I’ve had to run a rig in the middle of a blizzard over the Rockies, wind at over 70 mph and temperatures dropping to -40. Had to keep my compass, satnav and radio on, and I was the only one there with a solar array and a crank generator. It was a fight against wind, cold and a lack of sunlight. I’ll give you a run-down if you need it.

First thing I did was pack the battery pack in a thermally insulated case, wrapped in a double layer of reflective foil so the cold won’t sap it. I use a lithium‑ion pack rated for -40 to +60, but I still keep a spare in the same case just in case the first one goes silent. Next I hooked up a small solar panel to the charger, but the snow and wind keep it from getting any real sun. So I run a hand crank generator when the wind is blowing – I’m talking a 30‑inch crank that can spin at 200 rpm under wind and give me enough juice to top the battery. It’s heavy, but I only crank when the wind’s steady. I also keep a 12‑V battery on the vehicle as a buffer. The charger is a dual‑input unit that can switch between solar, crank and the vehicle battery automatically. I keep everything on low power: the compass, satnav and a low‑power LED lamp. I turn off the radio unless I’m in trouble. That way the battery lasts until the wind dies or I get to a safe spot. The trick is to keep the batteries inside the insulated case and never let them get exposed to the wind for more than a few minutes. It works, but it’s a test every time I get out.

Sounds good, I’ll give that thermal regulator a shot and keep my crank steady as always. Thanks for the pointers – gotta stay one step ahead of the weather if you’re gonna survive in the wild. Stay tough out there!