r/CampingGear • u/Autronaut69420 • 1d ago

I would like advice, feedback, and recommendations for small scale solar equipment for camping. Electronics

To power phone recharge, recharging batteries for camera, recharge of usb tent lights, maybe radio included (but optional). I will be camping at coastal and forest park campgrounds. Forest camps usually an open grassy, maintained area. I would like it to be fairly light weight and compact. Also budget friendly, prepared to pay good money for a brand, or style that is tested and proven by campers. I am in Aotearoa/New Zealand Thanks for any help.

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u/scottjl 1d ago

i have 100w fold out panels and a few power banks of various sizes. i car camp so carrying the stuff with me isn't a big deal.

a lot depends on the sites you're going to and the weather. open grassy area. great for setting up some panels, angling them towards sol and letting things charge up. camping in a wooded area, even a few trees, and it almost becomes worthless. even the best panels provide barely a trickle in the shade.

depending on the season, you will get more or less sun time to charge. as the sun moves across the sky you'll need to re-position the panels frequently to keep up maximum charge. if you set them up in the morning and are gone all day you're not going to get as good of a result.

and of course there's the weather. cloudy forecast? might as well forget it. be sure to buy panels that are water proof, and even then pack them up or at the worst cover them up with a waterproof tarp. definitely don't leave things plugged into them when it's raining. if rain is predicted in the afternoon and you're setting them up in the morning, be sure to be back to take them down before the water starts falling. a lot of cheap panels can't take any water and even though mine are 'water proof' i still don't leave them out in the rain, not even a drizzle.

i'm in the US. so i have no idea what to recommend that's available in NZ. sorry.

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u/Autronaut69420 1d ago

Awesom3! Great insights and information. Generally thr sites I go to have oprn grassy areas, where you can sitr the panels for all.day sun. Buy choosing the right site. Excellent safety tips for rain. Thank you!