Expedition Energy - our solar solution

While on the Brink Expedition Kendon will need electricity to power a few appliances. He will be carrying a small iPAQ Pocket PC, a video camera, a battery re-charger and a satellite phone for LIVE links to Australian schools. Usually this equipment would be run by plugging it into a power point, but while on the road he will often times be unable to access electricity in this way. The only viable alternative to powering his appliances during the expedition is to use PV modules to convert solar energy into electricity.

This is a very convenient way of running our electrical appliances because PV modules can be quite light and compact, yet very reliable and durable. Kendon will be carrying a PV module that has been kindly donated by Uni-Solar® (www.unisolar.com). The portable Uni-Pac10™ is a sophisticated module made of thin-film amorphous solar cells, capable of producing 10.5Watts.

A major consideration for the Brink Expedition is the size and weight of the equipment to be carried, and obviously Kendon wants to minimize both. The Uni-Pac10 is a foldable PV module that collapses to about the size of a video cassette case and weighs just 0.95kg. While Kendon is cycling the Uni-Pac module will be opened out and strapped across his rear panniers so that they are exposed to sunlight. Even if the module receives just 3 hours of sunlight each day, this will normally produce approximately 30W. This will allow the powering of the iPAQ Pocket PC (10W) and video camera (12W) for 1-2 hours each day, as well as occasionally re-charging the satellite phone and small batteries for torches. Because of the construction of the Uni-Pac10, the module will continue working efficiently even in cloudy conditions (producing nearly 70% of the rated output).

The Brink Expedition 'solar solution' to powering these electrical items will enable Kendon to record his adventures and experiences from the remotest location on the planet, and share them through the Brink web site. To this end, the Brink Team owe a huge thanks to those at Uni-Solar® for generously supporting the Brink Expedition with their quality product.

Brink Expedition - energy equipment

Below is a list of the equipment we will carry to ensure our electrical energy demand is met. This includes items necessary to test and maintain the solar equipment:

Note: the electrical items Kendon will be powering have their own inbuilt batteries, so we will not be taking a separate battery for charging.

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