recharging batteries for your GPS

[MikeA57]

I went fishing with a buddy of mine a few weeks ago and it was pretty dark when we came back in. He runs up and gets the truck and when he swings it around to back it down there's a couple of glowing objects in the bed of it. I asked him what all that was and he laughed and said that it was a new project he was going to work on.

He said his GPS sometimes runs out of batteries during the day when he's using it and somebody told him about taking the solar receptors and chargers off of those solar yard lights and using them to recharge your AA batteries. You can take them apart to access the batteries which are most likely AA's anyway and you just take 2 sets of them with you. Use one set while letting the other recharge. I thought it was a great idea...

Mike

Edit: I think there's only 1 battery in a solar light charging head so you may need to make two of these to recharge a pair of batteries.

[Cane Pole]

Rechargeable Batteries & Battery Chargers - T-1880 Universal Input (AC 110-220V) Ultra Fast Charger with Car Plug

[MikeA57]

Ahh yes, but you don't have to carry an inverter onboard with the solar recharger - just throw it out on the deck and let the sun do the rest - as long as it's sunny of course!!! Plus, you've probably got some of those path lights lying around that your wife HAD to have and now after a year they're old, broken and dirty so it's time for something NEWWWWWWW!!! :D:D

[Cane Pole]

Ahh yes, but you don't have to carry an inverter onboard with the solar recharger - just throw it out on the deck and let the sun do the rest - as long as it's sunny of course!!! Plus, you've probably got some of those path lights lying around that your wife HAD to have and now after a year they're old, broken and dirty so it's time for something NEWWWWWWW!!! :D:D

You don't need an inverter, just use the battery adapter. You can charge ac/dc.

[Arkie John]

I can buy a pack of 8 AAs for about $6.00 and that pack will last me a long, long time. I expend two AAs about every four or five trips. Is is really worth all the extra hassle?

aj

[Cane Pole]

I can buy a pack of 8 AAs for about $6.00 and that pack will last me a long, long time. I expend two AAs about every four or five trips. Is is really worth all the extra hassle?

aj

You not green. :rolleyes:

I use rechargeables in my GPS, can opener, cameras, my genuine all purpose Black and Decker screwdriver, wireless keyboards, wireless mouses, TV remotes etc. f

I am frugal.....

[Corker]

This setup should work fine with NiCads but could kill NiMHs. If your GPS is like mine (GPSMap76CX), 10 hours of fishing will kill a set of batteries rated above 2500 mAh. I don't remember seeing NiCads with anywhere near that capacity, so very likely you are using NiMHs.

If you leave the batteries in the solar heads on a series of cloudy days, the lights will drain more power at night than the solar cells replace during cloudy days. If you're using NiCads, then the worst case is finding the batteries fully discharged. NiCads are designed to be fully discharged without damage. NiMHs, on the other hand, will be permanently damaged if the lights drain them completely.

[SteveJ]

some pretty good info I guess. Steve's Digicams - Rechargeable Battery Information
I have gotten me some of the low discharge batteries for my stuff so I don't have to worry about them if they are not used in a long time. So far so good.

[Hanr3]

My GPS has an adapter to plug into a 12 volt accesory outlet (cigarette outlet). I dont need no stinking AA.

[Redy2Fish]

If the GPS internal batteries die while using and needing it, in the boat say, can you plug it in and re-charge it quickly enough to continue using it? Not quite sure about this, but, I find it fairly easy to stick fresh batteries in when it dies?