How to be the Hip Green Traveler!

A Portable Solar Charger is a must have for today's traveler!

In today's electronic world, what do we pack for our electronics that never seem to be far from our reach? What would one thing be on our packing list for heading out to the great outdoors with portable devices?  We all know we need appropriate clothing, food & hydration options and the knowledge of where we are heading, but for our electronics?

Things have changed from 20 years ago. In the days of my child hood that meant a boda bag full of water, a cheese sandwich, a candy bar, a camera with real film, and a map. Today's list includes things such as a GPS, an MP3 player of some sort for tunes, a smart phone or smart camera for pictures and social sharing, a tablet for reading, etc, etc.

So as our technology replaces many of the good old standbys that would have graced my backpack I now have to take into consideration how to keep them functional and charged amid the trees and rocks if I need them.

I want to enjoy nature's beauty and sounds without my phone, music or a tablet however, I will still carry my smart phone for the emergencies or GPS if I need. I still want to know I have the ability to get some juice in whatever device if I need it.

Often time when my husband and I have gone on camping trips, we go very very remote nothing around for miles, cook off the camp fire or small stove and read and play a lot of cards around the dinner, however there were times we wanted to listen to our iPods while motorcycling, or watch a movie on a laptop at night for a treat, and the only way to charge them was to plug them into an adaptor in the cigarette lighter in our truck, and who wants to run their vehicle to charge a device? It's not the best option and so often times we just didn't do it.

Which is where portable solar chargers come in handy.  They roll up, and run off of the sun so I can power anything on a sunny or partly cloudy day if needed.
They are perfect for dual sport motorcycling, hiking, camping, backpacking, motor touring, boating, fishing, a day at the beach & day trips, really whatever activity you are doing!

Your device can charge while you are reading, boating, hiking, napping whenever you aren't going to use it just plug it into the solar charger and let it go.

Technology has enabled us to be able to now carry solar chargers in our backpacks, tail bag, saddle bags, boats, and our cars. It's not just that they are convenient, but they are green, they are using the readily available sun to keep us in touch. They are silent, portable, ready available and durable.

They are ideal for many uses, from charging a MP3 player or phone to larger ones for camp trailers, boats and much more.

So the next time you are planning on a trip whether summer or winter make sure you put a portable solar charger on your must have list. It's just the right choice.

Check out a full line of PowerFilm & Global Solar products here:

http://www.californiapc.com/index.php?l=product_list&c=64

Gas powered Generators: To Be or Not To Be?

Sun Power vs. Gas Power

It is a beautiful day to learn something new, did you know that although gasoline generators are great for backup power for homes in winter, storms, power outages due to disasters, gas generators are not suitable for camping.

They can be cumbersome, heavy, loud and disrupting to nearby campers, discharging emissions that no one wants or needs to breath and an eyesore in what would be an otherwise serene and beautiful camping spot.

Portable solar charges are an option that seems to have been unthought-of in the past, but they are the up and coming new kids on the block these days.  Solar chargers need no fuel they take from the sun, they are portable, lightweight, efficient, no emissions, and completely silent. 

Portable solar chargers can charge your devices from your MP3 player & phone all the way up to a boat and golf cart depending on the wattage you decide fits your needs.

California Peripherals & Components is passionate about portable solar products, and their education, news and information that is changing daily with exciting improvements and developments to make the products affordable and user friendly.

Solar

I found some user friendly information to share with you all, so here is a little bit of the setbacks of gas powered generators:

Fuel Efficiency

Portable gas generators are not the most fuel efficient type of generator, with a higher fuel consumption than even diesel generators, and a smaller tank, which doesn't last as long on a single fill, necessitating more frequent, and possibly inconvenient with constant refueling. Add in the unpredictable and generally upward trending cost of gasoline, and the true running cost of a gas generator becomes difficult to estimate, though likely higher than originally anticipated.

Safety

Gas generators produce heavy carbon emissions, aka greenhouse gases, meaning they're not particularly environmentally friendly. For that same reason, a portable gas generator is unsafe to run indoors, as the colorless, odorless carbon monoxide it produces is poisonous and could be deadly. Gas is also highly flammable and could cause a fire at the slightest spark, such as from a gas spark plug ignition, if not properly stored or if the generator leaks.

Noise

 Noise is a big factor with portable gas generators. In many of the same situations where portability is an issue, so is quiet, such as when camping. A gas generator is powered by an engine, and if you've ever heard a lawnmower, for example, then you have an idea of the kind of noise a gas engine makes.

Power Capacity

A portable gas generator runs best at about a quarter-load to a half-load, meaning when it's used to power approximately one-fourth to one-half of its total capacity. The closer you get to pulling the generator's total load capacity, the poorer it will function. In situations where you may need to power an entire home or RV, you may find your portable gas generator unable to meet those demands.

Maintenance

Portable gas generators, while durable, are not known to be sturdy, tending to get damaged more easily and require more frequent maintenance and repairs than their diesel, propane and natural gas counterparts. Their engines wear down faster. If they sit unused, their carburetors and fuel filters could present problems when you finally do run the unit, which could be the most inconvenient of times for such problems to arise. And their portability, otherwise considered one of their greatest assets, only exacerbates the potential for damage.

Read more: http://www.ehow.com/list_7384545_problems-gasoline-generators.html#ixzz2l1qFO2xG

 

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