Solar Battery Recharger

[SwampFox320]

Haha, anyone have any suggestions on these things and/or where to get them?

Thanks!
FOX

[Bidah]

Fox,

What kind of charger?

Large batteries or the AA size?

It makes a difference.. :)

-Bidah

[SwampFox320]

Like AA type, most of my stuff uses them. Haha, sorry, didn't know there were so many. :-)

Fox

[sniper69]

I have a solar battery charger that charges various battery sizes. It was made in MI. If needed - I can get a pic taken and posted. I'll see if I can locate the manufacture info.

[Arizona Highlander]

I'd also be interested in your solar-powered recharging rig, sniper69. This is something I've never really looked into, even though I know it would be amazingly useful to have one if the power were out for an extended time.

Love your avatar, by the way. :D

[sniper69]

Found it this morning. It will charge AAA, AA, C and D. It has a method for charging alkaline batteries too. The instruction paper looks a little chewed up but I'll get some pics as soon as the camera batteries are charged. :)

[SwampFox320]

I'd love to get more info on it!! And cool Av hahaha...

[sniper69]

Here are some pics. This company is owned by one of my former college instructors. he always had interesting classes when I attended in the late 80's early 90's.

http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/32/32320/folders/272777/2174016New1005064.jpg

http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/32/32320/folders/272777/2174017New1005065.jpg

http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/32/32320/folders/272777/2174018New1005066.jpg

The instructions are alittle mangled from years of storage, but luckily most of them are still there. It takes 8 hours IIRC for the first part of the instructions that are missing. Basically if one of the battery snaps is moved alkaline batteries could be slow charged as well.
http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/32/32320/folders/272777/2174019New1005067.jpg

[sniper69]

Figured i would type out the directions from the paper.

AAA-AA-C-D multi charger 3.4v 225 (then the rest of the info is missing as noted in pics)

Will charge 2 nicad high capacity C or 4 AA or AAA in (IIRC 8 hours as info is missing as noted in pics) sunny hrs, 2 D high capacity cells in 22 hrs. high (missing info) current may rupture alkaline cells!

To charge alkalines, remove one side of battery snap from top of module for cell holder to be used to slow charge alkaline cells.

Protect from moisture.
Freedom Energy Co. 517-372-0347

[SwampFox320]

How do you go about getting one?

[sniper69]

swampfox,
I would recommend calling the phone number and asking about them, price, etc.

[Arizona Highlander]

Simplicity at its best!

No point in trying to call on a Sunday, but . . . I Googled “Freedom Energy Company” and came up blank (there’s an electric utility company in New Hampshire called “Freedom Energy,” but that’s obviously not the same thing).

Don’t know; maybe that little solar cell company is out-of-business now.

I’ve been considering a larger setup, but even going cheapo would run me over $300 ($200 for the solar panels & regulator, $70 for the deep-cycle battery, and another $70 or so for an inverter). Would handle lot of jobs besides charging little batteries, though.

But, for a simple battery charger, that little rig looks nearly perfect.

[SwampFox320]

Well, I'm lookin for one that I can take along in the BOB for an extended stay. Will that one work good?

[sniper69]

Well, I'm lookin for one that I can take along in the BOB for an extended stay. Will that one work good?


I feel it would work good for a BOB, or if the power is off for a while. I originally bought mine before Y2K to make sure that I had something for batteries. I have charged batteries with it. IIRC it charges them in about the time frame on the instructions. It isn't as fast as my 15 minute charger I use, but then again with no electricity my 15 minute charger won't work. :D It is compact enough to put in a backpack.

as for the company - I'm not sure if it is still in business or not. I'll call and see what I can find out. :)

[sniper69]

I feel it would work good for a BOB, or if the power is off for a while. I originally bought mine before Y2K to make sure that I had something for batteries. I have charged batteries with it. IIRC it charges them in about the time frame on the instructions. It isn't as fast as my 15 minute charger I use, but then again with no electricity my 15 minute charger won't work. :D It is compact enough to put in a backpack.

as for the company - I'm not sure if it is still in business or not. I'll call and see what I can find out. :)


Ok, I called and talked with my former instructor. We had a good talk and i found out that he doesn't have them anymore. He said after Y2K sales went down considerably and the last two gunshows that he did after Y2K he only sold about $10 worth of stuff. He had about 40-50 units left and after sitting in storage for about 6 years, he gave them to another student to sell on ebay. So the place he recommended finding the style pictured would most likely be ebay.
On another note he also mentioned that there should be more choices now, seeing solar is more popular than it was 7 years ago.

If I locate any other types of solar battery chargers I'll post the info here for you all. :)

[SwampFox320]

Dang man! Thanks anyway and please do post back with other options!

Fox

[sniper69]

Dang man! Thanks anyway and please do post back with other options!

Fox


Fox - try this one, looks even nicer :)
http://cgi.ebay.com/Solar-Panel-D-C-AA-AAA-Battery-Charger-With-Meter_W0QQitemZ160130285392QQihZ006QQcategoryZ4198 0QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[sniper69]

Here's another one but a different style from the same place
http://cgi.ebay.com/Solar-Panel-4-Place-D-C-AA-AAA-Battery-Charger-More_W0QQitemZ160130622018QQihZ006QQcategoryZ41980 QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem

and for a decent price http://cgi.ebay.com/SOLAR-AA-AAA-C-D-11-IN-ONE-BATTERY-CHARGER-WITH-METER_W0QQitemZ330139752417QQihZ014QQcategoryZ4198 0QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

And one for just AA and AAA http://cgi.ebay.com/SOLAR-BATTERY-CHARGER-AA-AAA-BATTERIES_W0QQitemZ270122426702QQihZ017QQcategoryZ 50511QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

[Arizona Highlander]

The first e-Bay item mentioned ended up selling for $22 (plus $7.30 for shipping).

That's not a bad price at all, and it's a very cool-looking setup, too.

Thank you for the heads-up, sniper69! This has really helped me narrow down my choices to exactly what I"m looking for.

[kducky]

There are many solar chargers out there. Here's two companies:

http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=613&memberId=12500226&storeId=226&catalogId=40000000226&langId=-1

http://store.sundancesolarcorp.com/9001007000.html

http://store.sundancesolarcorp.com/solbatchar.html