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The use of the EL8 Headlamp - Solar Panel as an iPod or other hand held devices charger, was meant to give a charging boost to those devices, when you are outdoors, away from power outlets and cars. Examples of possible uses of the EL8 as an iPod charger are: hiking, backpacking, bicycling, at he beach, picnics, or other outdoors activities

Very Important Information: The EL8 Headlamp and Solar Panel combination is not a straight substitute to an iPod wall or car charger, but can greatly help in providing some charge to different hand held devices. The amount of charge the EL8 combination is able to provide to your iPod, Bluetooth earpiece, GPS, etc., depends on the capacity of the EL8 Headlamp, and the capacity of the hand held device  you are trying to charge.

The EL8 Headlamp has a Li-ion battery with a limited capacity, designed to power the 5 bright LEDs. An iPod's battery holds a reasonable high amount of charge, therefore charging it with solar power, may require several charging cycles from the EL8 headlamp . We will post our findings on tested charging time with different iPods nano models.

Examples:

1. A Blue tooth earpiece will be 100% charged by any combination of charging methods shown in this and other pages (Charging Uses of the EL8 Headlamp): Headlamp alone, Solar Panel alone, or both Headlamp and Solar Panel together.

2. A 4GB iPod nano, has a much greater battery capacity, therefore an equivalent charging power demand. Preliminary tests, showed that a 4GB iPod nano can drain completely the battery charge of the EL8 Headlamp in about 10 to 15 minutes, if the EL8 Headlamp is not fully charged, providing about 1/8 or less of the battery charge this iPod needs. It's highly recommended to have the EL8 Headlamp fully charged (about 6 to 8hrs connected to the solar panel exposed to direct sun light, in a clear, not foggy, day), when you charge your iPod with any of the methods shown below.

We are going to give you tips, following thorough tests, on how to use this Headlamp in the most efficient way to charge your electronic hand held devices, particularly your iPod, in this page. Tests are posted following informative and educational videos.

*(At the present moment, only Charging Option 5 has the corresponding Test posted. Other Charging configuration tests will follow soon.)

The charging uses associated to the EL8 Headlamp, and Solar Panel, are a bonus application to the regular use of this smart headlamp-solar panel set.

with the EL8 Headlamp,

Solar Panel, EA1 12 volt converter,

and iPod's car charger

using the EL8 Solar Panel,

EA1 12 volt converter,

and iPod's car charger

in a sunny and clear day

with solar powered Headlamp,

EA1 12 volt converter,

and iPod's car charger

with the EL8 Headlamp and

the Solar Panel together,

and using the EA6-USB adapter

Charging assembly method recommended for outdoors activities: hiking, backpacking, bicycling, etc

Especially designed for hikers and backpackers.

1. Plug iPod's USB cable to iPod
2. Plug solar panel to "T" adapter and "T" adapter to headlamp
3. Connect USB adapter to "T" adapter and to iPod's USB cable
4. iPod starts to charge!

Some times iPods freeze when it is connected to Solar Panel first and there is not enough light to power the Solar Panel. Do not despair! Just press iPod's center bottom and top Menu bottom together, to reset it.

To avoid iPod freezing, use above charging configuration, EL8 Headlamp plus Solar Panel, and connect iPod after "T" adaptor is plugged to Headlamp; or  you can choose to charge iPod safely with Headlamp only, as shown in movie below.

with the EL8 Headlamp

using the EA6-USB adapter 

Remember to charge your Headlamp after iPod took all charge from it!
 

Charging Option 5 Test:
Real life test shows that a full charged EL8 Headlamp, provides about 1/4 to 1/2 of iPod nano 4GB or 8GB battery charge. A full iPod's charge will take between two to three EL8 headlamp charging cycles. Since iPod's nano 4GB-8GB music playback time is about to 24 hours when iPod is fully charged, 1/4 of charge will give you about 6hrs of music. If you will be hiking/backpacking several days or weeks or months, like in the Pacific Coast Trial, PCT, you can keep you iPod nano 8GB (or 4GB) alive for the whole trip, as long as you listen about 6hrs of music a day, or less, and you are diligent in keep charging your iPod every day. Charging iPods nano 4GB and 8GB is equivalent; both have same battery capacity. Charging an iPod nano 2GB, will take about half of the time or charging cycles of the iPod 4GB or 8GB, only one or two charging cycles when EL8 headlamp is fully charged.

with the EL8 Headlamp and

the Solar Panel together,

and using the EA6-USB adapter

Again, sequence connection is not important; just try to connect iPod's USB cable last