My Favorite Ham Radio Power Solution - PowerFilm Solar LightSaver Max

The PowerFilm LightSaver Max is my favorite ham radio power solution. This panel is perfect for the portable QRP enthusiast. If you're interested in this device see the following link www.gigaparts.com/nsearch/?lp...
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[@ac2v311]

I have three. One in my QRP bag and one each in my vehicles. They have had multiple uses and have never failed me. I agree that they are not in everyone's price range, but if you can afford them they are a must have addition.

[@0150r]

Powerfilm checks every box for what I want, but not at $500+

[@GordLamb]

If they made a modern, up-to-date version with USB-C PD in and out (say, 60W, or better, 100W), I'd be all over it. At that price point, it's kind of a no-brainer.

[@raithjames860]

I agree. USB-C with PD would make this a deal changer. I don't think Josh understands what PD is at this point. A USB-C with PD negotiates the voltage and amperage delivery. It requires a smart recipient and the USB output with PD delivery. I'm preaching to the choir, sorry.

[@michaeldavidheit]

I’ve got a couple of other solar units I’ve experimented with, but this one looks to me as a reasonable solution for my Elecraft KX3 for SOTA ops. I’m learning CW now specifically for that mode and plan to purchase one of these units based upon your video. Thank you very much for your efforts, I like your channel and have recommended it to new hams that I am contacted by as a go to source for good information. Again, thank you very much sir.

[@jiangsolar1497]

Amorphous silicon is the right choice

[@mattghoward]

Love my Lightsaver Max - beautiful pairing with my 705 and 6100

[@DrJosh2]

I’ve been using this for jeeping and their smaller version for general backpacking. I’d suggest adding some reflective foil tape to the outside of the battery to reflect light and heat when it’s laying in direct hot sun. Probably not *necessary* but definitely helps keep the battery cooler.

[@jaycompton8317]

Tnx fer the powerfilm review. Love it but a little rich fer my blood. de K9PDQ. 73

[@paulhastings3109]

Looks good and does alot but price would be a killer for me KQ4CD Paul ⚓️

[@nathanielerskine1875]

Really cool. I just got my first little cheapie HAM radio and study guide. I am interested in preparedness and it looks like for next few weeks I'll have some time to focus on getting licensed and hopefully a little bit experienced.

[@offgridpete1835]

Awesome! You’re going to love it.

[@MW-lw8em]

Love mine , well worth it.

[@morganw02]

Additional perk - they are based in the great state of Iowa! I have been eyeing these for a while, just a little out of my price range right now. Definitely on my wish list.

[@jameski5oeb668]

That was great! Expensive… audio was fine for me.

[@jerryblankenship9908]

You are very good at Ham radio, and I think you for your work , It don't look like I am going to get license because when I read something I don't rember what I read

[@safetyharborfirearms]

Lots of uses for that unit...being made in the USA is a plus

[@Philip-KA4KOE]

Power Film makes great stuff.

[@4nk8r]

Love the idea , I'm sure it isn't cheap !

[@ds-ov9yi]

$400

[@soctnights]

I have had my PowerFilm unit for almost 2 years. I did label the exterior of the end caps INPUT/OUTPUT appropriately. I was always taking off the wrong cap.

[@corvus-ch]

I definitely want to purchase one (or two) of these. Pity they are currently not available outside of the USA.

[@M0RMY]

Just bought one in UK

[@CPLBSS88]

PowerFilm needs to reevaluate their pricing.... seems they could cut out some of their marketing wank budget and reduce the cost to the consumer to be more competitive. I get they are somewhat unique in what they deliver, and seems to be a good product, but too cost prohibitive IMO.

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

What is this wank budget you speak of?

[@nvrmor023]

Giving units to vloggers for free

[@jakep5121]

I took a shot. (Literally.. Rum, specifically Sailor Jerry's) and just bought it

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

Lol. Sounds like the night I bought mine!

[@paulpannell8724]

What brand of small laptop are you showing in this review? Thanks for the great videos. I learn a lot from you.

