“Get your feet off my desk, get out of here, you stink, and we're not going to buy your product.”  ~ Joe Keenan, President of Atari, in 1976 responding to Steve Jobs' offer to sell him rights to the new personal computer he and Steve Wozniak developed.

 General Electronics strategy:

1. Standardize batteries and employ battery saving strategies.
2. Standardize digital data storage
3. Minimize power cords
4. Charge 110v items whenever possible
5. Keep electrics dry and protected from jarring.

 Standardize batteries and employ battery saving strategies. 

All of the battery powered electronics I carried used easily available AAs.  This included the GPS, Digital Camera, AM/FM Walkman, and my Black Diamond headlamp.  Both the GPS and the Digital Camera had presets for of saving batteries.  I changed out batteries in the GPS every two days, the camera was like every week and a half and everything else varied with use.  I generally carried no more than six extra AAs and never had a problem.  I tried almost all types out there and Duracells lasted the longest, I’d say at least 20% longer.  I also talked to some CDT thru hikers in Cuba, NM who had significant success with LITHIUM batteries...they were running the exact same GPS on the same data collection mode and getting close to four full days on one set of lithiums, whereas I was pulling about two days on Duracell AAs.  

Standardize digital data storage 

The digital data storage method that seemed the most common and easy to use was the SD memory card.  All my digital data storage devices use them, the camera, the PDA, and the GPS uses a micro SD that slips into a full size SD adaptor.  I carried several 2 GBs and one 4 GB, all of which could be slipped into an SD card reader and plugged into most any PC USB port as flash memory.  This eliminated needing different wiring to interface the camera, PDA, and GPS into a computer somewhere.  I never interfaced anything but a photo card on the route.

Minimize power cords

The planned hack for the power recharge cord problem for electrics that didn’t use alkaline batteries was going to be a Brunton Solar Panel.  I realized for sure near Seeley Lake, Montana that the solar panel didn’t output enough juice to charge the Zen MP3 player.  So I had to decide if I wanted to keep the panel for the PDA and the cell phone and carry the 110 Zen power cord as an extra.  I decided based on weight and bulk to send the solar panel home, and carry the MP3 player, PDA, and cell phone power cords with me on the bike. 

** If you have a cigarette lighter 12V based charging system, such as a functional solar panel, motorcycle plugin, etc.,  Monster Cable has a great setup with one 12V power cord that uses adaptable tips (they have hundreds of different tips.)  This is the setup I was using with my solar panel before I realized the limitations of the solar panel in relation to the Zen MP3 player. 

Charge 110v items whenever possible.  

The failure of the solar panel strategy presented another problem, I had figure out a way to plug in electrics at variable intervals as I traveled south.  What it really meant was that I had to ration my use of the Zen MP3 player and use the AM/FM in the meantime.  I had pretty good luck finding power sources and what I ended up doing was running the AM/FM when I had decent reception and switched to the MP3 when basically I needed it the most psychologically.  Outside of the obvious hotel stops every now and then, keeping the power cords easily accessible (Ziploc bag in stuff sack strapped to the back bag) and the following MacGyver tactics evolved.

-          Gas stations and convenience stores have 110 plugins in front for those flashing arrow signs, usually out closer to the road.  If there wasn’t something plugged in, there is the “in.”  You stop at the store for some food and some ice cream… ask the clerk (they don’t care, but might call the cops otherwise,) and sit out by the 110 plug and charge while you eat.

-          If you are in a USFS campsite or private RV park, the ground mount electric breaker boxes for RVs generally have (I saw up to 4 at one place) 110 plugins…you just have to breaker them on.  I did this several times, everytime I asked the campsite hosts for permission and they never hesitated or charged me a dime.  I hit up RV folks with a generator a few times and not only did I get power, I usually had a good time chatting and eating with them as well.

-          Almost all coffee shops, even in the smaller towns, now have wi-fi access.  What does wi-fi access mean?  Power outlets for laptops.  Done deal, I’d buy some coffee and whatever they had to eat back there, plug in my MP3 player/PDA and check my email while I charged.

-          I actually asked a few times in the more laid back restaurants if I could plug into a power source and nobody ever turned me down.  I always reciprocated with a good tip and made a note to recommend the place later.