Goal Zero Solar and your Baofeng UV-5R+ and UV-3R

I wanted to be able to charge a couple of my baofeng ham radios off grid with a solar power system. This video will briefly explain how the Goal Zero Nomad 7 amzn.to/2P2WDpM and the guide 10 plus can be paired up to charge a Baofeng UV-5R, UV-5R+ amzn.to/2NmfCLy and a UV-3R and accomplish this. Both of these radios have such a small footprint and inexpensive price that they make good options for emergency communications for your bug out bag.
Diamond Whip antenna upgrade for your Baofeng amzn.to/2E8mtGu
#baofeng #goalzero #baofenguv5r #baofeng #solarcharger #solarpanels

[@wx9dx]

I could not believe how expensive that solar panel is and the charger. I found a cheaper panel at Harbor Freight and a cheaper charger at Wal-Mart. For those of us that don't have $120 for the setup above. Thanks for the video, I'm very sure it will get others thinking of what they might do with their equipment. OH, and you and I seem to be on the same page as per being prepared. Thanks again! 73 Jimmy, ARRL TS, WX9DX

[@logibloc6061]

Great video showing some tricks of the Baofeng's charging variability. Thank you sir.

[@SouthWestIron]

You got it! Please like and sub!

[@logibloc6061]

@@SouthWestIron Done & Done. Thanks again!

[@SouthWestIron]

@@logibloc6061 Thank you.

[@throttleupprepper]

IritLiked your video. I now have a nomad seven solar panel and I have a BF F8HP portable with an extra battery and the ability to connect it to my solarpanel. Works great. New to him Radio and Love it so far

[@danijel124]

I like it how going green is cool now :)

[@SouthWestIron]

I'm going to look at adding a 6 volt battery to the system as well. I was thinking of using this in a mainly grid down emergency situation where you have to bug out away from any type of infrastructure. Thanks for commenting Femmpaws!

[@thefrontiersmen3766]

Great video, thanks for the tips!!

[@SouthWestIron]

Thanks for watching!

[@jornjacobsen3945]

They did make a 'AA' battery holder for the uv-5R. The UV3R needs a about 4.5 volts to charge. The polarity is reversed, so be careful if you make a cable to charge it with the Goal zero. If the Goal Zero panel puts out more than 5 volts, it may do damage if the battery is over charged. Better to error on the side of caution. Whatever the charger that was provided witht he uv3r puts out. use that voltage or a tad lower.

[@Femmpaws]

The best thing you can do now it take it out and see how well it work in the field in less that ideal conditions. Take dead batteries out and a volt meter and test them. That way you know things work when you need them to work.

[@baudelliocharles1318]

Very cool idea if plan on keeping an mobile Kenwood and two bafoengs

[@Popgunner101]

Thanks for your video. I have some of the UV5-r radios with the larger 3800 mah batteries & I wanted to charge them using my Goal Zero units. I used the cigarette sockets that came with my solar units & some cheap car charger cords I got on e-bay. You have to be careful to get the car chargers that have the small plug ends that fit into the sockets on the Baofeng batteries. In a pinch you can use the car chargers with the big plugs but then you have to use the cradle charger as well. The 3800 mah batteries last for days on these radios once charged.

[@SouthWestIron]

Excellent we need a video from you on this! Thanks for watching.

[@leonp333]

Those 3800 mah 5r bateriei ca-n be charger directly from a solar panel , Look on eBay 18v 16w solar panel

[@escapetherace1943]

or just snip off the car charger and solder on a better connection

[@karlschwab6437]

Great video and information, thanks! 73, Karl

[@basilkey2949]

Yes, After watching your video I did check ebay and found lot's of them. Thanks.

[@SouthWestIron]

Basil Key you got it! Thanks for watching, please like share and sub!

[@Kennynva]

To me, the best solar charger I found was a 14 watt Anker...from eBay..which..I know I got a deal, so I know they are way more money...I paid $45 and free shipping...it is a 4 panel unit with two USB outputs...and the second one I have is a single panel 3 watt...from EnerPlex...and I'm telling you..it rocks..you might think it is small and dont have any power..but you will be fooled what a 3 watt panel can do..and it can almost be rolled up like a poster...it is that flexible...

[@jmnori]

Now there is a UV-3R+ :D

[@Femmpaws]

I get my batteries from powerstream at this time You have to be careful when charging SLA batteries they are very picky about charge voltage and amps So check out the data sheets of the batteries you plan to use

[@Femmpaws]

What I see should work. The question I have to ask is how long will it take to recharge your batteries in less than idea conditions? With a 10 watt 12 volt panel and a small sealed lead acid battery and charge controller you have power when the suns not out. You will also have power for LED lighting as well. PowerStream and Unlimited-Solar is where you can start looking. If you are handy you could build everything on the back of the panel

[@z-juan4854]

im from the philippines and im using uv82 and it just sucks, the reason for that?the battery drains really fast. the range is good though. i just hope that uv82 also have an adaptor for triple a, or 18650.. gees

[@wadevid]

6 batteries are required to power the radio, and the guide10/nomad7 only charges 4 at a time. So you'd need 2 of everything just to make it work (for 1 radio) to where you always had charged batteries. It starts getting expensive and crowded with stuff when you start adding more radios for your family/friends to keep them charged.

[@SouthWestIron]

Ben Wade it's what's commonly referred to as a contingency plan. Total grid failure and your going to be doing lots of things in a tedious and adaptive way. Thanks for watching.

