Bikepacking with Solar?

[Aushiker]

Its Sunday, it is hot (heading to 40 C), so not much outside activity so here I am throwing some silly ideas around in my head re off the grid power sources. As my Salsa Mukluk 2 is coming and it has a 150mm OLD fork a dynamo off the shelf is not an option so I am just throwing options around in my head and one of those is solar power to recharge a Anker 15,000 Mah battery.

With a more traditional touring option of racks and panniers I can see a solar panel mounted on the rack, draped over the panniers but with a bikepacking setup I will not have a panniers or a rack which leaves the question of how to mount a solar panel.

As a guide I am looking at most of the time going five days to seven days between main power sources and I use a Garmin Edge 810 that will be the main item needing charging. I also carry an iPad but that gets limited use and can generally survive this time-frame.

mmm maybe thinking about this more just sticking with the Anker or two might be a better option.

Ideas? Anyone have other ideas of on off-grid bikepacking without a dynamo?

Thanks
Andrew

[Flounder]

That's a tough one. For one thing, while the Anker packs are great, they are damn slow to charge. I've used a Goal Zero Nomad 20...a big panel...to charge my Anker pack and it took 9 hours to get it to 60%.

My suggestion is to spend the same amount of money on a Hyperjuice 2 power pack. 27,000 mAh!!! Mine is on year three and has been reasonably durable, even surviving motorcycle rides through Baja, the Andes of Ecuador....you name it.

http://www.hypershop.com/HyperJuice/2-External-Battery-for-MacBook-iPad-iPhone-USB-100Wh/

It's more than enough juice to charge all of my goodies many, many times. Sure beats the hell out of trying to MAKE energy on the fly.

It's expensive, but rebuildable, repairable, works extremely quickly, has a temperature shut off if it gets hot, has a nice readout to manage power, charging, etc.

[elitheknife]

We made it 28 days without plugging in on our Canning Stock Route traverse of last year.  No dynamos...

I used a GoalZero rigid solar panel to charge my iPod, AA's for the GPS, SPOT batteries and my camera battery.  Basically had it draped over the rear rack all day, everyday.

Tom used a Bruunton flexible panel to basicaly direct-power his iPhone (which he used for navigation).  He also charged various batteries on this panel throughout each day.  Again, the panel was draped over the rear rack all day, everyday.  We would move the panels to maximize exposure. 

So, yes it's totally do-able.  I think you just have to be prepared to go without a few of the more-modern conveniences...

Happy to help if you want the help.

Scott

[Mista Bone]

I have old LiPo RC batteries as backup....takes the 2c-3c pack voltage down to 5v/1a output with a voltage cutoff. That along with a solar panel and Anker I should have all I ever need, would plug in when I could. This is a newer version.....and cheaper!!!

http://www.readymaderc.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=76_167_428_439&products_id=3662

The only issue with the RC packs is they become dead weight when discharged. I'm a rookie so only planning rails 2 trails to start with, camp in a camp ground every third day to shower and recharge?

[Aushiker]

We made it 28 days without plugging in on our Canning Stock Route traverse of last year.  No dynamos...

I used a GoalZero rigid solar panel to charge my iPod, AA's for the GPS, SPOT batteries and my camera battery.  Basically had it draped over the rear rack all day, everyday.

Tom used a Bruunton flexible panel to basicaly direct-power his iPhone (which he used for navigation).  He also charged various batteries on this panel throughout each day.  Again, the panel was draped over the rear rack all day, everyday.  We would move the panels to maximize exposure.  

So, yes it's totally do-able.  I think you just have to be prepared to go without a few of the more-modern conveniences...

Happy to help if you want the help.

Scott

Thanks Scott. Maybe I should duck around the corner and check out Tom's panel .  Not that I am planning the Canning Stock Route but it is good to know it worked for you both and that at least for the longer trips or longer periods it might be an option. I suspect for those rides I will need a rack anyway to carry the water so that aspect is solved.

I wonder but if the flexible panel would be a better option in such a setup?

Andrew

[Aushiker]

My suggestion is to spend the same amount of money on a Hyperjuice 2 power pack. 27,000 mAh!!! Mine is on year three and has been reasonably durable, even surviving motorcycle rides through Baja, the Andes of Ecuador....you name it.

That is a serious looking power pack for sure! I have the Anker and probably okay for up to seven days, but if not, thanks for the heads-up on HyperJuice.

Andrew

[elitheknife]

Thanks Scott. Maybe I should duck around the corner and check out Tom's panel .  Not that I am planning the Canning Stock Route but it is good to know it worked for you both and that at least for the longer trips or longer periods it might be an option. I suspect for those rides I will need a rack anyway to carry the water so that aspect is solved.

I wonder but if the flexible panel would be a better option in such a setup?

Andrew

I would seriously look into a large Bruunton flexible panel like Tom used, and forget those massive battery packs!  I promise that you will regret the extra weight.  I had a very small little USB "jump pack" from GoalZero, and I would sometimes charge this during the day, and then charge my iPod overnight in the tent...

