Small Alternative Power System

Most people hear the words solar power and automatically envision an array of solar panels, inverters and deep-cycle batteries. While this is an idea set up, able to produce enough power to run just about any electrically powered tool or appliance, a lot of people do not have the need or money to put such a system into play. An alternative is to go smaller and thus cheaper, while still producing enough power to get by.

Jumping before looking over the edge

When I first moved off-grid, all I had was a flashlight, battery powered lantern and a Colman duel fuel lantern for light. It took over two months before getting my solar panels up and running properly and I did not have a generator yet.

I was doing what amounted to a sustained camping trip, I was in such a hurry to get out here that I leaped before I was fully prepared, eventually gathering supplies and skills as funds became available.

Peeing in the dark

Even with my limited electrical output, I had enough power to make do, looking back, I realize things were pretty good despite the lack of wattage. But I must admit after living all those years in a house attached to the power grid, taking a leak while holding a flashlight took a bit of getting used to.

Using your car battery

The small alternative power system should be based on rechargeable AA, C and D batteries and a charger. I charged my batteries while driving into town, using a charging adapter plugged into the cigarette lighter outlet of my Chevy Blazer. This worked well and did not cost me a cent for power, after all I was going to town anyway and the batteries where being recharged during the trip.

Solar charger

On sunny days I used the sun to charge the batteries for my lamp, flashlight and radio, total cost about $40 bucks including a supply of rechargeable batteries. I used a solar powered charger with meter that I ordered from amazon.

This thing is small and light and worked like a charm, when set in direct sunlight, it charges NIMH or NiCad “D”/”C”/”AA”/”AAA” it usually takes three to four hours to bring a drained battery to full charge, but you can do this while doing other things. You just set it up and leave it.