Solar power systems for camping are increasing in availability, but what about practicality? Can solar power systems for camping be put to use readily? Are they portable enough? Are they durable enough?

Solar power practicality for camping must address those questions and more. Are solar power systems for camping cost effective? Do they produce enough energy for normal needs?

RV Camping

Solar power systems for camping can readily be used in RV camping. But are they practical?

Many people spend most of their RV camping time in RV camping spaces with full hook-ups. They plan trips according to where the next RV camp is, and reserve a full hook-up space for the end of each day. For them, solar power practicality is questionable. It makes a good back-up system, if there is a power outage at a campground. On the whole, however, it is an unnecessary expense - just another toy.

Others enjoy the freedom of being able to camp without hook-ups. They want to get off the beaten track - be pioneers. They want the opportunity to be in a remote, quiet place for a few days. They may want to go off road, or stop beside a quiet stream, even though it is in the middle of nowhere. They don't want to rush to make it to the next full hook-up campground.  

Solar power practicality for camping is real for the second group of campers. Solar power serves a practical use for them. It breaks the leash of energy needs and lets them wander as they please.

Operating an RV's electrical system with a solar power system is simple. Charging its batteries with solar power is also simple. You need to plan your system, of course. You need to know how much energy you want. Then you need to purchase and install solar panels, batteries, and inverters that will produce that amount of energy for you.

Many Internet websites will guide you through the necessary steps of determining how much solar power you need. They will explain which components will provide that amount of energy. Solar power systems for camping in recreational vehicles are increasingly available in a range of sizes, and you are sure to find one to fit your needs. Most are easy to use.

Solar power systems for camping may make you think twice about appliances you take for granted in RV camping. For example, suppose you have a coffee maker that requires 15 minutes to brew coffee, and then keeps the coffee warm on a warming plate. This will consume a lot of your solar power. You may want to replace that coffee maker with one that will brew in 10 minutes and shut itself off. Pour your coffee into a thermos and it will remain hot without using more energy.

Non-RV Camping

Solar power systems for camping are also practical for non-RV camping. The same two groups of people are to be found. One group likes to make camp in a KOA campground, with electrical power close at hand. The other group likes to hike into the back country with lightweight backpacks, and camp wherever darkness overtakes them.

Solar power practicality can easily be seen in the array of lightweight, portable units hitting the market. Solar power can be generated by the backpack in which gear is carried. Flexible solar panels can be rolled up and carried to the campsite, where they can be stretched on the ground to generate additional energy.

Solar power systems for camping are small and portable, but can generate enough energy to run a small heater or light bulb. Solar collected by a backpack while hiking can recharge a cell phone, camera, or iPod. Small solar power units will run appliances made for use in a vehicle. The coffee maker that will plug into your cigarette lighter can be run by a flexible solar power panel.

Solar power practicality for camping is sure to increase, and products for this use will multiply. Those who appreciate the environment enough to want to be far out into it will demand clean energy, i.e. solar power.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. QUESTION:
    What is better, generator or solar panels for camping? We have just bought a camper van whats best?
    We are looking at getting a solar panel for camping what does it involve? how much do they usually cost? Are they hard to transport? Are generators easier?

    • ANSWER:
      Solar panel charging a couple batteries will be fine if you are really camping. Even with a cloudy day or two. If all you are running is lights in the evening, maybe a radio you'll be fine. If you are actually driving a home on wheels, then you'll need to hook up to full ac.
      It always baffled me why folks would pack up, go to a beautiful natural setting, then crank up a noisy, smelly generator to power their 25" TV, microwave, and vaccum cleaner. That ain't camping.
      Today's solar panels last for years (10-20), properly cared for. A simple trickle charger to keep batteries topped of can sit on your dashboard. You'll have to determine how much you are hooking up to it to size your system. But you can get started for or so.

  2. QUESTION:
    how do solar panels work for camping purposes?

    • ANSWER:
      Typically a solar panel would be used to charge a 12 volt battery in circumstances where 110volt is not available. 12 volt power can be used for a lot of different things.

  3. QUESTION:
    Is anyone using small solar panels in their home with any practical results?
    What about sources for straight forward solar powered products? Excluding toys, garden frogs and outdoorpath lights I have found few useful items for the home. What I have found are solar panels for under 0 each, inverters, rechargeable indoor lights and a few camping/RV products that are interesting. It seems to me that these could help me start to wean the family off the power company. I can't afford to go cold turkey and cover my roof with solar panels and I don't think the HOA would allow me to even if I could. Is anyone using solar on a small scale?

    • ANSWER:
      Solar panel technologys are advancing all the time. I could be wrong about this as it has been at least 6 months since I checked, but last time I checked, solar panels as we know them, the kind you put on your roof cant generate enough power to run a full household especially if you have kids, with various game consoles, TV's, lighting, cooking, fridges and so on, not to mention power tools like the electric lawn mower or sander! That is to say, they cant generate enough power unless you are willing to spend considerable monies on the bestest most up to date ones and you have plenty of roof and garden space to mount them on. Actually, it would be cheaper just to pay the bills over the next 30 or 40 years at present prices than to do something like that.

      However, other ideas are more reasonable, I have seen people mount rectulanguler plastic tanks on their roof, paint the outside of them a matt black, and put a transparent layer over them. This heats the water inside, saving them on heating costs for bathing and for heating the home in the evening. the most expensive part of this is getting it mounted and the pump to pump the water around the house.

      Another alternative, is the geo thermal approach. That is the idea where you replace your radiators and heating system all together with a set of coiled pipes going through out your house. These pipes then lead out to the back garden under the ground about 3 or 4 feet. The idea being that the ground at that dept is always of a constant temperture no matter the weather, so if the house gets too hot the pipes (which are filled with a water/antifreese solution and are not connected to the water system) transfer heat out of the house and under the ground outside, but if the house gets too cold, the pipes take the heat from under the ground outside, and bring it into the house. This however will make any heating or air conditioning system almost useless as your house will always stay at the same temperature. Again you need a pump to pump the solution in the pipes it round the house.

  4. QUESTION:
    How many solar panels would it take to run a microwave, apt.sized frig, a desk top computer, and maybe a TV ?
    to be mounted in a full size van for camping and traveling across the country.

    • ANSWER:
      Different solar panels have different wattage ratings.

      Add together the wattage requirements of your devices, then find an appropriate panel.

      If you run a fridge off a solar panel, it will only stay cool when the panel is in the sunlight and you would need a battery system to keep it running otherwise.

  5. QUESTION:
    I'm looking for small, portable solar powered camping/hiking stove. Not too expensive but works really well?
    What would you suggest? In all price ranges. What's your favourite and why?

    OR

    Solar Power (panels I guess) that could power an electric stove. How would I plug the electric stove to get power from the solar panel?

    Thanks!
    I looking into mostly boiling lake water, for soups, oats, etc.

