Charging iPod(s), mp3 players
with Solar Power

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1. Charging an iPod nano 4GB, with the EL8 Headlamp and Solar Panel at the same time, and the EA1 12V converter
2. Charging iPod nano 8GB with EL8 Solar Panel and the EA1 12V converter
3. Charging iPod nano 8GB with the EL8 Headlamp and the EA1 12V converter
4. Charging an iPod nano 2GB, with the EL8 Headlamp and Solar Panel and the EA6 USB adapter
5. Charging iPod nano 8GB Red with the EL8 Headlamp and the EA6 USB adapter
6. Charging iPod nano 4GB Silver with the EL8 Headlamp and the EA6 USB adapter
7. Charging an iPod nano 8GB, from the EL8 Headlamp and Solar Panel at the same time and the EA6 USB adapter

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Introduction

The use of the EL8 Headlamp - Solar Panel as an iPod or other hand held devices solar charger, was meant to give a charging boost to those devices, when you are outdoors, away from power outlets, computers, 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's 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/recharge.

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 . Only one charging cycle will give you several hours of playing music, depending on the initial charge of the headlamp, and the iPod being charged.

Postings of our findings on tests charging time with different iPods nano models follow below.

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/recharge 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/recharge 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/recharge your electronic hand held devices, particularly your iPod, in this page. Tests are posted following informative and educational videos.

Charging iPods tests:

• Charging iPod test Option 4: iPod nano 2GB SIlver, EL8 Headlamp and Solar Panel
• Charging iPod test Option 5: iPod nano 8GB Red, EL8 Headlamp
• Charging iPod test Option 6: iPod nano 4GB Silver,  EL8 Headlamp
• Charging iPod test Option 7: iPod nano 8GB, EL8 Headlamp and Solar Panel

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.

• Options using iPod's car charger and EA1 - 12 volt car socket converter (cell charger)
• Options using iPod's USB cable and EA6-USB adapter (iPod charger)

Charging iPod, Option 8

Charging iPod nano 2GB "Spring Time" with the EL8 Headlamp

EL8 Headlamp + USB adapter $71.50  

This charging assembly will provide you with about 50 to 60 minutes of charging time, when EL8 Headlamp if fully charged, which is equivalent to about 6 to 8 hours of iPod's music playing, or audio book /webcast listening time!!! If you are outdoors, in a hiking trip, in the Sierra, a forest, a dessert, camping or canoeing,  this will make your day.
Important note: you do not need to have the headlamp on to use it as a solar charger.

Charging an iPod nano 4GB Silver

with the EL8 Headlamp,

Solar Panel, EA1 -12 volt converter,

and iPod's car charger

 

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EL8 Headlamp + 12 car converter $71.50

1. Connect Solar Panel to (one female end of) "T" adapter
2. Connect (male) plug of "T" adapter to Headlamp
3. Connect 12 Volt Converter to (other female end of) "T" adapter
4. Connect iPod's car charger to iPod, as you normally do
5. Plug iPod's car charger to 12 Volt Converter's female cigarette socket

using the EL8 Solar Panel,

EA1 12 volt converter,

and iPod's car charger

in a sunny and clear day

EL8 Headlamp + 12 car converter $71.50  

Charging iPod, Option 3

Charging iPod nano 8GB with the EL8 Headlamp
Ideal method to use when sun light is not enough to power the Solar Panel, like early in the morning,
late in the afternoon or at night, hiking, camping, bicycling, indoors activities, while watching sports, etc.

with solar powered Headlamp,

EA1 12 volt converter,

and iPod's car charger

EL8 Headlamp + 12 car converter $71.50  

 

Charging iPod, Option 4

Charging an iPod nano 2GB, with the EL8 Headlamp and Solar Panel (solar charger) at the same time,
This option is recommended for outdoor people on the go, walking, hiking, bicycling, backpacking, etc.

EL8 Headlamp + USB adapter $71.50  

Charging assembly method recommended for outdoors activities: hiking, backpacking, bicycling, etc,
because of the simplicity and very lightweight. Especially designed for hikers and backpackers on extended trips
.

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!

Charging iPod Option 4 Test:
Charging an iPod 2GB takes about 1 1/2 EL8 Headlamp charging cycles (about 1 1/2hr). If the solar panel is added, like in the example above, this charging time charging cycle will be longer, and iPod 2GB can be charged in just one cycle.

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.

Charging iPod, Option 5

Charging iPod nano 8GB Red with the EL8 Headlamp - Solar Charger

EL8 Headlamp + USB adapter $71.50  

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

Charging iPod 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 (4GB-8GB) iPod's charge will take between two to three EL8 headlamp charging cycles (equivalent to about 3hrs of full iPod charging time with a wall charger). 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.
 

Charging iPod, Option 6

Charging iPod nano 4GB Silver with the EL8 Headlamp - Solar Charger

EL8 Headlamp + USB adapter $71.50  

This charging assembly will provide you with about 50 to 60 minutes of charging time, when EL8 Headlamp if fully charged, which is equivalent to about 6 to 8 hours of iPod's music playing, or audio book /webcast listening time!!! If you are outdoors, in a hiking trip, in the Sierra, a forest, a dessert, camping or canoeing,  this will make your day.

Charging iPod, Option 7

Charging an iPod nano 8GB, from the EL8 Headlamp and Solar Panel (solar charger) at the same time
This option is recommended for outdoor people on the go, walking, hiking, bicycling, backpacking, etc.

EL8 Headlamp + USB adapter $71.50  

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

Charging iPod Option 7 Test:
Testing showed that when solar panel is added to the charging configuration, charging cycle last 20% to 40% longer than using EL8 headlamp alone. You can charge your iPod 4GB-8GB in about 2 charging cycles, which is equivalent to 3hrs of full iPod's charge using a conventional wall charger.

Important Notice III: Once, on a very hot and sunny day (about 90ºF in "sunny California"), I connected my EL8 headlamp to the solar panel to charge it, at about 8 a.m. I positioned the solar panel a couple of degrees away from the maximum charging point, so the solar panel would be exposed to the sun without moving it for about 4 hours. I left the headlamp completely exposed to the sun. Six hours later I came to check on it and take it away from the sun. The headlamp battery should be fully charged by that time. Both headlamp and solar panel were very hot, not burning, but hot. To my surprise the headlamp did not turn on. I thought the battery hadn't charged, caused by a bad connection from the solar panel. Wrong. I tested the battery (with a voltmeter) and it was fully charged. I busted the headlamp, I thought!!! I opened it up, and I saw a few tiny, semiconductor chips. I couldn't see any part disconnected or "melted". I tried pushing the switch again and again, however, for the rest of the day, it do not turn on.

The next morning, I tried once more, and to my surprise, it was working normally!

Moral of the story: Do not leave the headlamp directly exposed to the sun!