger that came with your original device. This is important, because your portable power will need to deliver at least as many volts as that number.
While a GPS with lithium rechargeable battery may need less than 4V, larger items like laptops need around 8.5 or more! These numbers can vary based on battery capacity, but it’s important nonetheless when choosing your charger or portable power unit.
The Supply Chain
It also helps to know the steps in your power supply chain in order to fully understand what aspects will be most important in your decision-making process. Here are the steps in order from source to device:
Power Source: This is the energy that charges the battery pack. For solar chargers, the source is the sun. For portable power sources that don’t use the sun, there are many other options such as hydrogen fuel cells that can become the power source. Here are a few examples of power sources:
AC power (wall outlet)
12V DC (car charger)
USB
The Sun
Kinetic motion
Hydrogen fuel cell: This requires the use of a consumable hydrogen cartridge, and while voltage in generally low, it can be used at any time.
Power Storage: This is the portable power pack or battery itself.
Power Use: This refers to the device you’re charging with the stored energy from the power source. So we’re talking about your smartphone, GPS unit, or other device here.
The most common off-the-grid power source is solar energy, as it doesn’t require a connection to an outlet in order to recharge and can be used on long outdoor trips. There are a few options available for solar panels:
Panels Only (can be rigid or semi-flexible) : These can be folded or rolled for easy transport and can open up to provide a large charging surface area.
Panels with integrated storage batteries
Panels with independent (separate) storage batteries
Depending on surface area and light conditions, your device may charge quickly or slowly. For instance, the same battery may take anywhere from 4-16 hours to charge depending on those variables, so up your amperage and watts when possible to get to the lower end of that range.
Portable Panels
Whether you’re opting for a battery or not to store the energy created by the source and panel, you’ll still need to decide which panel type is right for you.
Panel Type | Guidelines | Best for: |
CIGS | Made of CIGS thin solar cells, these flexible panels are lightweight but don’t last as long as their counterparts. Slightly better low-light performance than monocrystalline. |
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Monocrystalline | Rugged, durable, but only semi-flexible. |
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Use a Battery Pack!
While you can essentially charge a device directly, it’s many times better to opt for a rechargeable battery as a power storage device. While some solar panels offer regulated USB ports, most times the circuitry from the charger to your device is unregulated which can lead to device damage. There are two types of storage batteries for solar panels with included batteries:
Battery Type | Guidelines | PROS | CONS |
Integrated | All-in-one convenience, allowing the user to create power and store it for later recharging uses. |
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Independent | You can leave the power generator such as your solar panel at base camp and take just the charged battery with you. |
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If you’re opting to purchase your solar panel and battery separately, keep in mind the output connector which may include a USB, adapter tips, and/or DC voltage regulator. Portable battery packs also differ in their technologies as well:
Battery Type | Guidelines | Best for: |
NiMH (Nickel Metal Hydride) | Probably rechargeable AA or AAA batteries and are convenient for items that use these batteries. Simply recharge the battery instead of the device. |
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Lithium Ion and Lithium Polymers | Most common type of rechargeable batteries. Same technology as the built-in batteries of many electronics. |
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Lead Acid | Large and heavy but with greater capacity outputs. These may be easier to align with sunlight too. |
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Additional Considerations
So you’ve nailed down the amps, volts, and watts for your charger and device and think you’ve found what you’re looking for. Be sure to pay attention to these extra considerations before making your final purchase:
Trip Duration: A charged battery pack can get you through a short weekend trip, but you’ll likely need to bring along a solar charger for longer trips once your battery pack is drained.
Weather and Terrain: If you’re backpacking in heavy forests, then strapping a solar charger on your pack likely isn’t going to do you any good. On the other hand, an open-water kayaker or someone participating in cycling or touring activities may have no issue with throwing their solar charger out during their trip. Remember to keep weather and terrain in mind when choosing what you’ll need from your portable power and solar charger.
Size/Weight: Backpackers planning a long trip will certainly need to bring along the extra solar charger, but for short trips and faster travels, you may be able to get by with just a charged battery pack.
