Bicycle touring and Camping with a portable solar panel for
Off Grid Electricity and Charging Batteries in iPod, cell phone, GPS,
laptop and Netbook Computer and AAA Batteries
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 What
could be more earth friendly and carbon neutral than bicycle touring? Powering
my electronic devices with a portable solar panel, of course! In my daydreams
about world travel and negative carbon footprint adventures, I imagined riding
along sunny roads with a solar panel strapped to the top of my load, charging my
computer, cell phone, rechargeable AAA batteries, and ipod during the ride. I would live off the power of the sun, free from
fossil fuel forever. I pictured myself tapping away at my fully charged computer
while lounging at my camp in the mountains, enjoying the beauty of nature while
updating my website. I was sure that much of my trip would be spent far from
conventional power sources, that I would be completely reliant on off-the-grid
green solar energy.
I began my trip with a 13-watt solar panel (10-watt
was a more realistic expectation). It was the size of a thin 3-ring
binder and unfolded like a book to reveal the solar array.
My first idea, strapping the panel to the back of my bike
while riding, met with immediate problems. How to strap it down? My usual
method (bungee cords) seemed likely to break the fragile components. There
was also the problem of keeping the solar array angled properly towards the
sun. One turn in the road, and the panel would lose its path of direct
sunlight. It may still be functioning, but it’s certainly not optimal. And
then there’s always the possibility of a crash while cycling. Expensive
equipment should be kept padded and protected. My solar panel was definitely
vulnerable tied to the back of my rack. I was also concerned with the issue
of having expensive equipment on such conspicuous display in poorer
countries. Flaunting tempting electronics, especially gear that is worth
several months’ wages to someone in the developing world, is not a smart way
to travel. I make every effort to be low-key and not present any obvious or
easily snatch-able targets. The solar panel definitely broke that rule. My
conclusion was that the solar panel would be awkward, damage-prone and
unsafe while strapped to my load.
It seemed more realistic to use my solar device at camp
rather than while riding. I could set the array at the optimal angle to the
sun, rather that worrying about it falling off the bike, crushed in a fall
or stolen by some green-minded thief.
Right away I ran into two more stumbling blocks. As anyone
who has ever tried using a laptop in the sunlight can attest, it’s pretty
difficult to see the screen. Most laptops work better with indoor lighting
conditions. If I sat inside my tent, I could see the screen as long as it
was cloudy outside, but
who wants to sit inside a tent while camping in the woods? Of course, if it
is cloudy or overcast these solar panels do not work well no matter what the
advertising says.
The other drawback was how long it took the solar device
to charge my computer. If I attempted to use the computer while it was
plugged into the solar panel, it used power much faster than the rate it was
charging. Fully charging the computer battery
required at least a full day of sunshine and I was usually ready
to move on before then. If I were only using it to charge an iPod or a cell
phone, the power output would have been enough, but it wasn’t sufficient for
my laptop usage. (see below)
I gave the solar panel my best shot, but pretty soon all
the fiddling seemed tedious and unproductive. Finally I bought a new
extension cord, rechargeable batteries and an extra laptop battery. As
unromantic as it sounds, I found that I spent more time hanging out in
Laundromats, restaurants, and hotel rooms than backwoods mountain camps. Two
hours of charging while doing laundry was equivalent to several days of
solar panel charging. I got creative about finding electrical outlets to
plug into. Hotel rooms in developing countries don’t always have outlets,
but you can always find one if you know where to look. I couldn’t use the
solar panel in most urban environments at all so I still needed all the
extra cords and adaptors. In the end, the solar panel was too impractical to
justify the extra weight, worry and hassle. I sent it home to retire in my
parents’ garage.
I still have hope for my green dreams of fossil fuel
independence. Solar panels have come a long way in recent years. When I find
one that can keep up with my usage, while being sturdy and low-key, I’ll be
happy to replace all the cords and adaptors.
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