Off-grid Solar Charging on a SOTA Adventure

A local SOTA activation offered a great opportunity to test out a newly purchased solar panel while having a little fun. Spoiler alert: I'm impressed. This panel is sold. It packs small, puts out lots of power, and is decently light. And the icing on the cake is that the price is reasonable. With this panel, I can operate indefinitely at 100W while the sun is out.
Here's the panel I'm using: amzn.to/2PlWhR4
It's made by a company called "Topsolar," undoubtedly produced in China, but the quality seems solid and the features are great. The panel has a full-voltage output, USB, and most interestingly, a 14.4 V output that should work well charging LiFePO4 cells directly through a balancing BMS.
The Powerfilm solar panels are the cream of the crop, but I'm just not sure I'm willing to shell out 5x the price of this panel for one of them. So this was my pick, based on a bunch of digging through options online in the $2/watt range.
As a bonus on top of testing some new gear, the activation was a blast, with about 85 contacts in the log.
Powerwerx Charge Controller:
powerwerx.com/...
Topsolar folding panels on Amazon
100W Solar Panel: amzn.to/3nlsiVT
60W Solar Panel: amzn.to/3aEDOGT
30W Solar Panel: amzn.to/3tTLyMD

[@K5YVY]

Another great video Adam. And very awesome to have not only made Contact but be in the video recording as well! Thanks👍

[@Tommyr]

The controller is probably adding that noise. IIRC that controller is known to be noisy. Nice video!

[@JReed305]

Cool piece of kit. Would be interested in a long term follow up after you have trekked it around the mountains for a summer.

[@KevinW8BRY]

Thanks for the video as always Adam. I understand the shorts and bush SOTA activations. I have the scars to prove it. Like the solar panel. May fit my needs. 73. Kevin

[@lovethevdub]

Fun video. Instead of a pico-pixie and UL EFHW you are hauling a solar panel, 100 watt rig, giant pole, etc... love it =) The solar panel looks legit and way cheaper than PowerFilm stuff. Nice find. 73 de WU7H

[@ChrisN8PEM]

Nice one Adam! Love how it's shot.

[@TheTechPrepper]

You got France! F4WBN is all over my logs, too. Great video, Adam.

[@K6ARK]

F4WBN is ridiculous. I'm pretty sure he could get me operating a Pixie transceiver. Lol.

[@alallan7584]

Genasun Solar controllers are designed for HAM radio and give off zero noise. And, they are very small and efficient .

[@Pigeon__Man]

Definitely need to look into this one! I want to do an overnight/weekend POTA trip to Round Valley Reservoir here in NJ this summer and need a portable charging solution.

[@DonzLockz]

Thats a good day out Adam. Great power from that solar panel.👍

[@rjc0234]

Spooky! Was looking all over KZbin for a review on this solar panel, couldn't find many, and then upon finding your channel via HRCC you are talking about this very one!

[@K6ARK]

I'm still very happy with it. Haven't abused it but use it occasionally and it's still performing as expected. Bought a 30w as well and like it for backpacking.

[@DK5ONV]

Adam you are a genius, no f...... doubt about it! I so want a solar panel for my outdoor activities. There's just one problem. Germany doesn't have as much sun hours as SoCali does (head scratching). I am gonna figure out something....but anyways, I love what you doing and there's so much other HAM's can just learn from you. Happy weekend. 73's de your friend Uncle Günter, DK5ONV from Studio "F" ield.

[@scottwood1143]

Another great outing Adam! If it’s not too much trouble you might consider listing the gear you use somewhere in the top notes section. Not _everything_ - but the major stuff 😀

[@K6ARK]

Sure! Anything in particular you're interested in?

[@tysonwetzel8092]

@@K6ARK same question for me, love your vids! What size battery are you using and what's your antenna setup? Thanks!

[@scottwood1143]

@@K6ARK Well, the specific antenna(s) used; and I think you said the pole is a Jackite 33', and how the heck did you do slow-scan TV!?

[@TestSpaceMonkey]

Not strictly radio-related but for 16:30, have you ever tried puttees/leg wraps? I run trails with prickly shrubs and barbed grass seeds that want to get *everywhere*. A DIY puttee is just a strip of ~ 5"x6' fabric wrapped knee to the top of your shoes with some tucking-in+elastic straps to stay put. They roll up small enough they'll hide in a light pack till you need them and can be re-purposed for other things in the field (arm protection, gear strap, spare dry foot wrap, etc..). You can pick a fabric that protects but also wicks/breathes better than gaiters and the setup is more airy than full-length pants. The main trick is finding a size/strap/wrap pattern that stays put for you.

