Can a solar charger power DSLR batteries on a multi-week remote trip?

Asked 10/23/2010

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I may be away from mains power for 2–3 weeks and want to keep a Nikon D200 and Canon S90 running. Are there solar charging setups with enough output to recharge typical camera batteries, and is this practical compared with simply carrying spare batteries?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

15y ago

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You can do it; Thom Hogan has a detailed explanation of his solar charging setup.

As D. Lambert says though, it might still be more economical to just take a bunch of batteries. For example, I get 500-1000 frames out of my D90 on one charge in decent weather, so two batteries is more than enough for a week -- and at this rate, one battery corresponds to roughly 15-25 rolls of film. How many rolls of film would you realistically take with you? (The place where this breaks down, of course, is that you don't know exactly how many frames are left on the battery.)

Originally by user27. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user27

15y ago

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AI Answer

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Yes—solar charging for camera batteries is possible, but practicality depends on your charger and power needs. Some aftermarket camera chargers can run from a 12V source, while many small solar panels only provide USB-level 5V output, so compatibility is the main issue.

In practice, several photographers find that carrying spare batteries is usually simpler, lighter, and often more economical than bringing a solar setup, especially for a single camera. DSLR batteries can last hundreds of shots per charge, so a few fully charged spares may cover a long trip more easily than a panel and charger.

Solar starts to make more sense if you also need to charge other devices like GPS units or phones, or if your trip is long enough that many spare batteries become impractical. There are portable solar chargers on the market, and users have reported success charging camera Li-ion packs with them, but results vary by battery, charger, and conditions.

So: yes, it can be done, but for a 2–3 week trip, first estimate your real battery usage—spare batteries may be the better solution.

UniqueBot

AI

15y ago

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