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

GPD Pocket 2

[@TheNoCodeTech]

Thats a cool peice of kit

[@micaguidry1389]

FYI, the 8900 is the only radio I have and I want to use it in the field. SOTA & POTA

[@user-dm1tv6nl2e]

Anything in lifetime expectancy? Curious on both battery cycles and solar cycles (hours?)

[@PowerFilmSolarEnergy]

We are so glad to hear that you are enjoying your LightSaver Max! We are here to assist if you ever have any questions or need anything at all.

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

Love your products! Great work on the LightSaver

[@PowerFilmSolarEnergy]

@@HamRadioCrashCourse thanks so much. We really appreciate the kind words!

[@GM-iq5ht]

Can you give me a 50% discount, the price is prohibitive

[@PowerFilmSolarEnergy]

@@GM-iq5ht Unfortunately, I'm unable to secure that level of discount for you. My apologies.

[@GregoryCarrier]

Please seriously consider a model with a user replaceable battery.

[@syspangylium]

Would this be sufficient to keep an Xiegu x5105 charged every day for a full year off grid? I'm thinking of a looong walkabout in the mountains and woods. How does it perform in low light conditions like gray weather / light rain? How many hours of daylight would I need per day to keep an x5105 charged? Winter days at 70° north are rather short and managing through December and January off grid might be a bit of a stretch, if not undoable. A bigger panel might do it, but size and weight matter. After all, I will be carrying it all in the backpack which will be more than heavy enough. Can it be hung over a backpack and charge the radio while walking? How is the build quality? Will it withstand the wear and tear that normally comes with the kind of use I'm sketching? Is it water repellent / resistant, like can it handle rain and moisture?

[@LabiaLicker]

The battery part should just be a 18650 that you can remove easily.

[@matutep1]

Can you take the LightSaver Max with your carry on luggage? Or has to be send with checked luggage? Thanks for your help!!!

[@normandhokayem9532]

I sent an email to the company no answer yet I need to take my PowerFilm Solar LightSaver Max with me to Europe on checked Luggage if you had a responce please let me know Thank you

[@scottgarvy]

How is longevity? Looks like it would wear out fairly quickly with the bending every time you open and close it.

[@offgridpete1835]

I’ve been using mine for a few years and it’s held up rocksolid. They are built fairly tough and the panel is protected when fold it up. That said they’re made in the USA and their service is top notch. Send them an email and they’ll usually get back to you within a few hours.

[@scottgarvy]

Thank you OGP!

[@vicentnb3]

Does it have enough amperage to work the xiegu g90 atu? 🧐

[@chrisjgilmore1]

I wish it was $400 I would have bought one already. But now they are $550!

[@daveN2MXX]

This seems like a great option. But I can't find any expected aH rating listed anywhere when this used to supply 12V (such as for a QRP radio as you spoke about in the video). I would expect the mAh to be significantly less when used for 12v.

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

After some calculations I believe 4-6 ah at 12v. Works for me for the 705 all weekend.

[@daveN2MXX]

@@HamRadioCrashCourse Good info....thank you!

[@tomtumino1664]

How much RF noise does it put out? On an absolutely quiet summit can you hear anything at all on RF from the setup while running a rig? 73, N2YTF

[@dbird29]

Had me up to the $400 price, whew

[@jakep5121]

Me too :/ 😕 hard to rationalize that to the wife after she just dropped 1300 on the 705, and I dropped another couple hundred on accessories. Maybe next month ;) haha. Ohhh! Tax returns! :)

[@box420]

Just get a anker one for 1/3 of the price

[@lassimus]

For qrp sota, why would this make sense over a 12Ah bioenno for $125? I can see the use for charging phones at camp or something, but 8-10 hrs solar charging for 60Wh seems like a bad trade-off for the size. Wouldn't the 144Wh in the bioenno last longer over all?

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

If your only goal is to run the radio for an activation or a weekend and deplete a battery, sure a battery works fine. If you want to be self-sustaining then you'll likely look towards some kind of off grid power. Keep in mind a 12 ah Bioenno weighs over three pounds, so that is something to consider too.

[@jeffforbess6802]

Yes, but can I run a cpap off of it?

[@micaguidry1389]

Josh, can we use it on a Yaesu 8900 in the field?

