Solar panels & chargers buying guide

Power : Solar Panels

Buying Guide:
Portable Power

Need to run cameras, laptop or palm computers, battery chargers, GPS, or communications equipment while far from utility power? Modern Outpost is your source for a wide range of solutions, both off the shelf & custom.
If after reading through this page, you have questions about your application, please send us an email to discuss your needs.

Read our Application Notes to find out more about portable power technologies & system design.

	Custom Designs	Outpost Power 26	Outpost Power 18	Outpost Power 12	Outpost Power 7	Outpost Power 4	PowerDock Elite	PowerDock Basic	SolarSupra Value	WEZA	For Small Electronics
											Don't need the amount of power provided by the products on this page? Looking for something smaller & lighter? We have gadgets you need to see... Click here
Features
Maximum one-day power delivery (Watt-hours) (With standard kit options)	Will build to suit your needs	381	221	148	82	43	115	87	103	765

Included chargers (with standard solar options)	+	AC DC 55.4W Solar	AC DC 27.7W Solar	AC DC 18.4W Solar	AC DC 9.2W Solar	DC 4.6W Solar	AC 15W Solar	AC 15W Solar	AC 13.4W Solar	Manual Foot/Hand Generator
Portable power generation (Watt-Hrs) (with standard solar options) May-Sep : 4 Peak Sun Hrs avg	+	221	111	73	37	18	60	60	53	720 (30 watt gen)
Expand / Custom Power generation?	+	Yes Min = 0 Max = 100W	Yes Min = 0 Max = 100W	Yes Min = 0 Max = 100W	Yes Min = 0 Max = 50W	No	Yes Min = 0 Max = 30W	No	No	No

Power storage/type	+	SLA (AGM)	SLA (AGM)	SLA (AGM)	SLA (AGM)	SLA (AGM)	SLA (Gel)	SLA (Gel)	Lithium (Polymer)	SLA (AGM)
Power storage (Watt-Hrs)	+	160	110	75	45	25	55	27	50	40
Power storage capacity (Amp-Hrs)	+	26 @ 12V	18 @ 12V	12 @ 12V	7.5 @ 12V	4.5 @ 12V	9.4 @ 12V	4.7 @ 12V	n/a	7 @ 12V
Overcharge protection?	+	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No
Battery status meter?	+	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

12V DC Outlets	+	3	3	3	3	2	2	2	Yes	1
Other DC output	+	USB	USB	USB	USB	-	-	-	USB Cell & laptop adaptors	-
AC power outlets (with standard solar options)	+	Yes 2 @ 150W	Yes 2 @ 150W	Yes 2 @ 150W	Yes 2 @ 150W	No (optional)	No (optional)	No (optional)	No	No (optional)
Package style	+	Camcorder shoulder bag	Camcorder shoulder bag	Camcorder shoulder bag	Camcorder shoulder bag	Camera shoulder bag	Satchel shoulder bag	Satchel shoulder bag	Folding satchel	Custom carry case

Dimensions (approx)	+	13x8.5x9" 32x22x23cm 22lbs 10 kg	12x8x9" 30x20x23cm 16 lbs 7.3 kg	12x7x8" 30x18x20cm 12 lbs (5.5 kg)	10x6.5x6.5" 27x16x16cm 8 lbs (3.6 kg)	6x5x6.5" 15x13x16cm 5.1 lbs (2.3 kg)	10x18x4" 25x45.7x10cm 14.1 lbs (6.4 kg)	10x18x4" 25x45.7x10cm 9.9 lbs (4.5 kg)	9x5.9x3.9" 23x15x10cm 2.75 lbs (1.25kg)	18.2x11.4x8.6" 46.3x29x22cm 17.75 lbs (8.06 kg)

