[qrp-canada] 6.5W Solar Panels on Sale

[Michael Babineau]

This is an excellent deal ! You won't find a better price for a folding 
panel of this size.

I have a 5W panel that is virtually identical (I think it is actually 
made by the same company but marketed under the Coleman name)
and I have used this for the past couple of years along with a 2 Ahr Gel 
cell and a small charge controller to power my Elecraft
K1 and KX1 for portable operations. These panels take almost no space 
when folded and work as well as equivalent "hard
panels" that are much more bulky.

If you need a panel for portable use or have been considering going 
portable solar don't hesitate, buy one.

Michael VE3WMB

P.S. Solar Power Primer :  Solar Power is a bit of a misnomer. Solar 
charging is perhaps more accurate. Powering a rig directly
from a panel is not advised, but using a panel to charge a small SLA 
cell powering a radio works fine. If the panel puts out
as much current as the rig draws on average then you break even while 
the sun shines. Note that for miserly rigs like the Elecraft radios etc
a 6.5W panel is sufficient. For rigs that are a bit more of a power hog, 
such as the FT-817, IC703 I would recommend you get two
of these panels and use them in parallel.  I also recommend the use of a 
charge controller so you don't cook your battery (CT
sell these as well).