Solar charger for M240 batteries

[davidcolemandc]

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There has been a few threads asking for solar battery charging recommendations for M240 batteries. I just got back from a week long trip to Havasupai, Arizona. It’s a spectacular place with blue/green waterfalls. There was no electricity whatsoever of any kind nor any way to charge M240 batteries. I was using the EVF extensively and running through couple of batteries per day. It’s also a 9 mile hike by foot in and out of the canyon so I needed something I could carry with me.

 

I took with me the Voltaic Systems 1023 and it worked great! One thing that I didn’t realize is that the higher the altitude you are in the faster the solar panel will charge the internal battery. At Havasupai’s altitude (~3,000 ft) it took four hours of sunlight to fully charge the internal battery but you can charge up to four Leica batteries with that internal battery any time (even at night).

 

If you are interested I bought it from Amazon ($339.00):

Voltaic Systems 1023 Fuse 10W Solar Laptop Charger, 14-20V/4A Input, 16000mAh, 60 Watt Hour Capacity, Silver: Computers & Accessories

 

Solar panel in use:

 

Check out my images from Havasupai:

David Coleman Photography | Havasupai, AZ

 

Hope this helps.

David

David Coleman Photography

[Berth]

Slick.

[flyalf]

Thanks for sharing! Did one of the provided plugs fit directly into the Leica charger?

 

Btw: Does anyo ne knows if one can use a poer pack with USB only to charge the Leica M battery? Peraps a USB-to-Leica-charger adapter?

[ns_ng]

Thanks for sharing! Did one of the provided plugs fit directly into the Leica charger?

 

Btw: Does anyo ne knows if one can use a poer pack with USB only to charge the Leica M battery? Peraps a USB-to-Leica-charger adapter?

 

 

I was in the Danakil Depression, Northern Ethiopia and for 2 days I did not have access to electricity. I used a power pack, Anker 2nd Gen Astro Pro, with 15000mAh to charge my M240 and A7R batteries. This power pack has USB and 9/12VDC outputs. The M240 charger accepts 12VDC input. There is even a larger capacity version, 20000mAh.

 

N S Ng

[davidcolemandc]

Thanks for sharing! Did one of the provided plugs fit directly into the Leica charger?

 

Btw: Does anyo ne knows if one can use a poer pack with USB only to charge the Leica M battery? Peraps a USB-to-Leica-charger adapter?

 

The supplied cable connects directly to the 12VDC plug of the Leica battery charger. You don't need to use any of the adapters.

[darylgo]

I was in the Danakil Depression, Northern Ethiopia and for 2 days I did not have access to electricity. I used a power pack, Anker 2nd Gen Astro Pro, with 15000mAh to charge my M240 and A7R batteries. This power pack has USB and 9/12VDC outputs. The M240 charger accepts 12VDC input. There is even a larger capacity version, 20000mAh.

 

N S Ng

 

Do you have information on how many charges you can get from the Astro Pro?

Is there any speed difference from ac?

Thanks

[ns_ng]

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Do you have information on how many charges you can get from the Astro Pro?

Is there any speed difference from ac?

Thanks

 

The power pack is rated at 15000mAh. However, the manual states there is a 20% loss due to voltage conversion, heat generated by the electronics, etc. Therefore, it looks like the max. power is 12000mAh. I did some tests and found I could charge a total of 4 x M240 batteries plus 2 x A7R batteries and my mobile phone with still some power left. The charging speed seems fine, might be a bit slower than using a/c. Since I have 3 fully charged M240 and 2 A7r batteries, the power pack was more than sufficient for my needs during the 2 days without a/c.

 

N S Ng

[diogenis]

There is also yet another solution that doesnt need the sun at all:

BioLite CampStove | Order Today

Smaller, cheaper, lighter, but with a 5W charger, doesnt need the Sun

Edit: No cancel it its not 5W, just 2-4W. Doesn't work

[darylgo]

The power pack is rated at 15000mAh. However, the manual states there is a 20% loss due to voltage conversion, heat generated by the electronics, etc. Therefore, it looks like the max. power is 12000mAh. I did some tests and found I could charge a total of 4 x M240 batteries plus 2 x A7R batteries and my mobile phone with still some power left. The charging speed seems fine, might be a bit slower than using a/c. Since I have 3 fully charged M240 and 2 A7r batteries, the power pack was more than sufficient for my needs during the 2 days without a/c.

 

N S Ng

 

Thanks for the info. I was able to locate one of these and tried it, very happy with replacing an old heavy lead acid battery with this one. Equally surprised it also works with Leica S batteries, they have the same setup with a 12v connector on the standard charger.

[Chuck Albertson]

Gorgeous place. I remember from my last visit (1968) that it's a pretty narrow canyon - did you run the charger mid-day, while the sun was directly overhead, or did it charge while in open shade as well?

[davidcolemandc]

Gorgeous place. I remember from my last visit (1968) that it's a pretty narrow canyon - did you run the charger mid-day, while the sun was directly overhead, or did it charge while in open shade as well?

 

Yes, it's a gorgeous place. How was the descent to Moony falls in 1968? It was pretty scary for me and they told me that it was worse a few years back.

 

I had the charger hanging from my tent and it got about two hours of direct light during the day. However, it charged even in indirect light. Something I couldn't achieve at sea level.

 

Here is the solar panel hanging from my tent:

http://www.davidcolemanphotography.c...AE8D#h318fae8d

 

My images of Havasupai:

David Coleman Photography | Havasupai, AZ

 

Hope this helps.

David

David Coleman Photography

[Chuck Albertson]

Yes, it's a gorgeous place. How was the descent to Moony falls in 1968? It was pretty scary for me and they told me that it was worse a few years back.

 

Dicey. A few metal spikes driven into the rock, with rotting rope between them, to guard a couple of the more exposed spots. Always kept in mind the story of the sailor after which the falls are named.