[@Mottersmotters]

Great video Adam Nice new gear. I have started sota and got 14 sota points chasing. We have to start somewhere. Need to get out and activate. Motters M7TRS 73's

[@brentjohnson6654]

Another great video, Adam. Your videos are always educational and entertaining as if we were together and you explain things so well. Sorry, I had to skip a KZbin add of 12-16 minutes. I hate that reduces your revenue. If they would keep the ads to less than 2 minutes I would let them play for the creators revenue. I am happy to do that for the good creators. Thanks again for your videos.

[@K6ARK]

Brent, thank you, and no apology necessary! I chose not to monetize until I learned that KZbin still ran ads and just kept all the money. So I turned it on, with the least obtrusive options - only pre-roll, and skippable. My assumption was that this would not put more crap in the videos, but would give me a little of what KZbin was doing anyway. My goal is not to make a living off of any of this, but the kick-backs from Amazon links and a few bucks from KZbin views do help me justify buying better camera gear, editing tools, and of course more materials to build antennas. Please feel free to skip all the add you want on my channel - I made them skippable for that reason. I also chose not to turn on superchats. I do this stuff for fun, and to share, more than anything. Any ad revenue is just a little bonus. Your comments and emails are my biggest reward.

[@brentjohnson6654]

@@K6ARK Thanks for the quick reply. I enjoy antennas and have often grumbled that a Mechanical Engineer invented the original rubber duck antenna. haha j/k The ads on KZbin are not bad when they are short, but it makes no sense that those long ones often exceed the length of the video that is showing. Anyway, I am new to the hobby. I passed Tech & General in Ft Worth at the CowTown HamFest in January 2020. I have been planning on hanging a Fan Dipole in an inverted V along with a multiband vertical. I have a Kenwood TS-520SG with a SDR. I am planning on picking up morse code in the future. Thanks for your videos and others like it that have welcomed me to the hobby and gave me a glimpse of what it is like. Again, thanks for your attitude and enthusiasm for learning. I am a retired engineer and look forward to learning every day. 73 de KI5HXM Brent.

[@n4jaw]

Got the 60 watt version a few months ago. I've used it once and like you very impressed. Better value and price over Powerfilm.

[@K6ARK]

Thanks for the feedback!

[@mywwwow]

Great job🎉 Thats my future after 50 years of amateur radio activities ❤ 😊Travel around earth and activate islands, mountains, parks, castles and lighthouses 😊 73,55 de Willi, DL9WR ☀️ Aka “El Sol”☀️

[@KM4ACK]

Pretty sure I have the older version of the same panel. It has been great over the last 6 months.

[@Linas_LY2H]

Thanks Adam! Very useful information regarding the solar charger! I’m gonna try out some time in the future , wx permitting (we still have some snow coming from the sky, and not much sun for charging job :)), my 50W solar pannel and the Bioenno 20Ah battery, or my home made LiFePo4 12Ah battery regulated by the Genasun controller. I’m not expecting 5 A into the battery but 2-3 for sure during clear day times. Stay safe and CUL! 73! Linas LY2H

[@johnkershaw9575]

Another great video. Stay safe.

[@mumi009]

I can say from experience that a Genasun mppt charge controller does not produce any noticeable RFI, if any at all.

[@JosephVE3GKT]

Great video, Adam! It's pretty awesome how capable portable solar systems are these days. 73 de VE3GKT! #teamreplay

[@TheNoCodeTech]

#MNHR Great kit, love that radio, thanks.

[@MrGiXxEr]

Plug the battery into your charge controller BEFORE you plug in the panel.

[@acestudioscouk-Ace-G0ACE]

Another good video Adam, thanks. I liked the panel but wonder how well it does in bright but cloudy conditions? Here in the UK, we have more cloudy days than clear, sunny ones!

[@DAVIDGREGORYKERR]

if you had an active Noise filter using DSP processing you might have been able to get rid of the noise.

[@Scout75PortableRadio]

F4WBN is someone I would love to meet some day. How he constantly chases people in the US simply amazes me . He is a machine! However that K5YVY guy... he's seems a little sketchy... (J/K Joe/Brett)

[@FEPLabsRadio]

Great video. I like that solar panel. I have a Rockpals that seems like a dinosaur compared to that.

[@baneverything5580]

I use a 60 watt folding panel and it`s heavy and huge.

[@vaamorais]

Hi, great day to enjoy the outdoors and do some SOTA activations and to solar charge batteries. I agree with in regards to the top brand and top dollars. As for the RF noise, I am thinking on using two smaller batteries instead a bigger one. This way I can charge one while I use the other - Do you think that could work better? Thanks for sharing.

[@reidlanham2011]

Weird question but is your hat any particular brand? Looks great as baseball caps can get old sometimes. Thanks for another great video!

[@nicholasfield4272]

Great video! What headset are you using in this video? Thanks

[@owlcricker-k7ulm]

Adam, I have had one of these for over a year and it has worked well. I don't know anyone with one else who ones one and have some people looking for info on this brand. I was wondering if you have had any issues with durability or performance.