    • ANSWER:
      Though I have not used one myself I would trust any of these solar cooking products on this page from Real Goods (link below), the consumer product sales division of the Solar Institute in California.

      http://www.realgoods.com/category/camping-gifts-apparel/camping/solar+ovens.do

      They test all of the items to assure that they work before offering them for sale. In fact, they are probably one of the best sources for all kinds of products and educational materials for alternative energy products. They have a lot of cool stuff for camping and back country use. I worked at a remote archaeology field camp several years ago and we used their hand-crank radios and solar showers as well as the flexible solar panels and inverter units to power laptops and instruments.

      It is true that it would be very hard (if not impossible) to convert enough amps from a solar cell to cook by inductive or resistance heating BUT concentrating the sun's rays directly as these cookers do really does work. Organizations like the Peace Corps have been teaching people in underdeveloped areas to build and use solar cookers for decades to save local forests and reduce smoke and pollution. The process is different then just setting a pot on a fuel stove, however, and the units aren't cheap or terribly compact. You can build one yourself, similar to these, out of sheet metal and other materials.

  6. QUESTION:
    Solar Panel Charging my dual battery when camping?
    hi there
    How much will my 85w Solar Panel charge my 75 AH dual battery?
    i will only be running my fridge approx 3-4 amps an hour max
    and a light or 2
    or how much roughly will the solar panel charge my fridge a day or hour?
    cheers

    • ANSWER:
      That requires some math figurin, how much juice your fridge draws verses what the panels generate any left over charges the batteries. Hmm, you figure it out I hate math always did.

  7. QUESTION:
    Will a 4 watt solar panel charge a 12 volt battery while we are camping?
    I like to camp out in the woods...no power. I am curious if the 4 watt solar panel will charge my 12 volt battery during the day if there is sunlight?
    like this one? http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/VW-Factory-OBD-II-Solar-Panel-Battery-Charger-New_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ63687QQihZ010QQitemZ200109169312QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW you may have to copy and paste...

    • ANSWER:
      That all depends on what is your drain on the battery, I would classify a 4 watt as a trickle charger, only good if you are using a 2nd generation led. 4 example a compact flourescent light draws on average about 14 watts or so, so your 4 watt solar panel would have to get 100% effeciency for 3.5 hrs for every hour you burned the flourescent light, you do the math. I use a 45 watt system with led's and it is more than powerful enough for my needs, the link below has a compete, backup/camping setup that would be a good starter set.

  8. QUESTION:
    How do I know if my solar panel on my camp trailer is working
    I have a solar panel on my camp trailer and I need to know if it is working poperly? What kind of voltage should it be putting out?

    • ANSWER:
      This link should help you, that depends on the size you have, and what you are running, and the volts you are talking about. And the manufacture of the panel, and the inverter size you are using, and where it is located and the size of wiring, and usage demands. Good Luck

  9. QUESTION:
    Where are the Solar Panels and Electric Cars?
    How will all the unemployed be able to afford them? Will they be forced in to camps? People are unable to afford cars made now; so, how will they be able to afford these make-believe cars with their UI checks?

    • ANSWER:
      It's a scam.

  10. QUESTION:
    Do solar panel cell phone chargers actually work?
    I wiil be going on a camping trip soon and will not have any 120v outlets readily available to charge my cell phone or ipod besides a vehicle charger. But I was wondering if anyone has had any experience using portable solar photovoltaic panels to charge their cell phones or other small electronics? I've seen some on amazon.com, but Im a bit skeptical about buying one. A link and some information as to how well they work would be appreciated. Thanks.

    • ANSWER:
      i couldn't find that many reviews but what i did find shows that it is a good way to go here`s the links i found
      http://www.12voltsolarpanels.net/charge-your-cell-phone

      http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-11288_7-6427792-3.html

      http://www.nextag.com/solar-cell-phone-charger/stores-html

  11. QUESTION:
    what size solar panel do I need to charge a car batt?
    I have two 12V gel batteries that I would like to take camping with me for power. What size solar panel I need to charge and maintain these batteries?

    • ANSWER:
      We kind of need the specs on the batteries to figure that out, but lets just say each battery is 125 AH (amp hours) so, 125AH+125AH=250AH, therefore, to charge those batteries in a reasonable amount of time, lets say 14 hours, you will need a panel that puts out around 250 watts. I would suggest using only 1 battery, because a 250 watt panel is not cheap!

      You can however build your own panel, its fairly easy, if you have soldering skills.
      Contact me if you need any links for finding the solar cells: houckbrandonh@yahoo.com

  12. QUESTION:
    Can I just leave the solar panel connected to the car battery?
    I recently acquired a solar panel and charge regulator. I was hoping to use while at this week long camping/music festival thing in the summer. My friends always kill their batteries charging their phones and such. I was planning on connecting the panel and regulator to the battery with alligator clips. Can I just leave it connected all week? Would it damage anything?

    • ANSWER:
      Check the specifications on the regulator to make sure it will block current from flowing backwards from your battery. You do not want to discharge the battery at night time. You can also check this by placing a 100 ohm resistor in series with one of the leads to the battery and throw a towel over the solar panel and see if there is a DC voltage across the resistor. If not remove the resistor and reconnect the lead to the battery, your solar charger should work fine.

      Make sure your solar panel and regulator are large enough recharge your battery during the day light hours. Estimate the watt-hours of use per day you expect from all of your equipment and then divide this number of watt-hours by say 8 hours of good sun light to come up with number of watts you need to size your system.

  13. QUESTION:
    Can artifcial light, like say a flashlight, be used to charge a small solar battery?
    I did some research online and found that solar panels can get some charge from an artificial light source but how long would this take? I'm going camping soon and am looking for a good portable charger to take with me, whether solar or crank, and am trying to decide which would be best to purchase to charge an iPhone 4 and an mp3 player and maybe a Nintendo DS.

    • ANSWER:
      Like the others have said... yes. But there is no such thing as a free lunch.

      So you'd end up wasting a lot of extra energy from the artificial light source to charge up that battery. Best use a hand crank as the other answer put it. Or better yet, plan ahead and put the solar battery out in the sol (sun) ahead of time to charge it up to full capacity.

      I have an iPhone recharger hanging out of the cigarette lighter socket in my car. A car I can drive to any camp site. Works like a charm. You can get one at any Apple Store.

  14. QUESTION:
    How can I power a laptop whil camping?
    Hi. I am planning a camping trip and need to take my laptop with internet dongle. What power soluions are available. Carrying the equipment is not an issue. I just need to be able to use and charge it from the tent indeffinately. I have an initial thought of using a car battery wih a solar panel charging the battery.. I am not gr8 at this kind of thing so any other ideas would be greafuly appreciated. The more power the better,

    • ANSWER:
      First, get a car charger for your laptop so you can efficiently use a battery.

      Next, get a marine deep discharge battery. They have them at Wal-Mart with 105 A-hr capacity for about US, or a little bigger for quite a bit more. Deep discharging a typical car battery will kill it after just a few charges.