Other Features	+	Dual input ports 1 year warranty	Dual input ports 1 year warranty	Dual input ports 1 year warranty	Dual input ports 1 year warranty	Dual ports 1 year warranty	1 year warranty	1 year warranty	1 year warranty	Jumper cables for boats & vehicles 2 year warranty
Primary design function	+	Computers, A/V, medical, research Plus all small electronics	Computers, A/V, medical, research Plus all small electronics	Electronics up to & including laptop computers	Small electronics including battery chargers digital cameras PDAs audio players GPS VHF radios	Small electronics including GPS VHF radios, battery chargers	Small electronics including battery chargers digital cameras PDAs audio players GPS VHF radios	Small electronics including battery chargers digital cameras PDAs audio players GPS VHF radios	Small electronics including battery chargers digital cameras PDAs audio players GPS VHF radios	Small electronics up to & including laptops. Emergency power for home, cabin, apartment, boat, RV. Jump start power for boats & vehicles
Key advantages	+	Power capacity AC Power	Power capacity AC Power	AC Power support	AC Power support	Cost	Multi-use satchel Efficient solar	Multi-use satchel Efficient solar	Lightweight	No reliance on solar power Generate power anywhere, anytime
Laptop Daily Performance... Solar Gen. / Reserve (Approx Hours)	+	9 / 6.5	4.5 / 4.5	3 / 3	1.5 / 1.75	n/a	2.4 / 2	2.4 / 1	2 / 2	Const / 1.75
Current Price	Call	Check	Check	Check	Check	Check	Check	Check	Check	Check	$Smaller USD

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Power : Solar Panels

Choosing a portable power solution...

1. What do you need to power?

Take a quick inventory of all the devices you will need to power. Put them in priority order list.

2. How much power & for how long?

Find out the power consumption for each device. Often this is printed in the user manual (ie. 5 Watts), or you may derive a reasonable estimate from the output specifications on the device's AC adaptor (ie 500mA @ 6V = 3 Watts). You can also derive an estimate from the battery specifications (ie 2300mAHr @ 3.6V = 8.3 Watt-Hours).

Next, estimate the amount of time that each device will need to operate each day, or the amount of time required to recharge the device's battery pack (ie 3 hours). Multiply this time by the power consumption to obtain the Watt-Hour requirements of the device.

3. Add it up...

Add-up all the Watt-Hour consumption ratings of your devices to obtain your total power requirements. Look at the chart above and find the power packs that meet or exceed your needs.

4. Other considerations

Once you know your power requirements, you may want to consider the size & weight of the power pack needed to supply the neccessary power. If you cannot possibly pack the size of kit your devices need, you will want to adjust the usage pattern of your devices to try to find some power savings.

5. DC is preferred...

Whenever possible, choose devices that have DC power adaptors available (ie 12V vehicle adaptor for your car). Avoiding the use of AC inverters will save you at least 10% of your precious generated power. When you are in the electrical desert, you don't want to go spilling any valuable juice!

Typical device power consumption...

Following are some typical power numbers...

Cell Phone = 1 Watt

MP3 Player = <0.25 Watt

Satellite Phone = 6 Watts

Portable DVD = 4 Watts (battery) / 9 Watts (AC adaptor)

Portable DVD = 12 Watts

PDA (Palm computer) = 1 Watt

Handheld GPS = 1 Watt

AA Battery Charger (4 bank) = 6 Watts DC (12 Watt AC)

Digital Camera Charger = 8-12 Watts

Laptop = 20-80 Watts (varies between brands & models)*

* Some laptops can consume as little as 25 Watts when doing basic functions, however, running optical drives, hard drives, DVD/CD burners, large display screens, and audio, can all push power consumption up to 80 Watts in many cases.

If you have any questions about the devices you wish to operate on portable power, please send us an email. We will help put together a package to meet your needs.

Application Notes...

Tell me what kind of products to consider for...

Modern Outpost camping gear, outdoor equipment & accessories for today's pioneer canada. Modern Outpost camping gear, outdoor equipment & accessories for today's pioneer canada.