[@wadevid]

oh, i absolutely get that. But, I guess the better questions is... since this video has been made (over 3 years ago) have their been more streamline ways to do this with these particular radios? I own about 4 of these radios and it just doesn't seem like there's a more efficient way to charge them via solar. Ideally, one or two solar panels could charge either 4 batteries at a time and that baofeng would make a pack that only takes 4 batteries instead of 6. and if that's not possible, baofeng etc.. could make an actual radio battery pack that charges directly to a solar panel and the charger. If only I guess...

[@SouthWestIron]

Ben Wade I hear ya, need to do some research myself. I bet we can come up with something.

[@wadevid]

There's gotta be a better way. Maybe this? ahtrimble.com/2015/11/11/keeping-your-baofeng-uv-5ra-handheld-radio-charged-with-solar/

[@DeneyT16]

There is a better, easier way, when using EITHER the GoalZero Nomad7 Solar Panel OR the GZ Guide10 Plus, both featured in this video. Order one of these cables sold by BaofengTech.com: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01H2HN1KO/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=AA3MGRC7F9EI2 Using this USB "step up" or "boost" converter cable designed specifically for the stand-up chargers for the Baofeng units, you can plug in the charger cradle directly to the Nomad7 Solar Panel and let the radio charge that way. OR you could have the GoalZero Guide10 Plus fully charged and use it as a power pack to charge the cradle directly as the GZ Guide10 Plus has a USB slot in it as well. Conceivably, with two cables, you could have your Guide10 Plus fully charged and charging one radio with one cable and the Nomad7 Solar Panel charging another radio with the other cable. And those cables are only $10.89 each on Amazon, LOL.

[@joash480]

OMFG! I have that radio! DID NOT know it can do that, so the stock battery can't open right? I need to buy a separate battery case that can hold 6 aaa's? I looked up our local online store and we actually have one we also have the extended 6 AA's so i think I'll go for that. So I guess I need a reliable rechargeable battery and a portable solar panel. AWESOME thanks. DId not know my radio has so much features for it. Its like a nuclear bang for the buck.

[@GONEWILDFILMS]

Can the BaoFeng UV R3 antenna be upgraded with a Nagoya NA 771 VHF/UHF antenna ??? Thanks for the awesome review.

[@SouthWestIron]

Not sure but this antenna serves well on these Baofengs, amzn.to/2E8mtGu

[@buzzingadventures1980]

Great video..m6wbw 73

[@jimerickson1809]

Best thing to do is get the Yaesu FT-60, it charges directly from 12v & is a far superior radio. KB0DBJ

[@BLACKFOOT1970]

The battery box either needs a dummy battery or wire it for 5 battery or you can't transmit

[@701overland]

Can you tell me where you purchased the aaa adapter?

[@SouthWestIron]

I got this from Ebay, however they are also available on Amazon.

[@mytuber81]

Where can one get that AAA or a AA adapter for the Baofeng, and will this adaptor work with most Baofengs, specifically the Baofeng BF-F8+ and the BF-F8HP?

[@SouthWestIron]

I'd try ebay or amazon, not sure if they are compatible with the newer Baofengs. Thanks for watching.

[@mytuber81]

SouthWestIron Thanks

[@fastslick3039]

If you carry all your raido's, and there's a EMI your screwed. They will just fry and not work. So keep one or two rapped in foil to protect them.

[@SouthWestIron]

fast slick "wrapped" I suppose you can build faraday cage with aluminum foil. Be sure to use enough wraps for the proper thickness.

[@basilkey2949]

Where you purchased the aaa adapter?

[@SouthWestIron]

Basil Key ebay

[@Figo90210]

Hello SB, What antenna are you using with your UV-5R+? Thanks in advance....

[@alfascorpi]

Nice vid. But it's unbelievable...2016 and they still can't make the radio's to charge on (mini-)usb.

[@SouthWestIron]

+Alpha Scorpii good point I'm wondering why now that you bring it up. Thanks for watching

[@alfascorpi]

+SouthWestIron tnx, well the reason I bring it up is: finally it seems like usb/mini usb is going to be the global standard....and if that finaaly succeeds, we don't need to have 30-60 different connectors, loaders and chargers laying around the house. It's waste of resources: metals and plastics. 2. If you want/need to go out, one has to bring all these loaders. And 3. I also like the thought of off-grid rechargeabiliy (is that a word;)) I have an Anker 21W solar panel, with usb connectors, and also an anker astro power bank. I think solarpower and (mini)usb are the future for the years to come!

[@alfascorpi]

+SouthWestIron i think i misunderstood you by the way, you didn't wonder why I brought it up, but you also wonder why there is no usb;) haha

[@SouthWestIron]

+Alpha Scorpii Yes no worries. I should have used more punctuation. I was just agreeing with you after you brought it up. LOL. Again thanks for watching.

[@denobpprn]

USB cables that plug into the charging base for the UV5R series are now available.

[@charliebrownau]

The UV-5R is cheaper then the UV-3R in 2019

[@Rocko6716]

WHST THE FUCK ARE WE DOING A REVIEW ON THE HAM RADIO OR THE SOLOR PANEL

[@SouthWestIron]

move along little doggie, while your at it stick a bar of soap in your mouth

[@erikesenaliev9843]

Please, pay attention to what you're saying and watch the #1 NO word: uhh. Other than that nice review, thanks.