      This should last for 40 or so hours of opertion for a typical laptop, much more for a low powered netbook. This should be enough for a short vacation. If you need more, you can charge from your car using cables, either from the battery or through the cigarette lighter or other wires (with the car running, of course).

      If you don't have a vehicle, I would get a small generator <1kw for ~100 with a 12V charging circuit, and use that. Last choice would be a 50W or so solar panel if you use the laptop intermittently. Don't forget the solar panel requires an electronic box with a charge controller. Harbor freight has some for not too much money.

      If you are charging it, a small digital multimeter can be used to determine charging current (put a small resistor, 1Ohm or less in series) by measuring the current across a resistor. Also, the voltage of 13.6V or so when the charger is taken off indicates full charge. Good luck!

  15. QUESTION:
    How can I make a sun tracker for a solar panel?
    I'm going to this camp and the instructors asked us to be prepared tomorrow to build a sun tracker for a solar panel. Does any one have any ideas, tips, or advice?

    • ANSWER:
      tbls101 has a good idea for the tracker, but let's take this one step farther. A clock motor large enough to move a solar panel, unless it is a very small one is going to be large, and expensive. Use the timer motor, as suggested, but attach a slotted disk to it, with a light source on one side, and a detector on the other side. As each slot comes up and allows light to pass through, this creates a one shot pulse which is used to cause a stepper motor to move 1 position to keep the panel aimed at the sun. At the end of the panel travel for the end of the day, a switch could be set to close, bypassing the step control to put the motor into full constant speed reverse, this causing the panel to swing back to the morning position. The whole affair gets it's start up call by means of a light detector, similar to those used to turn lights off at sun up. The control would, of course be set to turn the system on to track the sun during the day. While some digital control is going to be needed, the system would not need a "computer" to run it.

  16. QUESTION:
    Will I lose my Welfare if I don't want to build Obama's solar panels? ?
    While volunteering with Obama office, I was told Obama's new plan was to make everyone getting a welfare check work to build solar panels and wind turbines. I was told Obama will give us full benefits if we help with his Alternative Energy Projects, but if we don't want to work that we will lose our food-stamps and welfare check.
    I think this is wrong, I want to just watch TV and eat cookies all day, I don't care about gas prices or energy, and I deserve my check. SSDI says I am disabled because I can't walk. Obama camp says I will be tested and put to work, answering phones, or doing handicap-friendly work.
    My momma got welfare for most of her life, and did not have to go to a work camp, why do I have to?
    Obama's people told me that everyone will have to work or loose what we are getting now.
    I think that is Socialism, what do you GOP think?
    I am a disabled vet. I should not have to build wind mills and rainbows for this marxist.
    I was told that this would apply to everyone currently getting welfare, either work for it re-building a new Amerika that is energy independent, or lose check.
    I hear everyone that signs up to serve America will be treated like today's military, with full benefits and pride, but I don't care about that, I just want my check the way it is now.

    • ANSWER:
      MY GOODNESS with the time change I would love to take a nap especially after all this blurb. I just couldnt read it. But thank you for your full support of Obama. He is going to give us the change we need. Yes you are right he is exactly what America needs.
      Thank you for supporting our Obama. He is going to be our President.
      thank you so much

  17. QUESTION:
    Will I lose my welfare check if I don't want to build Obama's Solar panels?
    While volunteering with Obama office, I was told Obama's new plan was to make everyone getting a welfare check work to build solar panels and wind turbines. I was told Obama will give us full benefits if we help with his Alternative Energy Projects, but if we don't want to work that we will lose our foodstamps and welfare check.
    I think this is wrong, I want to just watch TV and smoke dope all day, I don't care about gas prices or energy, and I deserve my check.
    My momma got welfare for most of her life, and did not have to go to a work camp, why do I have to?
    Obama's people told me that everyone will have to work or loose what we are getting now.
    I think that is Socialism, what do you GOP think?

    • ANSWER:
      I wonder how much dope they let you smoke while you were volunteering at their office

  18. QUESTION:
    Business Solar Panels?
    How much would a full solar panel system cost for a campus that uses ,000 - ,500 of electricity a month? I just need a ballpark estimate here - Please also put where I can call for more information. The campus is located in Camp Springs, MD - just outside of DC. Its main building's roof is flat, there are two houses, and there is a church building with a really sloped roof. The roofs of the main building and the church building are at least 20 years old. If you need to look at the building go to maps.google.com and click on satellite map, type this address: 5408 Brinkley Road, Camp Springs, MD, 20748-2531

    • ANSWER:
      There are a number of things that we would need to take a look at in order to price that out for you. Feel free to give me a call at 877-476-5739, ext. 106 and we can get something priced out for you.

  19. QUESTION:
    Is there a charger I can buy or make for my iPod touch that charges from a portable solar panel?
    It would be great to charge when I am camping and stuff. Also I don't mind getting my
    Hands dirty so if I can make it out of stuff from radio shack or something that would be great too

    • ANSWER:
      ThinkGeek sells one, although it's a bit overpriced:
      http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/travelpower/b1a6/

      Also, most solar panels can convert to 12V, so you can hook up a car charger to it if you need.

  20. QUESTION:
    Are there better point angles for alignment of photovoltaic solar panels given a seasonal usage?
    I am planning on a small array of photovoltaic panels to supplement lighting needs in a new summer camp. It will only be occupied May to September, and I wondered if the southerly point angle and the inclination angles should be modified for seasonal use.

    Lat N43 1.661 Lon W71 48.957

    I would gladly trade increased output during the summer season for the “cookbook” answers given for “year round” performance. I already have the zero degree, true south, for the northern hemisphere, point angle and Latitude plus 15 degrees for inclination, “cookbook answers”, I’m looking for something better.

    • ANSWER:
      If you Google "solar modeling software" or similar terms, you will find various programs people have created for modeling the sun falling on a location, given a particular latitude and longitude. An example is at

      http://www.f1.fhtw-berlin.de/studiengang/ut/desire/en/index.htm

      but I'm not endorsing that program in any way.

      There is also insolation data for the USA gathered by the National Renewable Energy Labs at

      http://rredc.nrel.gov/solar/old_data/nsrdb/redbook/atlas/

      The above is VERY good, as it is real data gathered over decades, and as such, takes into account the effects of clouds, prevailing temperatures, winds, etc. You could go month by month with that data, and model a particular tilt.

      In general, if you want to crudely optimize for summer, go with latitude MINUS 15 degrees in the northern hemisphere. You will also want to make sure the panels are mounted with good airflow around them (that is, not flush against a hot roof surface), as you can lose 10, maybe even 20% of the production when the panels get really hot.

      Consider also whether you might be able to grid-tie and net meter your solar (check with the power company) - in which case, you would build up a financial credit during the winter. If the array is in the thousands of watts, that would make sense.

      If you are just thinking about small, point light sources, with (say) rechargable NiCd batteries, then I'd say it sounds like fun, but would be hesitant about either the cost or the performance of the lights. Hope it works out, just the same!

