As technology develops, solar battery chargers become more efficient and easier to use.

A new technological development is the creation of thin film solar panels. These are made from special metals, which are highly efficient in converting solar power into electricity.

Thus, it is now possible to create a wide range of truly portable light-weight solar panels.

Brunton Solar Battery Chargers

One leading company in the field of portable chargers is ASC Scientific. This company has developed a product line called the Brunton Solaris.

Brunton Solaris solar battery chargers are foldable, light-weight, and easily transported. When they are folded, they require no more space than a notepad of sheet of letter-sized paper.

Despite the deceptively small size of the Brunton Solaris, it is capable of recharging and powering a wide range of small electrical devices, including laptop computers.

The Brunton Solaris 26, for instance, is capable of recharging the average laptop in 4 to 6 hours. Whereas it will not independently run a laptop, it can be plugged in while you are using your laptop, thus slowing down the drain on your battery and extending your battery working time.

In order to connect a Brunton Solaris 26 solar charger, to power or recharge your laptop, you will need to purchase a 12v (12 volt) cigarette lighter adapter that has been made specifically for your type of laptop. You can usually obtain this at the same place where purchased your laptop, or you can order it from the manufacturer of your laptop. The Brunton Solaris 26 comes supplied with a female cigarette lighter adapter, which then connects to the one attached to your laptop.

The laptop cigarette lighter adapter supplied by the laptop manufacturer will then convert the electricity supplied by the solar panel into the right strength needed for your laptop.

Solar Controllers

When using solar panels to recharge batteries, it is important to understand that batteries can be overcharged – resulting in damage to them. To solve this problem you need what’s called a Solar Controller. This is basically a small device that prevents the batteries from overcharging and getting damaged. It also prevents electricity from flowing back from the battery into the solar panels, which could harm the panels themselves. If you have a solar controller connected between the battery and the solar panel, you will not have to worry about overcharging. It will keep your batteries in a fully charged state as long as it is connected. This is ideal for vehicles or boats which are out of use for a temporary time period, as it will prevent their batteries from going flat. Any device using a 12 volt battery can thus be kept at maximum charge while out of use.

Brunton SolarRoll 14

A final product that deserves mentioning is the Brunton SolarRoll 14. This is truly on of the most portable, lightweight, and yet rugged solar panels on the market so far.

It produces enough electricity to power a satellite phone, digital camera, iPod, MP3 player and many other electronic devices. What’s more, it’s weather-proof and water-proof. It rolls up into a small tube, and weighs only 17 oz (half a kilogram).

This is a solar panel that you can take anywhere. Its also possible to link more than one of them together (also called “daisy-chaining”), although in this case you should use a solar controller in order to safeguard the batteries from overcharging.

You may find more information on portable solar power and solar chargers at Solar Battery Chargers and at Solar Chargers.

The mountain landscapes of America hold both adventure and mystery for many people and thus are the vacation destination of choice for plenty of travelers. But every year adventurers are hurt and even killed because of accidents that occur when traveling in the mountains. Here are some steps you can take to keep yourself and your family safe when traveling the mountain peaks of America. 

If you are going to be traveling in the mountains, there are a few things to consider before you head out, to ensure you are safe should a problem arise. First, dress in layers. One of the main difficulties when traveling through higher altitudes is the huge variance in temperature that you will face. Should you be stranded in the mountains at night, it can become very cold. To avoid problems that come as a result of the weather, dress warmly but in layers that can be removed if it becomes too warm.

Before leaving, make sure that someone knows where you are heading, and when you expect to be back. This is crucial to your rescue if you should become lost. If there is someone expecting you to be back at a certain day and time and you do not return, a search party can begin. However, if no one knows where you are and when to expect you, then it may be weeks before they start looking.

 
Hansel and Gretel had the right idea when it came to marking a trail so they wouldn’t get lost. Instead of using bread crumbs, they should have made sure they had a pocket knife before they left the cottage.  With a knife, you can carve a notch in a tree or rock every few yards to retrace your steps if needed.

Always travel with a flashlight and extra batteries. Also, make sure you take waterproof matches along with you. A space blanket and a small tarp are essential to your survival in the mountain wilderness.  Bring along some water purification tablets in case you should need to search for something to drink. A container that can hold water is also a must.

If you do find that you are lost in the mountains and do not know how to return to where you came from, the best thing to do is to stay where you are. If you move around, you will be harder to find when rescue comes. However, if you are near a stream and you feel you must keep moving, head downstream. This will take you towards the bottom of the mountain, which is usually closer to a road or town. If you can find shelter where you are, stay put and get out of the elements. Leave a marker, like a brightly colored jacket or tarp, so that rescuers might find you. Then you need to get into shelter.

Stay away from any animals you might encounter. The animal you will be most likely to encounter is a bear. Whatever you do, do not surprise an unsuspecting bear! Catching a bear off guard is the reason for most bear attacks. 

Do not become overly concerned about food. Watch the local wildlife and find berries or nuts that you can eat. Remember that the human body can survive up to three weeks with no food, but it is much more important to stay hydrated, as lacking water can bring you close to death quickly.  Make sure you have access to water at all times.