It actually arrived!

Despite the fact that I thought we had a rooftop solar panel setup sufficient for our needs, we still wanted a portable panel for the times when we might want Igor to be set up in the shade, and yet still be able to have electricity coming from a panel that is set up in the sun. 

Or, for when we have a cloudy day and need an extra boost.

So I had tried to order one of those suitcase style folding solar panels for Bjorn and Freya to pick up when they were coming through Texas and bringing Igor to meet us at the Mexico border last month, but the delivery didn't work out and it ended up being returned.

We haven't had a lot of luck over the years when it comes to ordering something from outside the country we happen to be in. It either gets stuck at customs and the shipper can't keep track of it, or it just takes a lot longer then it should, disrupting our own travel plans.

This time, I had found a 100 watt unit on Amazon.com that specifically said that it would ship to Mexico. It was on sale, with a $45 discount coupon that actually made it a really good deal. Then, I would have to add on another $28 USD to have it shipped to Mexico.

This is what I bought... DOKIO 100 Watt Folding Solar Panel.

The price has actually dropped again! The coupon is gone, but the price is actually cheaper than it was withe the coupon!

When I ordered it, the tracking had said that it would arrive on Sunday the 15th. But it actually arrived yesterday afternoon! Here in relatively rural Mexico, there are no street addresses or numbered houses. In fact, the embarcadero (marina) where we are staying doesn't even have a sign! But it does show up on google maps, and I was counting on the delivery guy finding it that way. I can't believe that it actually showed up!

It has arrived!

Unpacked the box.

It's a 100 watt panel with it's own 10 amp charge controller. It then has a bunch of different cable ends so that it can be used to charge any of the various portable power stations that exist today. Then, it also has a cable with clamps that plugs into the charge control to attach to any 12 volt battery.

That's the way we want to use it. This setup doesn't at all conflict with the rooftop setup that we already have... you simply use it as an addition.

But the battery clips are only separated by about 5 inches... not nearly enough to go between the terminals of most 12 volt batteries.

Not a big deal... I just used a pair of scissors to cut through the plastic sheathing that separates the wires. Still, you would think the manufacturers would have thought of that themselves.

It was already late afternoon, and there were some clouds in the sky. But my first test showed that our two 100 watt panels (fixed on the roof  and not angled at the sun) were inputting 1.5 amps into the batteries, and this single 100 watt panel (angled towards the sun) was inputting 2.0 amps. 

It will be interesting to compare today during full sunlight.

Because of the anticipated delivery, we never did make it into town to deal with those shoes. We'll try again today!

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Good deal on Beats Solo4 Over Ear Bluetooth Headphones.

And in Canada...

Amazon Fire 43" TV.