  21. QUESTION:
    Solar Panel watts to volts?
    ok so i am going camping and i got 2 solar panels that says that says there 80 watts and i want to bring my tv that takes 120 volts im so confused please help.

    • ANSWER:
      forget it. you would need a truckload of those panels to power even a small tv.

  22. QUESTION:
    small fridge running off a 600ah battery for camping trips?
    how long approx would a small countertop fridge (rated at 0.8kw-h/24h) run off a 600ah car battery with a 2000w inverter ?
    Would it be worth getting a 40w solar panel to charge the battery - or would that not be enough?

    • ANSWER:
      NOTE: Poster is in UK, AC is 220V
      NOTE: Estimate total inefficiency at 0.75

      Normalize:0.8KW/H = 800W/Hr
      Calc for day:800 * 24 = 19200W/Day
      Convert Amps:i=p/e, 19200W/220V=87.3Amps/Day
      Inefficiency:pf=0.75, 87.3 / 0.75 = 116.4Amps/Day

      Assuming a deep cycle 600A/Hr battery and no more than 75% depletion to avoid premature battery failure, you could run the fridge for 600 * .75 / 116.4 = 3.8 days without a solar charger. The 40W solar charger only provides 5% of the power required to run the fridge, and assuming 16 hours/day of full power output, would theoretically extend the operational time to about 4.1 days.

      But 600A/Hr would be a honking-big battery. Standard automative starting batteries are not rated in Amps/Hr, but rather in CCA -- Cold Cranking Amps -- the amount of power that can be supplied in a short period to start a car. These batteries are not designed to provide long-term power supply, and their performance in such a situation will be very poor.

      Better for the application would be a Deep Cycle battery. But standard size Deep Cycle batteries put out around 80-120AH, and following the 75% max discharge rule, neither would run the fridge as calculated above.

      The next issue is whether the fridge really consumes 800W/Hr, or whether this is variable depending on how frequently the compressor cycles. I have no way to tell without access to your fridge and the conditions where you expect to camp.

      How to overcome these obstacles:

      * Extend runtime by connecting 2 or more batteries in parallel
      * Recharge from car, generator or shore power
      * Use a lower-power 12V/DC unit, such as from Engel, ARB, Coleman
      * Use a 2-Way/3-Way RV fridge that can run off Propane, AC or DC

  23. QUESTION:
    Solar panel for car battery?
    has anyone used before a car battery solar panel charger? i'm intrested in how efficient they actually are. The idea is the following: i would use a car battery to constantly power a mobile phone over a long camping period and use a solar panel to rechard the car battery. Will the panel provide enough charge so the battery doens't go flat?
    Well the whole point is this: i'm going on a trip and will need the mobile to keep charging as i will use the satnav on it for about 10 hours a day (while using the satnav it needs to charge or battery will go flat in 1 hour). I'm thinking about using a car battery to charge the phone via a car charger that connects to the sigarette lighter and maybe use one or 2 solar panels to keep the battery charging or maybe a bottle generator (dynamo) which ever will be more efficient. I'll be traveling by bycile with a trailer for equipment and that's why i can bring a car battery with me but as long as it will be enought for at least 30 days of travel.

    • ANSWER:
      My advice would be to forget charging a car battery with a solar panel, the amount of charge you will get from the panel will be to low to really keep the battery topped up not to mention the fact that a car battery is very heavy.
      There are a couple of things you could use, first charge the mobile direct from the solar panel and second invest in a hand operated generator.
      Ja,

  24. QUESTION:
    Using deep cycle batteries and solar charger........?
    I want to use one/two deep cycle batteries for a power source when camping, emergencies, etc. I would like to use a solar panel with a trickle charge to have them 100% til needed. Anyone have knowledge of a kit, plans for just a good solar charger? I'd prefer to have one that i could screw and bolt to the battery terminals vs. the typical "clamps".

    • ANSWER:
      You can go to a solar shop and get some of what is required, either locally or off the web. You need a 36 cell (12V) solar panel, the bigger the better, a regulator (so it stops charging when the batteries are full), some cable rated to suit the current from the panel, and clamps for the battery. You can get clamps like a car battery has, with wing nuts. A bought regulator may be cheaper. Get a basic one if there are various types, current rated at least what your panel is.

      If you go to the first link, there is a circuit for a satisfactory regulator up to 10A. CLick on it for a better image that you can print out. You can make it more current by paralleling the output FET with another. Note that Q3 the power switch is a P channel FET, not the more common N channel. The op amps are a CMOS rail to rail type, with no diode clamps on the inputs. They are +/- 8V rated (so 16V maximum). The panel can put out 22V when the battery is disconnected, so that is why they have a regulator. It is also the reference voltage. The transorb can be replaced by a 100nF capacitor. The thermistor can be replaced by a resistor of the same value. It is to adjust the charge voltage for temperature when using gel type (SLA) batteries. No need for a deep cycle or car battery (flooded electrolyte). It is a good idea to put a "gate stopper" resistor in series with PFET gates to make sure it cannot oscillate - 100 ohms. Q2 is a preregulator so the 7805 is safe with a 24V panel, not needed for 12V. S1B is not used (see parts list). The equalise switch is to give an overcharge, not really needed.

      How it works.
      It switches on until the battery voltage is the float voltage (13.85V or slightly higher), then off till the battery is about a volt lower, then back on. I have used a similar regulator on 12 different stations for about 20 years, so I can vouch for it as being satisfactory. No need to load panels down and so on, just disconnect them.

      Other stuff
      If you put a solar panel on the grass or ground, it will quickly get hot, over 60C, and stop charging. The output voltage has a negative temperature coefficient so the voltage is too low to charge. It needs air circulation.

      D1 is a shottky diode for its lower voltage drop. A 36 cell panel has enough voltage to charge a 12V battery at 60C with one diode drop in series. Most panels have a diode in the terminal strip. If that is removed you could use an ordinary diode (20 or 30 amps), but the shottky type is better.

      If the PFET is a TO220 pack it probably doesn't need a heatsink, or just a small one, say 6 Watts..

      It is useful to have an ammeter in series with the battery. A ten amp one is fine. Helps line up the panel if nothing else.

      The second link has a lot of good links, and is one example of a solar regulator.

      The lines drawn heavier on the circuit should be 10A or 20A wire.

      Where do you get the less common parts? Farnell, Radio Spares, Digikey.

  25. QUESTION:
    How do I keep a thousand gallon water tank from freezing, cheaply?
    I am associated with a group of people who bought land East of Portland, OR. The 50 acres are on a dirt road, with no electricity or water. Mostly for personal camping and party use, the regulations from the government are that no permanent structures can be built. There are a couple geodesic domes. One of the people has brought in a thousand gallon water tank, with the idea of filling it with snow run off and rainwater, to help water the trees (Ponderosas) that live up there. ON A SHOESTRING BUDGET, how do we keep the filled tank from freezing and bursting during the extended 0c wintertime? Burying the tank is not a option (rocky soil, no backhoe). Electricity, if needed, would be solar panel/deep cell battery. We could enclose the tank in a simple structure if needed.

