RE:solar lights and rechargeable batteries

I have a lot of thoughts on this subject. If cash is a problem this is one way to go. You get a charger and a rechargeable battery. However like everything else you get what you pay for. The chargers don't produce a huge charge but they work. The batteries are usually NiCad which are not the best type of rechargeable but they work. Actually you can buy a pack of 10 NiCad's from Walmart for about $10.

An alternative would be to buy a solar battery charger. They charge can charge AAA, AA, C, D and 9 volt and they cost around $40. When I buy rechargeable batteries they are usually NiMH and you can get a good price at Costco about $25 for 4 AAA's and 6 AA's.

As for EMP's there are a number of possible triggers. A solar CME can induce currents. These are capable of taking the grid down but they are highly unlikely to affect items that are not connected to the grid at the time. So if you have a generator it will likely survive. A nuclear HEMP is another story but even then as long as you are not at ground zero long runs of cable for utility power distribution and telephone cable along with pipelines would be the most affected. Items not connected to the grid and with antennas under 30" will probably survive. However if the grid is down for months or even years we will need electricity for light, communications and possibly heat. The solar lights will help out with your lighting needs and could be useful for powering your communications need.

i have also read that the EMP pulse from either a nuclear attack or from an EMP missle will NOT disable a vehicle. Most experts are saying depending on where the missle was detonated, that your vehicles should be ok. You cannot use your car as a Faraday Cage mind you, but at least you will be able to drive.

An HEMP might well disable all newer vehicles with computer circuitry.

Hi Everyone, can you please suggest a solar charger for batteries, that I can buy in Toronto Canada?

Ddoiron,
you need to provide info on what type of battery to be charged or diff varieties.

There are diff answers to various batteries.

mostly AAA, AA
thanks!

mostly AAA, AA
thanks!

There are a couple of main options as I see them that are cheaper;
1. go to Canadian Tire, get the solar AAA and AA battery charger price $25-30 ish

2. get some solar lights the types with batteries in them.
- the larger ones use AA the small ones us AAA
now open them up, take out the useless battery that came with it, make sure the bulb is in the OFF position
put in window or car dash with a high powered solar battery, it takes about 2 days to fully charge it up.
cost about $1-$2 per unit, so get 8 Four AA and Four AAA

I had so many power outages the first few years I lived here I went out and bought about 20 of those hanging solar powered lights at the dollar store. Now my front porch always has a light on when I get home , My yard has pretty mood lighting when there's no crisis and if the power is out I can bring them inside and hang them all over the house.

I painted the inside with shiny silver paint for better reflection. If there isn't enough sun to charge the lights I just pop in a regular AA. I also put tape over the solar panels and inserted lithium AA's in the laterns at my front door and walks so they are alwyas lit, regardless of sun ($.50/mth for 4 lights, Beat that HydroOne)

Canadian Tire update.

as mentioned Canadian Tire does have the solar AA battery charger, on the down side they are not getting any more in, so only a few stores carry them anymore.
I picked up One for myself and Two for Anita today from Port Perry.
They now only have Three left on the self.

Make the parts counter look them up, then ask them if there are any stores near you that have some. Ajax had about 3 and Pickering had a few.
reg price was $25
disc sale price is $11 each

They hold Four AA batteries.
directions say to use the same type in them when charging. Look at the side it will say the power rating.

When it comes to rechargeable batteries you need to maximize the potential of your system. The best batteries by far today for recharging are enloop precharged Nimh ones. They out last and outperform energizer and Duracell by far. Easily you will get a minimum of 1,500 charges out of them and they will hold 80% charge for about a year. The key is the word precharged. It is a slightly different chemistry then regular Nimh and much better.

Thanks Systema - that is helpful. Batteries are a bit of a mystery to me.

Anita,

Check out these links for Eneloop.

http://www.metaefficient.com/rechargeable-batteries/best-rechargeable-batteries-battery-chargers.html

http://ca.sanyo.com/eneloop/Where-to-Buy

I haven't bought any new rechargeables yet. Just free used. You would be surprised how many people leave their good batteries in their e-waste when they throw it out. Same goes for SD memory cards. Free is good.