[@rkaag99]

With PowerFilm's well-earned reputation (did you ever see the video where they actually shoot a panel?), I might expect the panel to outlast the battery. Are the cells/battery-guts user-replaceable? Thanks and Happy New Year!

[@landonmiller6943]

What I want to know too, is the Li-ion battery replaceable?

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

Great question. I may need to ask PowerFilm that one.

[@n0hr]

They are 18650s but they are not user replaceable.

[@jakep5121]

Just to be clear. We WOULDN'T need an extra (external) battery and/or charge controller? But it would be able to charge an extra battery with OUT the need of a charge controller? . . . Because, if that's the case. Its essentially a solar panel, charge controller, and battery all in one. . .Makes the price tag a little more justified.

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

Yes. That is what it is. Panel, controller and battery all in one.

[@jakep5121]

@@HamRadioCrashCourse awesome 👌 thanks, and I meant to say it makes the price tag a LOT more justified. :)

[@W9HJBill]

You can also plug an additional 30 watt (although they say it will handle a 60 watt panel, it will only add an additional 30 watts) panel to it to charge faster / run off solar directly with more power.

[@JonathanAdami]

I'm from the future, this thing is now 669 dollars, get a couple and sell them later haha still sounds like a great setup for a QMX, tho not sure if the QMX would love the 12.5V output :/

[@tracyrreed]

What's the best SOTA antenna mast? I'm in SoCal where there are few trees.

[@W9HJBill]

SOTABeam Carbon-6 ... good luck getting one though, they are back ordered until mid March.

[@bendeleted9155]

Ham or not, we all owe it to ourselves to have an ability to make power from the sun and store it.

[@landonmiller6943]

Can its Li-ion battery be replaced?

[@DaninVirginia]

How to connect 2 LSM panels in series?

[@shannonhearitige6884]

I’m thinking about getting this to add to my emergency kit is this one worth it?

[@DonzLockz]

Convert that to Aussie dollars is my mortgage payment. Lol.... will need to skip out to stay at home.🤷‍♂️😄

[@bruceenterpriseriskservice9752]

no word on the Giga website about the watt rating for the panel. Anyone know this spec? 100W? Less? More?

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

Try Power Films website

[@oysterbeach]

No solar specs on the website that I could find

[@forgetyourlife]

Its my understanding that PowerFilm has no plan for battery replacement. It may take awhile but that day will come and its unfortunate.

[@davidmendez01]

Where can we find a cable like the one with the anderson that goes into the IC 705?

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

I crimped the connector to the power lead.

[@davidmendez01]

@@HamRadioCrashCourse thanks!

[@kingmasterlord]

OMFG lol I was thinking this thing was going to be like 40 to 60 bucks, $400? what world do you think you live in?

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

It’s a panel, charge controller and battery.

[@kingmasterlord]

yeah harbor freight's got one for like $45

[@landonmiller6943]

@@kingmasterlord No they don't, just checked there. They have a "solar kit" that doesn't look very portable and minus a Li-ion battery for $189.99.

[@kingmasterlord]

@@landonmiller6943 sounds like you got a shitty harbor freight then my dude because guess where I'm getting mine? I know the one you're talking about and there's a different one

[@kingmasterlord]

I'm not arguing against the quality of this one, I'm saying that there are _no people in the target market this product aims for,_ FYI we broke out here

[@AD6DMDennis]

sweet USB meter.

[@harrybolognese1408]

This will get me chicks, right?

[@PendejoRyan]

They'll be coming out of the woodwork.

[@jakep5121]

This thing is a chick magnet for sure!!! (In a sence it actually is, the more un interested you are in the cute girl, the more interested she is in you)

[@LoneWolf0648]

$400 is way too much for a solar panel and battery combo. While it's built nice, you could get by with a much cheaper folding panel and battery. At the $400 price point you could also get a much larger battery and solar panel with a Jackery unit.

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

I understand it doesn’t fit your budget. But for the size and capabilities, panel, controller and battery it’s worth the $400

[@GM-iq5ht]

@@HamRadioCrashCourse I disagree

[@wgxdz]

The price seems “very reasonable” for the government and military contracts…

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

And having a panel, controller and battery integrated into one device.

