When considering a solar charger, there are at least these two points to keep in mind:
- Most batteries in devices will last a few days. Unless you’re going for a week or more, it’s probably better to just buy a second or third battery instead of investing in a solar charging system. It will also depend on how much you plan to use your device and/or how many devices you plan to take and need to charge. For example, if you’re using the video mode on your digital camera, that will eat up your battery quite quickly and you will want to research what your power consumption is estimated to be.
Tip: The screen is one of the biggest power drains on electronic devices. Set your screen to the minimum “auto off” setting or avoid using it at all if you have a view finder. Also, dim your screen to the lowest tolerable level. For iPod and iPhone music listeners while on the trail, maximize your battery life by setting the phone in Airplane mode so it’s not hunting for a tower, and once your music is rolling, tap the top button to turn the screen off. - One (of maybe many) irony you may encounter is you can only charge your battery in the device in which it is used. This means, even if you have two or three batteries, if you’re plugged in and charging, your ability to use the device can be limited. Also, in regards to cameras, you’re probably going to be doing most of your photography during the day when the sun is available to charge. You could probably rig some sort of tether if necessary. The other option is to buy a separate charger, but then you’re looking at more cost and one more thing to pack along.
Much of what I said is on the contingency that your device(s) have proprietary batteries that can only be used in the device it came with. If you’re device used AA or AAA batteries, that’s a slightly different story.