    • ANSWER:
      I don't know how cold it gets in OR. so I don't know if this will work or not. First thing is paint the tank black. Build that simple structure you were talking about. Have the doors face south and leave them open in the day and close them at night.
      Use the solar panel and battery with a timer to power a water fountain pump and circulate the water at night.

  26. QUESTION:
    Solar Panel Question?
    I'm wanting to chill some medication whilst camping. We have a small portable (12vdc) fridge. During the night, the insulating properties of the fridge will probably keep the medication cool enough. During the day, we will need to provide additional cooling. Solar seems the way, since cooling is most critical when the sun's out.

    The fridge is rated 12v/40W. A 40W solar panel would be rather expensive for this project, and I was thinking more along the lines of a panel that can (in the brightest weather) produce 2 to 5W.

    I'm familiar with what happens when a battery (eg: AA) goes flat: The powered bulb goes dim, or the DC motor slows down. I also understand that it's not a good idea to use a DC power supply (plugged into the mains) that is rated at fewer Amps than the powered device will draw.

    So which of these is a Solar panel most analagous to? If I use a small panel to power the fridge, will I get the (desired) result that the Fridge will run on reduced power and not get as cold as it might at full blast, or will something hideous happen to the solar panel?

    • ANSWER:
      We have 2 relatively small solar setups to use for our laptops while camping, but frankly, have been disappointed with our lack of success keeping them powered up. If you use a too small panel to power the fridge, from our experiences, the fridge won't run at all. We haven't had disastrous results to either of the panel setups (one is an almost 0. multiple panel unit in a suitcase, and the other is a single panel.) Both of our setups work by charging a battery, and then the battery powers the device. I'd recommend dragging along an old fashioned cooler with ice and put your meds in a sealed plastic container to keep them dry-that's what I did when traveling with my diabetic cat for years. You can replenish ice most anywhere, and if the weather is good, and your solar setup works properly, you can start using the cooler for extra storage... Good luck! We all need to keep experimenting...

  27. QUESTION:
    WE NEED HELP URGENTLY?
    We have a 1 year old staffy female that is desexed and she ruins EVERYTHING!!!!!.
    our motor bike seat is chewed up into tiny pieces and our camping solar panel is absolutely wrecked. Our WHOLE back yard has holes everywhere and our older staffy male (Desexed) has no bed to sleep on because she tore the sheets up. our father wants to sell her. We need help URGENTLY!!!!!
    We have a 1 year old staffy female that is desexed and she ruins EVERYTHING!!!!!.
    our motor bike seat is chewed up into tiny pieces and our camping solar panel is absolutely wrecked. Our WHOLE back yard has holes everywhere and our older staffy male (Desexed) has no bed to sleep on because she tore the sheets up. our dad wants to sell her. We need help URGENTLY!!!!!
    Also my dad had surgury so he cant walk her, and my mum is working and looking after my dad all the time. My sister and I cant cause i got to go to highschool and she has to go to primary.

    • ANSWER:
      She's bored.

      She needs a couple of walks a day. At least 20-30 minutes each and longer if possible.

      Give her many different toys although since she likes to destroy things stick to the stronger toys like kongs. Kongs are also good because you can put stuff in them to help keep her busy. Go to the pet store and tell them you want some strong toys. They'll be able to help you out.

      The digging is harder to control. Some dogs really like to dig. My suggestion is to either mark an area of the yard she is allowed to dig in and teach her to dig there only; or give her a sandbox she can dig in. Most dogs that like to dig won't stop so you'll probably have to provide an outlet for that.

      She may calm down with the chewing and the digging if you exercise her enough.

  28. QUESTION:
    using a 12v solar panel to charge a battery in use?
    i do a lot of camping and im trying to figure out how to run a fridge/cooler to keep the drinks and or milk cold over a few days time.. ok, what im trying to do is take a 12v solar panel that produces 5amps and hook it to a deep cell battery while having a small fridge/cooler that uses 6 amps connected at the same time. my theory is that it would work while reducing a maximum draw with just having the solar panel hooked up to the cooler. does anyone know if this will work? and at night when there is no sunlight would the cooler completely kill the battery? thanks for all your help in advance..
    thanks Craig for the response. and as for ace2r.... if you read the question??? i know 12 volts will charge a battery but i was wondering if it would keep the battery charged for a few days if am cooler was hooked up to the battery. causing a constant draw. i i didnt mention that in the beginning then im sorry but i think Craig knew what i meant....

    • ANSWER:

  29. QUESTION:
    what size solar panel do I need?
    I am going camping for 9 days at EAA AirVenture on the field with no power... I want to bring some with me. I have two 12v 1000 cranking amp gel batteries. I want to supply a 12v outlet for charging my phone and running my laptop. I also want to run an ac/dc converter so I can run a fan or a light in my tent. I would like to put a charging meter and a meter to tell me how much power is left. I don't plan on running the batteries down to dead. ...question is, what size solar panel do I need to charge the batteries so they are ready to go the next night? Thanks for your help!

    • ANSWER:
      Since most of the little ones give only 15 to 30 W of power this is not much. Considering you laptop will need about 90 Watts per hour.

      And even if you get the 30 W panels which are fairly large and expensive, you generally only get 30 W out in direct sunlight at the right angle.

      Thus you will need several of them just to power your laptop for the time the sun is out. Then you need additional ones to charge it for the night.

      It would be better and cheaper by far to get a small electric generator that uses gas to charge your battery and use your products.

  30. QUESTION:
    Can I charge a battery starter with a solar panel?
    Essentially, I have this:
    http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5679656

    When charged, I can use it to run my laptop for a little while, or charge my cell phone or whatever, but I'd like to be able to charge it via solar panel. The charger charges via a 12 volt plug, or a ciggarette lighter plug. Could I re-wire the plug to a 12 volt solar panel, and charge it that way? If so, I'm thinking about taking it camping.

    Any ideas here? Am I better off going another route?
    Interesting... I've found 6.5 watt panels and such, but how do I figure the charge time? It's a 300 AMP battery, that's all I really know. It takes about 1 hour to charge via a DC plug that says:

    Input: 120 V AV 60Hz 9W
    Output: 12VDC 500mA

    So how would I figure charge time with a solar panel rated at, lets say, 6 watts, 12V?

    • ANSWER:
      As long as it's 12 volts it will absolutely work, and it's a great idea!

  31. QUESTION:
    questions about building a solar powered water heater for a science project!?
    Ok i have this science project in two weeks....it has to deal with renewable sources and it's supposed to be a better version of what is already invented. I decided to build a solar powered water heater....possibly a small portable one that could be used on camping trips or something?

