backpacker solar? beginner solar?

[thinker]

<a href="http://www.jamestowndistributors.co...56&amp;keyword=product_ad_52241&amp;type=pla#" target="_blank">http://www.jamestowndistributors.co...56&amp;keyword=product_ad_52241&amp;type=pla#</a><div><br></div><div>i wonder what the thoughts are on this? it seems innovative and perhaps expensive but i think not without reason.</div><div><br></div><div>in my time here i've seen plenty of folks just starting out intimidated by the system side of solar power and often they say they want or need very little energy.</div><div><br></div><div>plus, i think it's pretty cool to push the technology. it seems the other rollable solar panels... aren't that rollable.</div><div><br></div><div>thoughts?</div><div><br></div><div>i know i have some questions.</div>

 

[Willy]

Talk about pricey! If you're living in a vehicle just get conventional panels. Nothing complicated about hooking them up.. panel-&gt; charge controller-&gt; battery. All ya gotta do is hook it up and be able to differentiate between + and -. For backpacking, it might be OK, but that's it. ..Willy.<br>

 

[thinker]

well, what made me think about it is a while back a lady needed just enough for a few items, no kitchen stuff as i recall. she was in a teardrop and she was totally overwhelmed by electrical.<div>i look at rollable and portable power units (solar) and they give you more bang for the buck but they do take up a lot of space. bob has an article on one and honestly, i thought it didn't save space at all. in cubic terms it surely took up MORE. the portables are impressive, but are just huge for vandwellers.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>i thought if one could get over the upfront, it might be pretty good. fits in the dash!</div><div><br></div><div>maybe i'm just excited over my first camping trip and get giddy when i see a backpack!</div><div><br></div><div>also, i'm big on small.</div>

 

[Lucy]

Personally I think it's a good idea for people who are just starting out. Matter of fact, I bought <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Foldable-Portable-Emergency-Survival-Disaster/dp/B006DHMQTC" target="_blank">this</a> similar set-up. It's going to take me a while to get the hang of the energy systems most people around here use, so to start with I'm keeping it as simple as possible. The small solar setup for basic recharging and a portable power-station/battery jumper that I can recharge when I drive.&nbsp;

 

[thinker]

that whole page looks cool. let us know how it goes!