How is everyone doing right now?

[jennyjj01]

Erm, I've been checking what I've already got. An ancient solar panel of 13W, its the same size as the modern 100W panels.

13W could still do something, if it's only to charge AA batteries

I also have a much newer, mobile Anker solar panel. The box describes is as "14W, 2A". Hmmm.

My current phone is a Samsung A50, and the gsmarena website (never heard of it, but it looks quite detailed) says that it fast charges at 15W. I wonder if the Anker panel would charge it slowly?

The samsung is USB-c and I'd wager your Anker would only be USB-A (the big plug). You could get a charging lead, but it would only slow charge it. USB-C is modern and clever stuff and features faster charging
That Anker is a perfectly serviceable phone or Kindle slow charger, with the right cable.

My router is a modern Vodafone one, its 12V / 2.5A. Watts aren't mentioned, dang it.

Watts =Volts x Amps. So that needs 12x2.5 = 30Watts.

So, the panels I currently have, I could send the ancient one off to the solar panel graveyard, though if it still worked, it might still charge the kindle (which would be amazing). The Anker is new, but only 1W more than the ancient panel. Both panels need to charge any device directly, as there's no solar generator, no battery device, attached.

USB from the Anker will be fine for slow charging USB, or even AA batteries through an adapter. Might take a couple of sunny days to Fully charge anything.

This means that if this tech worked, I could charge the kindle, and possibly the phone. I still need the generator, to get any storage at all, and realistically I need the 100W panel too. Things are all getting a bit real.

EcoWorthy sell some good starter kits. You can get a 25W panel with charge controller for just £28 https://uk.eco-worthy.com/collections/s ... harger-kit You'd just need to add something like a 12V motor bike or similar battery at £15 or so.
With any 100W panel, you need to add a PWM charge controller at £8 and some sort of 12V battery just to work as a reservoir. Typical battery will be one for a motor bike or golf cart. Once you have that 12V battery charging, you can charge USB devices from that battery, usually through a socket on the charge controller. Though only USB C can do the faster charging.

Arzosa, Please be reassured that for all the geek speak, even a DIY 100Watt solar system is no harder to assemble than fitting a 13Amp 3 pin mains plug. Just a solar panel, a small 12V battery and a simple controller with 6 easy to understand screw terminals. And you get 24/7 support on this very forum 25/7 today.

Remember that the Generator is mostly a storage battery, but with a built in Mains inverter. You only need a mains inverter to run mains stuff. You can buy cheap stand alone inverters for £25 that will power up to a tv, fridge or laptop. Till you get that, charging stuff or running 12V lamps could possibly get you through power outages without too much stress.

As I said, with the Jackery, you get an off the shelf solution, for which you pays your money.

BE SUPER WARY of solar stuff sold on ebay (and facebook) . There's so much over stating of wattages and incredibly fraudulent listings.

[jansman]

Reading about Electricity Generation/ Solar etc. etc. it makes me realise …How I Am Doing Right Now . Simplicity.

What anyone wants to do regarding electricity ,is absolutely up to them,and trust me,I am not critical at all about that. My wife and I have moved towards much simpler living. Between us we’ve had cancer and heart attack ,and it’s truly changed the complexity of living in 2022.Truly.I cannot describe how the last three years has changed our thinking.

We have a solar panel to charge batteries ,but of course that only works in the sun,and Winter is upon us. Therefore we don’t rely on it. During Summer I made sure batteries were charged by sun ,and stored properly. We don’t bother with a generator anymore either,mainly because of the noise,and of course fuel cost. Of course,that is our personal situation,and not criticism of others.

*I* think the threat of Powercut this Winter is probably the start of what may become normal,as global fuel supply gets tougher over the coming years.That’s my belief. That’s why ,if the power starts to play up , we will have simple battery lighting ,simple cooking, increasingly less reliance on freezer food ,and no concern about the tv or internet going off. Of course,not everyone wants or can have solid fuel heating ,I get that, but that is our system. Mind you, I do consider wood processing and storage to be a gentle exercise for myself ,so that’s a win!

[Arzosah]

Arzosa, Please be reassured that for all the geek speak, even a DIY 100Watt solar system is no harder to assemble than fitting a 13Amp 3 pin mains plug. Just a solar panel, a small 12V battery and a simple controller with 6 easy to understand screw terminals. And you get 24/7 support on this very forum 25/7 today.

What a very kind post, Jenny, thank you! Amazing detail. I'll look at the EcoWorthy website today - I have a 5% discount voucher for Jackery, which expires tomorrow night, so I want to make the decision in the next few days. Your post gives me hope I might understand the issues, so I'd like to go the DIY route if I can, if its that do-able.

All three of my devices have their uses - I have a huge amount of prepping information, including illustrated DIY projects, on my laptop, as well as my genealogy research, which matters a great deal to me. The phone, its advanced enough to let me control my savings online if I need to, if there isn't enough leccy to get the laptop and the router going, I used it for that before. The kindle, it has leisure books and prepping books, on a very big screen for a kindle, and when I have bad insomnia, its a lifesaver.