[@RobertLundbladeInto_Now]

Great information Adam; the recorded sound quality is excellent. I'm curious how you made that happen? I assume your audio out was split to your headset and something else.

[@sebastianmaderner8727]

thank you for the great video! 73 de OE3SMA

[@mikeemerson8563]

Good video. I have the 60w version with a Genasun controller-no noise. The panel outputs the rated specs but requires fairly often panel alignment. Good Luck.

[@K6ARK]

Excellent. Every comment I've received from another owner of these panels and had nothing but good to say about them. That's great feedback. Appreciate your comment.

[@randalltom9750]

Adam, you were banging out the signals… sometimes using a full power rig, gives a balanced perspective for the non-QRP hams… it proves summit field deployment is possible. Additionally, your field-deployable solar power gear has given me some ideas on my kit…. Thanks for the video. de W7UDT

[@jampskan5690]

Nice vid. I am wondering if it is worth it to get two 60w versions of this panel ($100ea vs $140 for the 100w one) The 100w ones only have two more folds than the 60w one. I would run them in parallel to charge a 100amp hour LiFePo4. I also have a 12 amp hour Dakota Lithium LiFePo4, and one 60w panel would probably be alright for that. What are your thoughts Adam?

[@robert8342-w7x]

What length coax cable do you take for end fed antenna for SOTA?

[@nickkendall3764]

Hello from sw UK de 2e0njk just wondering how your getting on with the solar panel a year on now I'm hoping it's still a good option if not do you have any other recommendations

[@markdove5930]

I have a question how is it after a lot of use did it fail after bending it a lot?

[@K6ARK]

So far so good, but I have not used it extensively. It only gets out every few months. The material is holding up well so far.

[@baneverything5580]

I wonder what they connect the panels together with? I have seven folding panels and wonder what their lifespan is? I`ve heard these things last a very long time usually, so who knows...

[@OE8ZZZ]

Hello Adam! Are there any MC4 connectors as direct output or is the output limited to the USB and DC-jacks? Thanks for your answer and thanks for the product review

[@K6ARK]

No MC4 connectors on this one. It's definitely intended for temporary use, not semi-permanent or permanent installation. The direct output is a 5.5x2.1 coaxial DC jack. The others are one 14.4V 4.0x1.7 DC jack intended for Lead Acid charging, one USB-A, and one USB-C output.

[@h2osmokey]

What battery are you charging? Charging and using simultaneously? Long pants fo snakes, scorpions and spiders!

[@K6ARK]

The battery is a 12 Ah Bioenno. And yes, I am charging and operating at the same time.

[@micron00]

What bioenno battery do you used with the solar panel?

[@richardiancarpenter534]

Thanks for the video, Adam! Do you have any recommendation on the size/wattage out for daytrip POTA and SOTA? I was thinking of getting the 30w panel to pair up with my 6Ah Bionneo battery.

[@K6ARK]

Sure thing! What rig are you feeding with it? At what output power setting? And how long are you hoping to operate? Charging while operating or between activations?

[@richardiancarpenter534]

@@K6ARK I'm on the wait list for a TX-500. My other portable HF radio is a non-LCD MTR3B. TX-500: 5w CW, 10w SSB MTR3B: ~3W CW only Operating time will mostly be day trips, in which case I'm looking to not run out of battery power while operating. I'd like to operate while charging. For weekend excursions or longer, I want to be able to keep the batteries charged so that I can possibly do a little "night shift" work. Batteries are a 12v 6Ah (TX-500) and a 9v 3Ah (MTR3B), both Bioenno.

[@Martin_PA0KGB]

How do you connect it to the charger module of the battery? I see a 19V only the otherones are USB. are you using that? greetings PA0KGB Martin

[@K6ARK]

19v goes to the charge controller and the charge controller to the battery.

[@Ammed_KN6STX]

Adam, who makes the chair you were sitting in???

[@K6ARK]

It's a Helinox. Called the "ground chair". Not sure if it's still available.

[@Ammed_KN6STX]

@@K6ARK Yes it’s still available and I ordered one!! Thank you the reply. ETA on more antennas???

[@K6ARK]

@@Ammed_KN6STX I'm back home from work travel and a funeral and am putting parts in bags again. Mostly likely QRP kits within the next couple of weeks and 100w kits immediately after.

[@Tay-ky3fi]

how much does it weigh?

[@K6ARK]

As shown in the video, 5.4 lbs for the panel.

[@wookiel]

sometimes I try too , 73

[@jeffaa6xa482]

Did you 'schwack up in shorts?

[@K6ARK]

I cannot confirm nor deny the allegation. Make sure to watch to the end. 😆

[@jeffaa6xa482]

oops, I should've watched to the end

[@frankcrawford7505]

Kf6prd,frank Colfax ca. Thanks Adam