Solar Power

One of the most "mainstream" uses for solar power has become using solar panels to charge or recharge batteries. Society has become heavily tech-dependent, and all those gizmos and gadgets require power. It has to come from somewhere, so why not a place that doesn't create pollution?

There are literally hundreds of options available for solar battery chargers. You can buy a device-specific charger, for instance, one made just for iPods® or your specific brand of PDA. More common, though, are generic chargers that come with multiple adapters, one of which should fit your device.

In a standard solar charger set up, you start with some sort of solar cell, or solar cell array, as the power generation unit. Some of these can be quite large, and are not exactly the most portable things on the planet. Weighing from 5 to upwards of 50 pounds, you'll have to be the one to decide where the dividing line for "portability" is.

The larger units typically fold into a suitcase-like arrangement. When you reach your remote location, you simply unpack and unfold, and set the solar panels up in a clear, south-facing location. Set up the necessary connections, plug in your device, and you're off and charging!

The new lightweight foldable or rollable solar panels have jumped to the forefront of solar charging design. Weighing anywhere from mere ounces to a couple of pounds, these panels are much easier to transport and work very well in areas where vandalism or theft is a concern.

As with the heavier models, several panels can be daisy-chained together to give you the wattage needed for larger devices like laptops.

Trickle charges are another very popular use for solar panels. Boats, RVs, and cars that are stored for long periods of time can end up with dead batteries just when you want to use them. The solar battery chargers are the perfect solution to that.

Place the solar panel in an area that will have good sun exposure, and hook up your panels to a regulator. The regulator will protect your battery from overcharging. Some regulators also offer a display panel so you can tell at a glance how your system is performing.

With the new, flexible panels, you can wrap one around the boom of your boat or place it on the roof of your car or on the door of the garage. Your vehicle or boat battery will trickle charge while in storage, allowing you to come out in the spring and start 'er up without any problem!

The solar panels can even be mounted on your camper, RV or boat so that you have a semi-permanent energy source. Use it as a trickle feed when in storage, and for charging batteries or small electronic devices when underway.

Some solar battery chargers even come with a charger for a specific battery attached, like AA batteries. Some look like laptops and open up into about that size.

Your main considerations will involve the intended use. Where the solar panels will be placed and how often they'll have to be moved will help you decide on size, weight and portability. Which devices (and how many) you'll be charging will also play into your decision, since the larger the wattage required, the more panels you're going to need.

But no matter what, there is a solar system out there that can keep you charged up and on the go.