[@Chris_KS5KY]

Were you in the military is a previous life? Don't hear too many people say "high speed, low drag" that weren't. Great video on an awesome product.

[@urbanjungle9600]

Pity they never make them available on Amazon

[@RayGrieselhuber]

What is that little laptop?

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

GPD Pocket 2

[@miaminarc]

Noooooo Wayyyyy 400$

[@wesmagyar]

I’m only getting left channel audio

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

Push in your ear bud plug.

[@wesmagyar]

@@HamRadioCrashCourse was using Bluetooth. It’s working fine now. Guess it was a glitch of some sort

[@mattb4rd]

Oof this is a spendy hobby. :D

[@box420]

PowerFilm for 300$ FOR 30 WATTS WTF that's horrible price. My God you can buy a 100watt flexible panel for that price

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

With a controller and battery built in?

[@box420]

@@HamRadioCrashCourse il be honest you would be better off getting a jackery explore 240(240wh battery) 199$ right now and a 100 watt rengy solar panels (99$) you will also need to make up a cable that go's from the mc4 solar plugs to maybe a 8mm Barrel plug or something that size to plug into it. That battery has a built-in mppt charger so no worries about that. So for about the same price your can get 3x the power generated and 3x the power capacity.

[@W9HJBill]

And is x5 times the size and weight. Yes you can get a solar system for less money and "do it yourself", but you can't fine one that is even remotely the same size (when stored) and weight at the same price. Trust me, I checked.

[@mehtab100me4]

price bro

[@Screamingtut]

it is Very Expensive

[@stacksmasher]

Meh you can buy a 60W foldable solar panel and and 2 Anker 20,000mha power packs for less than 1/2 of this.

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

Sure. And have a bunch of boxes to throw in a bag. You’re basically paying to have a small form factor and battery performance.

[@wcoburn]

I *really* wanted to like the LightSaver Max, but they're absolute crap and the company won't support them. Sigh. For folks watching the channel (and this is an AMAZING channel), keep in mind that PowerFIim is sending all of these KZbinrs specially tested and vetted versions of their equipment and that you, as a normal human, will not get anything anywhere near this quality nor will you be able to get the company to respond when it's bad. Sigh. You have been warned.

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

I have no idea what your talking about. I purchased my LigntSaver months before I made this video mine works perfectly.

[@sonjakavalut]

520 us dollars today price

[@nvrmor023]

Great if you have $2k for this and 705

[@Code_Monkey_]

I would consider calling them 'dad' items instead... 😅

[@Tommyr]

Too costly. It's ridiculous. I'm tired of seeing this thing advertised on ham channels. Everybody is a shill for products anymore. It sickens me.

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

I’m not shilling. I bought it. Find a panel, charge controller and battery in a similar portable package at a better price. I’ll wait.

[@GM-iq5ht]

I just laughed at the price…..what a joke

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

Panel, controller, battery, all combined in a small platform. If you can do better, there is a market for it.

[@chronobot2001]

It would be a winner at $100, but at $400 not so much.

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

Are you aware of anything in the realm of $100 that is panel, charge controller and battery in an easy to carry around package? If so, please let me know I want it.

[@lyfandeth]

Note: Do not put anything on a floor unless you can afford to have it stepped on!

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

These are wise words.

[@marcclarke01]

Please do not shake things at the camera. Please hold them steady.

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

Thanks for watching!

[@williamoikle2457]

For less than $399.00 there are so many options?????

[@offgridpete1835]

There are many options. It just depends on what you’re looking for. This is a high-quality all in one American made product in a very portable package. The also provide great service in the U.S.

[@landonmiller6943]

Not really, for a portable solar panel, decent controller and Li-ion battery all combined in one mobile package and with the "Josh" discount of $40. It's now on my wish list at GigaParts and am probably going to get one.

[@W9HJBill]

For the size (stored) and weight, and ease of use (ie unroll and go ... nothing to plug in between the panel, the charge controller, and the battery ... just go ... there is nothing as good, as inexpensive, and as durable.