With the larger solar panel I'm getting, the AAs will charge in 3 hrs. I'm hoping the Ds will charge in 4-5 hours. I got enough AAs and Ds to always have some charging in order to have enough to immediately replace batteries.
I know guys use generators but I can't do that and fuel runs out for generators, plus they make noise to alert other people. I decided for those reasons, to go with rechargeable batteries and good solar charger so I would always have light.
I also have enough jar candles to light my house at night for - a year.
Yeah I know, I’m the guy that recommended the Tenergys to you, but for general knowledge, other people may want to know that while LSDs are the breakthrough that we have all been waiting for, because the rechageable can sit on the shelf for years and still be usable, that the traditional version of the Nimh is still more practical for some uses.
I would recommend that people stay away from D and C battery devices as much as possible, and try to always buy devices that use AAs if they can.
You are already well invested in D battery lanterns so it made sense for you to make your battery purchase, I envy you, while the Ds are more expensive, they sure carry the juice.
Like you, I don’t like generators, they make so much sense for people, but for me personally, I like long term solutions.
For my batteries I have small solar chargers, cheap versions, that are slow and I can only do 4 at a time, but what I do have, is a battery charger with a car plug, and a solar trickle charger for the car.
In an emergency I can always go out to the car and have years worth of easy battery charging, even without running the engine.
You can also buy an inverter to turn your car into a generator, for as long as the gasoline lasts.