NavyDoc Posted August 31 Report Share Posted August 31 Anyone know of a HAM HT and/or GMRS HT with a "hand crank" charging option in addition to the normal stuff? With the way things are going these days, might not have any way to charge batteries after all the "Extra" ones are depleted. Thanks in advance! :-)> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WRQC527 Posted August 31 Report Share Posted August 31 This is the only one I am aware of. It's not an HT exactly, it's more of a fancy FRS radio. https://midlandusa.com/collections/portable-base-stations/products/xt511-base-camp WRHS218 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WRXP381 Posted August 31 Report Share Posted August 31 The midland is about it that I know of. However they do make 12v and 5v usb hand crank chargers. Also a small solar/battery back up unit is also a good idea. RayDiddio 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RayDiddio Posted August 31 Report Share Posted August 31 9 minutes ago, WRXP381 said: The midland is about it that I know of. However they do make 12v and 5v usb hand crank chargers. Also a small solar/battery back up unit is also a good idea. I was going to mention the solar as well. The portable solar chargers and generators are way better than they used to be and are plentiful in the marketplace. WRUE951 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NavyDoc Posted August 31 Author Report Share Posted August 31 Thank you all for the info and fast replies! Checked out the midland thingy. must be great, sold out everywhere! And i'll take a look around for the solar chargers too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WRXB215 Posted August 31 Report Share Posted August 31 It took several hours on a bright sunny day but this panel charged a completely dead battery for a Baofeng GM15 Pro. RayDiddio 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeoG Posted August 31 Report Share Posted August 31 Or something like this that can attach to a battery from a car/truck or solar RayDiddio 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WRXP381 Posted August 31 Report Share Posted August 31 51 minutes ago, LeoG said: Or something like this that can attach to a battery from a car/truck or solar Yup these work good also if you have 12v power. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeoG Posted August 31 Report Share Posted August 31 The solar option is probably the best other than a crank right on the radio. WRQC299 and AdmiralCochrane 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NavyDoc Posted September 1 Author Report Share Posted September 1 Thanks again for all your help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeoG Posted September 1 Report Share Posted September 1 I set up my work truck with solar and an inverter setup. Not exactly a big power source but it works well. I have a 105Ah AGM battery that I've been running for about 8 years now and I've swapped over from four 30 watt panels and a 10A SolarEpic controller to two 100 watt BiFacial panels and a 15 amp Victron controller which does so much better. My original controller had a bug in it that the manufacturer refused to acknowledge even though I sent them a video of it with the active problem. My battery never really charged fully for years. It still worked and I had power on my tailgate. I swapped over to the Victron controller and within a week or so my battery was revived and working much better. Plus it has a bluetooth management system with a 30 day recording of what is going on with the controller. So if I have my truck I have a somewhat unlimited source of power withing the confines of my battery and panel output. This is the original setup with the SolarEpic charge controller and panel. That was swapped out for the Victron controller. Black box to the right is a shore power charger in case I go through the battery during the day and have to charge it up overnight for the next days activities. That doesn't happen very often in the new setup. If I run the inverter and the sun is beaming well it can keep the battery fully charged with the 2 amp draw from the inverter. Then the occasional use of a chopsaw or belt sander when needed and usually it works all day. I've run my house on it several times in the winter keeping the fridge, freezer and oil burner chugging along without incidence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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