Universal Field Solar Charging Kit

Practical Comms 40W Portable Solar Charging Kit

The Practical Comms 40W Portable Solar Charging Kit is a compact, field-ready power solution designed for emergency communications, off-grid operations, camping, overlanding, and everyday preparedness.

Rather than forcing customers to research compatible components, adapters, charge controllers, and wiring, I tested and assembled a complete system using proven, off-the-shelf components that work together. This kit combines those components into one easy-to-use package so you can spend less time troubleshooting and more time operating.

All cables, adapters, and the charge controller pack neatly into the included field pouch handcrafted by Lester River Bushcraft, keeping the entire system organized and ready for deployment.

Compact and Packable

Designed with portability in mind, the complete kit folds down to approximately 9 inches x 10 inches and weighs just 2.6 pounds.

Its slim profile allows it to fit easily into backpacks, vehicle storage compartments, go-bags, emergency kits, and under the seat of a vehicle. It pairs especially well with portable radio systems, manpack communications kits, field-deployed repeaters, and other off-grid communications equipment where weight and space matter.

What's Included

- 40-Watt Folding Solar Panel

- MPPT Solar Charge Controller

- Lester River Bushcraft Field Pouch

- Anderson Powerpole Adapter

- Spade Terminal Battery Adapter

- 5.5 x 2.1mm DC Adapter

- Storage and Organization System for Cables and Accessories

Battery Compatibility

The included MPPT charge controller supports multiple battery chemistries, including:

- LiFePO4

- AGM

- Gel

- Lead Acid / SLA

Changing battery types is simple and only requires selecting the appropriate battery profile on the charge controller with the push of a button.

This allows the system to charge a wide variety of batteries and devices, including:

- Amateur radio batteries

- Bioenno Power batteries

- LiFePO4 field batteries

- Vehicle batteries

- AGM batteries

- Emergency power batteries

- Battery banks and portable power systems

The included adapters support:

- Batteries with spade terminals

- Batteries using a 5.5 x 2.1mm DC connector

- Anderson Powerpole-equipped devices and battery systems

Additional adapters can easily be added to support other battery types and power systems.

USB Charging

The folding solar panel features a built-in regulated USB output for directly charging:

- Cell phones

- Tablets

- USB battery banks

- GPS devices

- USB-powered radios

- Many USB-C powered laptops and accessories

When using the panel's USB output, the charge controller is not required. Simply connect your device directly to the solar panel's USB port.

Estimated Recharge Times

Recharge time depends on sun angle, clouds, temperature, battery condition, and how deeply the battery has been discharged. In realistic full-sun field testing, this system produced approximately 1.9–2.3 amps into a LiFePO4 battery.

As a practical estimate:

- 10Ah LiFePO4 battery drained to 15–20%: approximately 4–6 hours of strong sun

- 12Ah LiFePO4 battery drained to 15–20%: approximately 6–8 hours of strong sun

These are real-world estimates, not perfect laboratory numbers. Better panel angle and stronger sunlight may improve charge time, while clouds, shade, heat, or poor panel angle will increase charge time.

Designed for Real-World Use

This is not a custom-manufactured solar panel or charge controller. Instead, it is a carefully selected and field-tested combination of components assembled into a practical system that works.

Every component was chosen because it met the requirements for portability, simplicity, and compatibility with the types of batteries and equipment commonly used in the communications and preparedness communities.

Whether you're maintaining communications during a power outage, charging batteries in the field, supporting emergency operations, or building a lightweight off-grid power kit, this system provides a simple and reliable way to harness solar energy wherever you go.

Note: Batteries, radios, phones, laptops, and other devices shown in photos are for demonstration purposes only and are not included unless specifically stated.