    1) how long do you think this will take me to build?
    2) how big will the solar panel have to be?
    3) where can i get a solar panel?
    4) do you have any good websites on how to build a small heater? (all the ones i find are huge ones for powering a heater of a house)

    • ANSWER:
      You won't be buying the panel because anything manufactured is going to be too big. If it going to be for camping then it can't involve a pump or batteries as being too heavy. The best answer would be coils of copper tubing soldered to a copper plate and painted black and two containers (plastic bags?) connected by flexible hose so you could raise one and cause water to flow through the panel to the other. That would be moderately heavy. So for your project you might look for aluminum tubing and sheet and see how to attach the tubing to the sheet (soldering works badly on aluminum) that will conduct heat from the sheet to the tubing (some glues insulate, almost all are poor conductors)
      Or you might see what happens if you just take two black plastic sheets and either heat seal lines so water poured in the stop has to wander back and forth to get out, taking heat from the sun as it goes or plastic tubing inside the sheets doing the same. Less efficient that metal but easier to carry and less weight.

  32. QUESTION:
    Alternative Camping Heater Source Other Than Propane?
    I live in Canada and everytime I go camping it is always super cold and super damp. I pruchased a Coleman Propane Cataylic Heater for the last time I went camping and it worked like a charm. However, it totally freaks me out having to use propane. Also, propane is very large and cumbersome to travel with if you are hiking or on the move.

    Does anyone know what other type of heat source I could get or use to make my tent dry and warm that ISN'T propane? I think with all the innovations that we have today their has to be some sort of memory-cell or solar panel/cell like device that can generate heat and warmth in a environmentally friendly and safe way.

    Thanks a bunch!!

    • ANSWER:
      Coleman used to make a Coleman fueled catalytic heater. That and propane are very dangerous because they deplete oxygen and create carbon monoxide. You need to have a lot of ventilation in you tent to keep from not ever waking up again. I have a small wood burning stove that has a stovepipe through the roof of the tent. Even with the tent door or window open it'll keep you warm. Depends on how much you want to carry or spend. It would be unrealistic to believe that any solar powered or battery powered resistance heater would. You would need a bank of batteries that would fill a truck to heat for just one day. You can also heat large rocks in a fire, wrap them in towels or blankets and use them to heat your tent. You'd need 2 sets, one for in the tent and another set in the fire to rotate when the first set gets cold.

  33. QUESTION:
    is this solar panel worth buying?
    http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=90599
    it cost 0 online but its currently on sale in the store for 0. i plan on using it for when i go camping to charge a 12v battery to power a tv, or other electrical needs.
    i take it camping because nature is boreing.

    • ANSWER:
      my experience with harbor freight is cheap tools, but not great quality, i guess its what you get what you pay for, but if your only using it for camping here and there and watching TV while you are out there it might do alright, usually their tools dont last too long, but that does seem like a good deal as long as it works well and you get your money out of it.
      there is also other web sites out there that give you step-by-step directions on how to build solar panels with hardware store parts for very cheap, this site seems like one of the best ones
      http://earths-renewable-energy.com/

  34. QUESTION:
    A solar battery charger?
    I want to get a solar battery charger to keep my campers battery maintained while on camping weekends. The place we go is wooded and the collector panel will most likely be often shaded. Will it still work? will pick best answer.

    • ANSWER:
      I would not say very well. Solar means it needs sunshine and about 8 to 10 hours. Can you extend the wire and place the panel up high or out further into the sun. We have solar fence chargers and they work 21 days without sun when fully charged. But do not draw the amp that you do. You can't use an electric charging system?

  35. QUESTION:
    Can I camp on your roof,I just need to hug a solar panel for awhile?

    • ANSWER:
      Sure but mine are in the back yard. Would be a lot safer.

  36. QUESTION:
    Laptop for Journaling while Camping?
    I do a lot of field work in remote areas without power. I am wondering if anyone knows of a laptop that is lightweight and able to be charged by a small solar panel. All I want to do is journal on it, thus just notebook, wordpad, or microsoft word, nothing else. Thinking there has to be something out there that someone knows about......?

    • ANSWER:
      macbook air is pretty light wieght but why would you bring a computer on a camping trip???just use some paper and a pen.

  37. QUESTION:
    I bought a 1991 Jayco pop up with inverter. Can I use a marine deep cycle and just plug the camper into it?
    Will I require wiring or can I just plug in and switch to battery power - I was thinking about getting a solar panel for the roof while camping to keep it charged. Any help will be appreciated.

    • ANSWER:
      A marine deep cycle battery is exactly what you need. Do not get a marine starting battery, be sure to get the deep cycle. You can wire the inverter directly to the battery.

      As for the solar panel, It may not fully charge the battery in one day. It just depends on how much power you use from the battery. You may want to consider a second battery and/or a small generator with a battery charger which would recharge the battery in about 2 hrs if it is fully drained.

  38. QUESTION:
    What size inverter do i need?
    I live in Australia, when at home I plug my RV into 240 volts. When I go camping I use my 3000 watt(3KVA) generator.I don't have 12volt system for appliances only 240 volt,so for driving and camping I am looking at solar panels to charge batteries and use an inverter to run Fridge/freezer,Aircon,TV,toaster,electric kettle,microwave,4 lights,3 desk fans. The stove uses gas.It is not cold where I am so I only use the electric hot water while on 240 volts ,can you advise what size inverter is necessary or a better idea

    • ANSWER:
      TRY DVDoverseas.com I never have done business with them personally, you either need to get a 240 volt generator, or figure out what you need online dvdoverseas.com , then see if you can find one there. sounds like you need to go 12 volts dc, to 240v (Hertz is ?) could be 50 hertz, could be 60 hertz (its important to know what this is) charge batteries with generator. It is going to be rated in watts similar to generator, In order to properly find inverter wattage you need, you have to find the ratings on appliances, which may be on a plate on the back, or the bottom or on owners manual for appliance, 3,000 to 4,000 minimum I would think, with a 4 thousand watt being safer bet. If you contact a local rv parts supplier, they should have access to charts that will give you an idea of wattage rating for appliances for rv.

  39. QUESTION:
    Which Portable Solar Charger Should I Buy?
    Hey everyone, I am looking in to purchasing a portable solar charger for my mini devices a couple being my iPod Touch 3rd gen, and my LG Env Touch. So far, I have been considering these two models in particular-

    the Powermonkey Explorer Solar Charger (going for around 0.00 on amazon)

    and the Solio Classic Hybrid Solar Charger (going for around .00 on amazon)

    I am open to other suggestions, though I am hoping to stay within the price range of 0.00
    I know how long it can take for these to fully charge from the panels, but am hoping to rely on whichever I end up with in the case of an emergency, or power outage, when I go camping, or on trips.

    Which is better quality, and more durable? Also the best bang for your buck.
    I am already leaning in the direction of the Solio Classic mainly because it's cheaper, its cool design, and that its battery pack is one piece with the panels unlike the Powermonkey.

