Power in EBC region?

[Weka]

Hi all. Is there much power (intermittent or otherwise) en route twixt Lukla, EBC & Gokyo Lakes? I'm debating the pros and cons of taking a light-weight battery charger I have and a few high-capacity rechargeable’s rather than the usual stack of AA's & AAA's I tend to lug round with me.
Thanks for any advice.
Weka

Actually, whilst on this theme, for anyone interested, I've been experimenting. I'm finding I'm getting around 3.5 times the usage from Sanyo 2700 NiMH rechargable's charged with a Maha MH-C204W charger http://ecobatteries.co.nz/mahac204w.html than with off-the-shelf Eveready alkaline’s.

This is with a high-drainage 24bit field recorder, but the results should be the same with head torches, cameras etc. Actually, I'll do a test with head torches on AAA's and let you know. I plough through AAA’s as a rule, sitting up nights with altitude sickness, reading :) The role of the charger in all of this is vital - the one mentioned above is the ideal travel option IMHO.

[Oli]

You can expect to get a recharge in Lukla & Namche. And IIRC the HRA post in Pheriche offer electricity in return for donations. Other places possibly but don't count on it.

I think Lithium batteries are the best performers at low temperature. And keep your batteries warm, I read somewhere that trying to recharge cold batteries can damage them... errm... see here (http://www.batteryuniversity.com/partone-14.htm)

And for head torch endurance I highly recommend LED technology, your batteries last a LOT longer than with conventional bulbs. Ideal for reading in bed and late night toilet runs (but the illumination is a bit 'flatter' and not as good as a halogen bulb if you are trying to find your way off a mountain).

[Spaceman347]

Battery University???? That's a nice find there Oli :)

Weka, definitely check out the lithium batteries, they last heaps longer (as well as costing heaps more). Having said that Petzl released an announcement (http://en.petzl.com/petzl/LampesNews?News=159)warning against the use of lithium batteries due to the risk of over-powering the LEDs. I still use them though.

As Oli said, you can definitely charge at Lukla and Namche, further up is possible but it starts getting expensive and unreliable (you can charge at Lobuche for a couple of US dollars per hour)

[Weka]

Thanks guys. Interesting article, Oli.
From what I can gather on-line, Lithium last 1.5 to 2 times longer that NiMH but of course, are not rechargable. Lithium-ion are out of the question. So NiMH are still a better bet - as long as the power's there to do it :), the charger weighs less than a wad of battries (which it does), and you're happy to sleep with them (which I am). Guess I'd better take some litium's to be safe! :-)
Cheers
Weka

[Weka]

Head torch1. with lithium, 3 led option = 12 days uninterrupted.
Head torch 2. with NiMH, 3 led option = 6.5 days uninterrupted.
My green proclivities crumble. (God, I'm shallow - my footprint grows ever larger)
Thanks guys

[pbekkerh]

Charging is possible in many places but the cost for charging is as ridiculous as is bottled water prices.

In Namche you pay 80RP AN HOUR ! further up I saw several charging 250RP/AN HOUR. I even saw 300RP/an hour in one place.

Water is 150 to 200RP except Namche where they couldn't agree on a fixed price so its 50 RP.

The water is now manufactured in Namcche and not Kathmandu, so should have gone down in price.

As for headtorch check out the new Petzl e-lite,weighs next to nothing, 35-45 hours on cr2032 batteries, extra batteries are very small.
you can even read by the red light.

http://en.petzl.com/petzl/LampesProduits?Produit=607

Poul,

[Spaceman347]

That's quite an interesting test there Weka, good to see some real figures.

Those little Petzl e+lite headlamps are really cool. They throw out plenty of light for the needs of the average trekker (finding your way to the toilet, reading etc). I don't think that they would be up to real night navigation but not too many of us really do that.

[Weka]

I don't think that they would be up to real night navigation but not too many of us really do that.
Unless your heading for the toilets at Thorung La high camp at night in which case a brace of 2kw Xenon Super Troopers would be in order:)

[Oli]

My torch of choice is a Petzl Tikka+, variable strength LEDs & good battery life (3xAAA). I also have an e+lite, they are very good emergency torches but I would not get into the habit of using them for reading at night etc - their (watch/button) batteries are quite weedy and the performance drops off quite noticeably after a few hours use.

Tangentially from Weka's "footprint" (carbon?) comment - I have been contemplating a small effort to minimising the carbon footprint of my long haul flight by taking out a box of energy saving light bulbs. I doubt they are widely available/used in Nepal, I'd give them to my hotel (or wherever) and whilst they may benefit financially from slightly decreased electricity bills I would have dibs on the pollution "saving" due to less electricity being generated. Fair trade? I don't know how many bulbs I'd have to take to offset a seat on an Airbus, but surely some will be better than none. So.... what fitting, bayonet or screw?

[yakshaver]

Unless your heading for the toilets at Thorung La high camp at night in which case a brace of 2kw Xenon Super Troopers would be in order:)

Please don't remind me of the toilet at Thorung La High Camp!!! I think I overdid the diamox prophylaxy and the drinking (of water of course...). I did that the trip from my shabby room to the... shabby... toilet for about 10 times that night... I know every stone and pebble as well as all the poetry on walls.
Luckily it was a almost-full moon, and I did not much need my Petzl torch.
Plan your night at High Camp on or near full moon on a cloudless night and save on power! The mountains looked absolutely beautiful in the moonlight by the way. Almost felt compelled to get my camera out. In the end I could not be bothered, as I did manage to catch on some sleep in between the... releaving bouts.

[Spaceman347]

Hey Oli, you'd certainly need to cart a few light globes. Perhaps you could travel exclusively by rickshaw when you're over there. With some of those cabs you'd be saving a LOT of carbon.

Do the e+lite headlamps drop off that quick? I haven't actually used mine yet, it certainly starts out nice and bright.