Even in this day and age of getting our news and entertainment online, nothing beats a good old-fashioned radio, especially in an emergency. Radios today are just as simple and straightforward today as they ever were. But have you ever wondered how to power a radio with solar power?
To power a simple radio with solar power, all you need is a small solar power kit. This kit would allow you to connect the radio to a charge controller and battery pack. Once the battery is charged you can run your radio as if it were plugged into an outlet.
Don’t worry if any of this sounds complicated. In this article, we’re going to go through everything you need to know to power a radio using solar energy, and if you’re interested in a solar power kit, check out this short article over here.
Let’s get started!
What Are The Uses Of A Solar Powered Radio?
Before we dive into the methods to power a radio with solar power, let’s briefly discuss why you might want to do that in the first place. Even though many people rely on more hi-tech, internet-connected devices these days, AM/FM radios still play a crucial role.
Typically, you’ll find solar-powered radios useful for:
- Staying entertained and informed while in the outdoors, such as when camping, fishing, hiking, and more.
- Staying informed during emergency or survival situations. For example, during natural disasters, when power and internet access are not available.
In these kinds of situations, you’ll be glad to have a solar-powered radio to keep you company.
How To Get A Solar Powered Radio
There are two ways that you can get your hands on a solar-powered radio. The first would be to buy a ready-made one from a camping or survival store. Besides that, you can simply make one of your own very quickly.
How To Make A Simple Solar Powered Radio
To make a very basic solar-powered radio, here’s what you’ll need:
- Battery Operated Radio – It’s essential to get the simplest radio that you can find without a CD player. The reason is simple: it doesn’t take much power to use an AM/FM radio, but it’ll take much more if you plan on playing music from a CD.
- Small Solar Panel – All you’ll need is a small solar panel to make this work. However, you’ll want to make sure that the panel’s output matches the power consumption of the radio. That way, you’ll be able to power the radio without interruptions.
- Two Wires With Alligator Clamps – You’ll be connecting the solar panels directly to the radio’s battery compartments. That’ll be much easier to do with alligator clips.
Once you have all of those parts, here are the steps to follow:
Step One: Remove The Battery Panel
You’ll start by removing the panel that covers the battery compartment. Then, remove any batteries inside.
Before you proceed to the next step, take a closer look and identify the terminals inside. The springs that you see are the negative terminals, while the flat sides with bumps on them are the positive ones.
Those will be the points you’ll use to connect the solar panels in the next step.
Step Two: Connect The Solar Panels To The Radio
Now it’s time to connect the solar panels directly to the radio. Take the wires from the solar panel and connect them to the matching terminals inside the radio’s battery compartment.
Remember: you’re trying to create a complete circuit, so connect the negative wire to the furthest negative terminal inside and the positive wire to the positive terminal closest to the front.
Step Three: Expose The Solar Panel To Sunlight
Double-check to make sure that the wires have a strong connection to the radio’s battery terminals. Once that’s done, you can expose the solar panel to direct sunlight. Turn on the radio, and enjoy!
You’ll notice that the radio might not work correctly if you’re using the solar panel in the shade. That’s why it’s important to use direct sunlight only.
How To Power A Radio With Solar Power At Night
The basic solar-powered radio mentioned above will only work during the day when there’s enough sunlight to harness. That might be more than enough for some people.
But suppose you need a radio that can run on solar power day and night. If that’s the case, then you’ll need a more complete solar panel setup that can supply your radio with power all day long.
For that kind of solar-powered radio setup, what you’ll need is:
- Any radio with a power supply cable (a USB-powered radio will do).
- A solar panel – To capture the solar power.
- A portable solar generator – To collect and store solar power and supply your radio with power.
How To Power A Radio With Solar Power Overnight
This type of setup is pretty straightforward, and it’s the same process to power other devices as well.
Step One: The Solar Panels
Firstly, set up your solar panels so that they’re exposed to direct sunlight as much as possible. You’ll want to make the most of it by ensuring that they can capture that sunlight throughout the day to charge up your solar batteries.
Step Two: The Portable Solar Generator
The portable solar generator is an all-in-one system that typically combines a charge controller and a solar battery. The charge controller regulates the voltage and prevents the batteries from overcharging. Overall, it also protects the entire setup from dangers like electrical surges, which could damage all of its components.
The portable solar generator will also have power outputs, like your standard wall sockets or even USB outlets. These will make it much easier for you to plug in your radio, charge your phone, or power any other device you might need to use.
Step Three: The Radio
Lastly, plug in your radio and enjoy! As long as the portable solar generator is fully charged, it should allow you to use your radio day and night. In fact, you might be able to use it for days on end, seeing as how radios consume very little electricity.
If you’re an avid hiker or camper, you might want to look into a solar backpack. A solar backpack will give you a small even more portable solar power kit and a handy bag to put your other camping gear in. Check these articles out for more information:
Bonus Tips For Powering A Radio With Solar Power
Here are some additional tips to consider when using solar power to keep using your radio:
Keep Dust And Dirt Away
Dust and dirt can affect your ability to power your radio, especially when you need it the most. So, be sure to brush off any dust and dirt that you might find on your solar panels. Dirty panels are a lot less efficient at harnessing sunlight than they usually are.
Don’t Overload Your Solar Generator
If you’re using a solar generator to power your radio, be sure not to overload it with too many other devices. Small devices like a phone charger and lighting are acceptable to use alongside your radio but never use any heavy appliances.
Avoid Impact
A strong impact can be very damaging to both your radio and your solar power setup. So, always place your radio on a flat, stable surface to prevent it from falling over accidentally.
Avoid Water And Excess Moisture
Lastly, keep your radio and your solar power source away from any water or excess moisture. Remember: solar power is still using electricity, so water and moisture can damage your radio and solar equipment.
For more articles on solar powered camping gear, check these out: