Outdoor Adventure USA

This week we will explore alternate power options when you leave the "grid". While the net will concentrate mostly on options that are helpful or essential in the wilderness, we will also discuss power options that are necessary even when you are near or at home.

If your goal is to get as far from civilization as roads will allow, sooner or later you will need to consider the benefits of some alternate power options. For many back country travelers, the necessities of survival means an increased need for power. The average vehicle battery can only supply so much before it dies or the engine must be started to recharge it. When you add up the power needs of things like freezer fridge units, charging batteries for various electronics, Ham radios, APRS, computers and the like, it is very easy to run the vehicle battery down in a hurry. For extended trips, where fuel is scarce, starting your motor just to charge your battery, may not be an option. This is where alternate power options can help.

Here are links to various products that we have found to be very reliable and great additions to your alternate power arsenal.
1. Ramsond Solar - http://www.ramsond.com/sp100/
2. Difference between PWM and MPPT solar controllers: http://www.sunwize.com/documents/Mornin ... _12-12.pdf
3. Different types of solar panels: http://energyinformative.org/best-solar ... thin-film/
4. MPPT Controller by Morningstar: http://www.morningstarcorp.com/wp-conte ... 0_1111.pdf
5. Wind Generator by Sunforce: http://www.sunforceproducts.com/product ... UCT_ID=137
6. Wind Generator by Tycon: http://tyconpower.com/products/wind.htm
7. Micro Start Personal power supply: http://antigravitybatteries.com/microstart/
8. Inverters
9. Generators (gasoline)
10. Dual Battery systems
11. Goal Zero: http://www.goalzero.com

The following pictures show some of the most common types of alternate power. Solar is, by far, the most used, but the others are serious contenders in the alternate power field.

1. SOLAR PANEL INSTALLATIONS
2. MPPT SOLAR CONTROLLER
3. WIND TURBINE
4. GOAL ZERO
5. MICRO START PERSONAL POWER SUPPLY
6. INVERRTERS

These camping stove/heat generators are interesting but I have no experience with them other than seeing them and wondered if anyone knows anything about them. Although, for most ham applications, there just isn't enough juice to keep a radio battery up and running.

http://biolitestove.com/

They have a camp stove, a base camp model and a 10 watt kettle charger. I find these interesting but more a novelty until I personally experience their real world application or someone posts their personal experience in this forum.

Rick

I am feeling about the same concerning the "Biolitestove" as you are. Having had no experience with it, I will be fair and reserve final judgment, but it seems that as compared to something like a Goal Zero back-packable solar panel, the Biolite offers fewer charging advantages. Keeping a fire lit for extended times to charge a battery, phone, camera (etc.) doesn't seem like a workable charging option. And, in most of the places we travel, phone service does not exist. The Goal Zero can be worn on the outside of a pack (day or back) to charge all day long and can be left at camp during the day to also charge all day long.

The Goal Zero has three charging ports - 1) a regular 12v cigarette lighter socket, 2) a USB port and 3) an AA or AAA battery charging port. Plus, it comes with the necessary cables to do all of the above and does so from a mono-crystalline panel weighing 16 ounces.....

For anyone looking for more information, or to purchase the Anti-Gravity Micro-Start personal power supply / jump start units discussed on the net this week, here's the link:

MICRO START PERSONAL POWER SUPPLY / VEHICLE JUMP STARTER