tips

Battery Chargers: How to Choose and Use

The use of personal and portable electronics in the outdoors continues to grow. Devices include digital cameras, music players, cell phones GPS units and emergency locator beacons. Additionally, expeditions are often outfitted with laptop computers, iPads and satellite phones.

Most of these devices rely on an internal rechargeable battery for power. Functionality is lost when the battery is discharged. To meet the need for recharging these devices when a wall outlet is not convenient, a growing choice of portable battery chargers is available. These provide auxiliary power to recharge or operate your device. Most have the versatility to charge a range of electronics, but some are designed for specific items only, like the iPhone.


Quick Tips on Battery Chargers


1. Know the power input requirement (in volts) of your electronic devices. Find a charger that delivers the same or greater output.
2. Get a power pack if you do weekend trips and want backup emergency power or a single recharge.
3. Add a solar charging panel to a compatible power pack for longer trips requiring multiple recharges.
4. Use a stand-alone solar charger if you can get regular exposure to direct sunlight. To do so, it must be practical to have the panel laid out and charging a device during your trip.
5. Be aware that

• Some personal electronics cannot be used while they are being charged up, and
• You cannot charge a device from a power pack while the power pack is being charged by a solar panel.

6. Start out with your device’s batteries fully charged. A solar panel or power pack may not provide a full recharge.
7. iPhone users should consider using a charger designed specifically for this purpose.