An avid hiker and photographer from Australia built his own custom solar laptop charger using our 3.4 Watt panels and V60 (now the V72) battery. His solution was designed to be both light and waterproof. Find more of our solutions using solar for hiking and trekking.

Here is the parts list:
3 x 3.4 watt, 6 volt solar panels
1 x 3 panel 6 or 18v circuit box
Voltaic V60 battery
1.5mm HDPE sheet 300 x 450mm
1.0mm HDPE sheet 300 x 450mm
extra cable
heatshrink tubing
3mm x 5m clear vinyl tube
sheet 250gsm white card
0.25m 0.3mm clear vinyl sheet
Selleys silicone RTV marine sealant
10mm foam sleeping mat 500 x 250mm
1/8″OD x 3/32″ID plastic tube
3.5m 20mm webbing
150 x 3.6mm cable ties
12mm double-sided tape

Here’s how he did it. He mounted the 3.4 Watt panels on the vinyl sheet. The screws on the panel allow you to attach directly to thin substrates. Webbing was threaded through the sheet to allow for attachment to backpacks.

Next, he extended the outputs of the circuit box (the circuit box accepts the connections of the panels) and modified a foam sheet. The cutouts in the foam sheet let the circuit box sit nice and flush next to the panel.

Then, he covered the setup with a second sheet and sealed everything tight with marine sealant.

Ready to go, the solar charger was mounted on a hiking bag and ready for Tasmania.

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