    Thanks in advance for your time and advice. :)

    • ANSWER:
      you can try this website http://www.dhgate.com/wholesale/store/ff8080812ae4a73b012ae4d94dc65082.html
      this website has different kinds of solar charger , the price is ok, and they are all free shipping..

  40. QUESTION:
    Best place to solo camp in america?
    Ok I am taking a 100watt solar panel to power a mini-fridge, music, laptop, fan, and whatever else. Water purifiers that can clean a liter a minute.. The works. Shotgun/.44 mag. I haveto camp near a water source and I love to fish. I love to snorkel with a speargun also. What is an awesome place to do all of this? Lake Tahoe? I hear that place is hard as hell to fish. And too cold to snorkel. I hear the Platte river in CO is one of the hardest rivers to fish. Anyone have any ideas?
    Yea no kidding its not 'camping' you ever camp for 2 freaking months moron? A fridge to keep things cool. I camped out in iraq for 3 months without a shower, fridge, fan. Dont be a bitch asshole.

    • ANSWER:
      taking a fridge, a laptop, and a fan? why don't you just rent an RV.... cause what your doing with all that crap ain't camping.

  41. QUESTION:
    Living Outdoors, My Power Needs?
    Alright first I know this will cost a hell of a lot, but right now I have a question.

    What I want to get is two or three deep cycle battery, one or two 12 volt solar panels (to charge battery's and use for power) , A 700w inverter ( for computers) and a generator.

    Now the fridgefreezer I'll be getting will be a 12v camp fridgefreezer, from what I have seen and read so far, just one battery should run the fridgefreezer for a few days.

    One or two battery's to run a PC workstation (or laptop, some games need a bit of a kick) and laptop (a firewall gateway thing), plus if the power drops too low a backup generator too keep everything going.

    For the fridgefreezer I have found a device that will be fine for running that side of things.

    Now for the computers, I need something that can act as a battery charger/inverter from 12 to 240v and be able to plug the generator directly into the device. And also have a battery level so I know when I'm running low.

    I don't dream of spending all night game play, but I would like to spend about two hours every few nights on the PC workstation and four to six hours on the laptop (game play and work stuff)

    Now what I am working towards is moving out of my mothers place if she can't sell her farm in 1-1/2 or two years, I can't stand living here and now I feel that I made a big mistake. I can buy this stuff over time, at first I plan to live out of a tent and then maybe look at buying or renting a place.
    Also if my mother dose get a place she want's, I'll need this stuff anyway since the new farm won't even have a house on it. But if I do plan to move out I'm going to buy a car, a car really be needed.

    I get about 0 per pay and lose half of it, plus food and power another 0.

    I would like to become an electronic contract, until I have the money to buy a house, there is no way in hell I would get a mortgage and even then I just might end up with a camping van or something and a plot of land.

    This will be a long term thing if I choose to move out, like o five years.
    No way in HELL do I want to live with others.

    Second if we move to another farm, there won't be a house and this WILL be needed. So please no crap about sharing a place with others.
    My mother wants to build a new house.

    • ANSWER:

  42. QUESTION:
    What is the cheapest and least energy consuming device or method to heat a room or tent?
    One thing I dont understand is there are a gazillion ways to produce heat yet heat is still very expensive. Heat can be produced from solar, electricity, fire, oil, gas, geothermal, friction, movement, crystal, radiation, bacteria, pressure, and even uranium! And that doesnt include the many ways we have of trapping, and transfering heat. Is it really that hard to find a cheap form of heating? I just wanted to point that out. Now on with the question ...

    I notice most portable heaters consume 750 watts low setting, 1500+ watts for a higher setting. This is very energy consuming. ARE THERE ANY DEVICES OUT THERE THAT CAN HEAT A ROOM USING 100 WATTS OF ELECTRICITY? If an element is capable of giving off free heat, why cant we find the next "hottest" thing?

    Its the 21st century and it seems we're paying more than what they used for heating thousands of years ago. Wood was free back then. Oil, gas, and electricity is not. Without using oil and gas which burning any garbage will give you the same output, where are we with electrical heating? IS 1000 WATTS THE BEST WE HAVE DONE IN HEATING A SIMPLE ROOM? Any other alternatives out there? Like a portable wood stove? I suppose this question should be in regards to camping. What is the best way to heat a tent for example? Could you light a fire outside and have a fan blow in the heat? Or how about a portable wood stove? If theres an electric heater that can be powered using solar panels, then thats what I would like to find out. Thanks guys ===

    • ANSWER:
      I would recommend you use SOLAR POWER!Once you got them installed to produce electricity,You will not have to pay for the electricity bill

  43. QUESTION:
    when is a car battery fully charged?
    i am using a 12 lawnmower to power a fan and a light while camping then recharging it with a solar panel during the day. the battery started out at 12.6 volts then i ran the fan for 6 hours to test the setup. immediately after i turned the fan off the batt. voltage was 12.3. I went to bed and when i woke up the next morning the voltage had somehow gone up to 12.5.
    It seems that voltage alone is not an accurate way to check that the battery is fully charged. I hooked up the solar panel for about 4 hours today and the voltage is now reading 12.8 but how do i really know if that is fully charged. If i base the charge assessment purely on voltage then it would seem that i have discovered a source of free electricity because the starting volts were the same as the ending volts after running a 10 inch fan for 6 hours. I have a multimeter is there any way to accurately determine when the battery is fully charged using the multimeter
    *12v lawnmower battery

    • ANSWER:
      >> if i base the charge assessment purely on voltage then it would seem that i have discovered a source of free electricity

      funny. OK batteries of all kind have to be checked UNDER LOAD. That means that it should be in USE when the battery is being tested.

      On a car, the headlight should be on for about 30 seconds to get a true voltage. That's a heavy load (60 watts / 5 amp per bulb)

      good Luck...

      P.S. You should NOT discharge your battery so much and then leave it discharged overnight. Only Marine batteries are designed to be DEEP DISCHARGE. Normal car, motorcycle, lawnmower batteries will become permanently dead if left discharged for long time.

  44. QUESTION:
    Suggestins for a low cost extreamly rural wireless communications solution?
    So... I have some family land that is in the absolute middle of the boonies. It's got your basic travel trailer living quarters that sports a 12V car battery that is kept charged by a small solar panel. It provides enough juice for a weekend camping trip.

    It is possible to get a cell signal at the campsite if you place a yagi style antenna on a large pole and have a phone that will except a direct external antenna connection. This, however, is quite inconvenient as one must be tethered to the antenna.

    A repeater would be ideal, but those things run well over 0.

    A satellite internet connection with wireless router and a VIOP phone would work but we are talking a couple of hundred for installation plus a minimum of per month. This is way to much for a place that only gets used a couple of times a year.

    Any creative suggestions for a low cost wireless communications solution for this very rural low use location?

    • ANSWER:
      Have you tried one of the Verizon Wireless cards? you can replace the antenna on those. If that works, you can connect it to a Kyocera mobile router that costs about 0.00 bucks and that way you can get Wifi for everyone for about .00 bucks a month.

