I think NorthernTool also sells a solar panel charge controller. I
bought one with the same solar panels that Don got but I haven't used it
yet. It is in the box waiting for the sun to come back out someday, HI
HI! When I bought the folding flexible solar panels I was thinking they
might go well with backpacking for portable QRP operation. I also
bought a pair of smaller panels that folded like a book. They came with
a variety of adapters, presumably for charging a cellphone or something,
maybe a K2. It also had a compartment for AA batteries (I think).
Again, it is still in the original shipping box with the other items I
bought about 6 months ago, but there are some plans to use them someday.
Mark, NK8Q
Simon Brown (HB9DRV) wrote:
What would be interesting for portable use is a whizzo box where I can
connect a Ni-MH battery and a solar cell and ensure that I neither
overcharge the battery nor provide too high a voltage to the radio (in
my case K1 or IC-703).
Ideally I can then connect battery and solar cells as inputs and take
the Ni-MH's 12 to 13 volt (or so) output.
Simon Brown
---
http://blog.ham-radio.ch/
----- Original Message ----- From: "Don Brown" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
I just ordered 2 solar panels from Northerntool.com to experiment
with. These panels are on close out and are rated at 5 watts. They
appear to be about 4x5 when folded and fold out into 5 sections. It
has a weather proof nylon shell with grommets at the corners for
mounting. This looks like a great little panel for backpacking or
other portable use. They are only $35 on sale now catalog number
339974-1615.
I have seen similar panels go for much more than this and these are
higher power than the popular VW panels. A small 2-5 amp gel cell and
one of my low power solar controllers would be great for a K1 or KX1.
You can also easily charge a 10 cell 2000-2500 mAH NiMH battery pack
without a controller as long as you did not leave them on charge too
long, about 4-5 hours with full sun. Usual disclaimers no connection
with Northern Tool
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