You live in the sunniest place in the world!  Use it.  I cannot imagine touring in Aus without a rear rack at least.  Being able to carry that little bit of extra water is a nice thing.

Scott

[Aushiker]

I would seriously look into a large Bruunton flexible panel like Tom used, and forget those massive battery packs!  I promise that you will regret the extra weight.  I had a very small little USB "jump pack" from GoalZero, and I would sometimes charge this during the day, and then charge my iPod overnight in the tent...

You live in the sunniest place in the world!  Use it.  I cannot imagine touring in Aus without a rear rack at least.  Being able to carry that little bit of extra water is a nice thing.

Scott

I would seriously look into a large Bruunton flexible panel like Tom used, and forget those massive battery packs!  I promise that you will regret the extra weight.  I had a very small little USB "jump pack" from GoalZero, and I would sometimes charge this during the day, and then charge my iPod overnight in the tent...

You live in the sunniest place in the world!  Use it.  I cannot imagine touring in Aus without a rear rack at least.  Being able to carry that little bit of extra water is a nice thing.

Scott

Thanks Scott. I think you are right on the rack ... my first bikepack planned with the new bike (Holland Track) whilst only four day of actual track will require carrying of water for at least three days depending on the winter rains.

Andrew

[Their Only Portrait]

Its Sunday, it is hot (heading to 40 C), so not much outside activity so here I am throwing some silly ideas around in my head re off the grid power sources. As my Salsa Mukluk 2 is coming and it has a 150mm OLD fork a dynamo off the shelf is not an option so I am just throwing options around in my head and one of those is solar power to recharge a Anker 15,000 Mah battery.

With a more traditional touring option of racks and panniers I can see a solar panel mounted on the rack, draped over the panniers but with a bikepacking setup I will not have a panniers or a rack which leaves the question of how to mount a solar panel.

As a guide I am looking at most of the time going five days to seven days between main power sources and I use a Garmin Edge 810 that will be the main item needing charging. I also carry an iPad but that gets limited use and can generally survive this time-frame.

mmm maybe thinking about this more just sticking with the Anker or two might be a better option.

Ideas? Anyone have other ideas of on off-grid bikepacking without a dynamo?

Thanks
Andrew

Hola Andrew,

I bikepacked northern Argentina with GoalZero's Nomad 13 strapped to my handlebar bag and 2 small Guide010+. I's afraid to carry just one (in case it fails) but having two Guide10+ let me charge one with the solar panel while using the other one to charge my Gopro, Suunto Ambit2, DeLorme inReach, Samsung Galaxy Note, mirrorless camera, or Hyper UDMA hard drive.
It took several hours to charge the Guide10+, but I didn't let any of my electronic's batteries to die completely before charging and I also had the chance to reach a wall plug not longer than 2 or 3 days apart.

In July I'm going to cycle 600 miles (900km) in the Amazon jungle and I'll be also trusting GoalZero to charge all my gear... but this time I'll replace one of the little Guide10+ with a Sherpa  

Saludos,
Federico
  

 

 

[mijome07]

Good thing you have 2 Guide 10+'s. Goal Zero was known to sell defective units that overheat. Read the reviews. I received a brand new unit that was defective.

They ended up replacing it, but not after playing email tag for 3 months with 3 different sales reps.

[Their Only Portrait]

Good thing you have 2 Guide 10+'s. Goal Zero was known to sell defective units that overheat. Read the reviews. I received a brand new unit that was defective.

They ended up replacing it, but not after playing email tag for 3 months with 3 different sales reps.

Hola mijome07,

I'm very sorry to hear that! We've a good customer service down here (Argentina) with their assigns and fortunately I never had any overheating problems (even when using cheap AA batteries instead of theirs)... but I tried the setup for more than a month before departing for my trip with just the Guide10+.

Saludos,
Federico

[Sparkyga]

Personally I found Solar Panels a pain in the butt to you use and rather unreliable if your trying to ride and charge at the same time. I used one for the first few months of my Asia trip but gave up on the it. Works great though if your stationary in camp, might be a good option if your in the summer months with plenty of strong Aussie sun

[SVO]

I did some rough calculations on this question a while back as I was looking to buy a power source.  Seems to me the Goal Zero products don't compute unless you are going on an extended trip (over 30 days without access to mains power) in very exposed terrain.  They are just too dang heavy.  This flexible panel would appear to offer the best power/weight ratio of the ones I looked at (3.1 oz.)  .  But I do not own one.  I do chuckle at the Goal Zero marketing:


How many hours to charge in that arrangement?  I wonder what fraction of these are sold for "Cool" factor alone. 

For my own purposes I decided that spare loose cells (A 2500MAH NIMH AA cell weighs 1 oz) and/or or a power bank makes much more sense.  The larger power bank I bought is this 16,800mah at 8.3 ounces.  This unit can fully charge an iPhone 6 about 8 times, for example.  By comparison the Goal Zero Switch/Nomad is about 12 oz. and 2200mah and takes 5-10 hours to recharge.

Considering power needs, bulk, weight, cost, fragility, hassle factor and variable weather risk, the solar panels just don't pencil, IMHO.