  45. QUESTION:
    Can autism be related to listening to music a LOT?
    I am (according to the doctors) slightly autistic, and I basically ALWAYS have my earphones in and my ipod on (I even do now). I tend to get through 2-3 iPod charges every day and I bought a solar panel charger thing so when I go out camping (a hobby of mine) I can charge it using the sun. My friends say I listen to music way too much even for a teenager. I don't know, I just feel a lot less tense and paranoid when listening to a good bit of music, hence why I am obsessed with high sound quality and why I have like 40 music CDs. I was wondering if this sort of sensory obsession could be related to autism?
    @Debbie sounds about right, I noticed I like punk stuff in the day and trance at night; the other way round doesn't work very well at all. I also have this weird urge to drink some blackcurrant squash every evening, lol.

    • ANSWER:
      Sure. Music is relaxing for a lot of people, both autistic and neurotypical. But those of us on the spectrum tend to have more anxiety, so we really need the relaxation and the escape from the outside world that music can provide. I'm also a big fan of music.

      Obsessions, need for routine, and high tolerance for repetition are major features of autism. As most of us have auditory sensitivities, this could explain both the fixation on music and the need for high quality. One thing I've noticed in myself is that once I start doing something regularly, it becomes necessary. When I started keeping a journal, for example, writing in it every night quickly became an unalterable part of my routine. It could be the same with your music. Once you started listening to music a lot, maybe it just kind of stuck.

  46. QUESTION:
    is there a device that turns a car lighter adapter into a car lighter outlet?
    sumthing that can turn this http://media.photobucket.com/image/car%20lighter/antonic_chua/NokiaLC12.jpg?o=47 (just the part u plug in) into a http://media.photobucket.com/image/car%20lighter/wisniej467/Car%20parts%20for%20sale/229.jpg?o=39 (just the outlet) like it would have an outlet at both sides. cuz i have a solar panel with an adaptor like pic1 and i want to take it camping to have a pic2 for my mp3. my solar panel looks similar to this http://media.photobucket.com/image/car%20lighter%20adaptor/relative-intel/EGSL0041M.jpg?o=4

    • ANSWER:
      not sure if you will find something like that in stores, but you can always get something like a http://www.allelectronics.com/make-a-store/item/CLP-Y/CIGARETTE-LIGHTER-Y-/-/1.html if link is bad go to allelectronics.com search for (CIGARETTE LIGHTER "Y"). Just cover the part you plug in with tape and your good to go. A simple "cigarette lighter y adapter" will work for you provided it doesn't have internal diodes witch may prevent the electricity from going the way you want it to go. Find the cheapest/simplest looking one and the one thats lest expensive, that will most likely not have the fancy ([FAQ-ANSWER].10) diodes.

      What you truly want is a "female to female cigarette lighter adapter"

  47. QUESTION:
    What would you like to ask?Is there a device that turns a car lighter adapter into a car lighter outlet?
    sumthing that can turn this http://media.photobucket.com/image/car%2... (just the part u plug in) into a http://media.photobucket.com/image/car%2... (just the outlet) like it would have an outlet at both sides. cuz i have a solar panel with an adaptor like pic1 and i want to take it camping to have a pic2 for my mp3. my solar panel looks similar to this http://media.photobucket.com/image/car%2...
    pic1-http://media.photobucket.com/image/car%20lighter/antonic_chua/NokiaLC12.jpg?o=47
    pic2-http://media.photobucket.com/image/car%20lighter/wisniej467/Car%20parts%20for%20sale/229.jpg?o=39
    solar panel-http://media.photobucket.com/image/car%20lighter%20adaptor/relative-intel/EGSL0041M.jpg?o=4
    sry c/p'd whole q from same one in diff category

    • ANSWER:

  48. QUESTION:
    Solarpanel to inverter?
    i want to buy a solar panel, but the flexible ones that have a car (cigarette) adapter connected to it, and i then want to use the solar electricity to power other devices. i believe i need an inverter to make the power usable to convert it from dc/ac and viceversa. The car adapter is to connect into the inverter.

    this is for camping,

    • ANSWER:
      Solar panels output their current in DC. Therefore if you were to use it with any DC powered devices then you're good to go. If you want to run AC powered devices then you simply need a AC/DC converter. The typical car AC/DC converter should work fine if I'm understanding you correctly. You say the solar panel has a cigarette adapter outlet on it? Then you just need your devices to be able to either plug directly into that outlet or into the converter which would be plugged into the adapter.

  49. QUESTION:
    how do I tell when a car battery is fully charged and can it be over-charged?
    I am using a lead/acid 12 volt battery made for riding mowers to power various electronics while camping. At night It powers a fan and some lights and during the day I recharge it with a 5w solar panel.
    I used a multimeter to check the voltage before and after a night of running the fan for 5 hours and the volts started at 12.60 and dropped to 12.35. I left the battery sitting there without charging it for a couple of hours and the when I checked it again it had climbed back up to 12.5 volts.
    I have read that a battery of this sort should be somewhere around 13v when fully charged but I am not sure if I need to unplug the solar panel when it gets to 13v or if it is safe to leave it on all day. When I tested the solar panel output with the multimeter i got 23 volts in direct sunlight which is higher than an alternator puts out so i am worried that it may overcharge the battery. how do I know when the battery has full charge and is it bad to leave the panel on after that?

    • ANSWER:
      It can be over-charged and that would damage the battery, cause gassing, and possibly a fire or explosion if it's overcharged too long. This is why the created smart-chargers.

      But it sounds like you are only using a solar panel? At 5 watts a solar panel (usually these are used to continously maintain batteries on less used ATVs, boats, and such) shouldn't have too much danger of over-charge, 13v isn't too bad. Most cars charge up to 14v continously. If you get more panels that push more than 1 amp (12 watts) you should consider getting a charge controller that will monitor the power but I don't think it's needed if the solar panel is the only thing charging the battery.

      You may want to get a deep-cycle battery if you only use it for powering those lights and fan. These are designed to put out low power for a long time (amp-hours) whereas a car battery is designed to put out very high power (engine cranking amps) for a very short time. The other option would be a sealed lead-acid (or gel) battery because those won't leak if they tip over...whereas a car (or lawnmower) battery or deep-cycle wet battery can leak dangerous acid if it leaks.

  50. QUESTION:
    Electricians, please help!?
    My partner and I are wanting to build a little power generator to keep our lights on and phones charged while camping. The idea is to take a little Brinks security box, put a solar panel on the lid, and have a little tiny pop-up windmill in the box with a battery in it and end up with 2 AC outlets to plug our stuff into.

    Between my partner and I, we only have a basic understanding of this kind of thing. We know that we need a charge controller (which sounds like a pain in the ass) connected from the panel to the battery (DC) and then that to an inverter to have the AC power we need. What we don't know is where to buy this stuff, and how, exactly, to make the connections. Thanks for the help.

    • ANSWER:
      try instructables.com
      there are tons of stuff like that there.