Does a Sony Handycam have a USB port?

Is there ANY way to charge a Sony Handycam with a USB port?

• I own a Sony Handycam HDR-XR550 (The 240 GB one), and I like to take it on long hiking and canoe trips. The only problem is, the battery always dies very fast, limiting the amount of footage I can take. I've considered bigger batteries, but they are very expensive. And I can't exactly charge it out in the wilderness. But just a couple days ago, I discovered a few solar chargers which have USB out ports on them to charge any electronics. Now, this would be great, if only I could somehow figure out a way - ANY WAY, to charge my camcorder by means of USB? And by the way, I've already tried charging it by plugging it in to my computer. Doesn't work. If anyone has any products they know of, converters, etc. that would be marvelous. Or if anyone has any other suggestions? Thanks.

• Answer:

  Hi Kris: The short answer is "no". This is mostly because your Handycam uses 7.4volt batteries, and USB has only a 5volt power bus. What you can do is find a Sony or OEM (like Lenmar or Sakar) 12VDC car charger for the NP-FV50 series batteries (a common item) and then carry along a portable 12V solar panel with a car-lighter socket (or direct DC mini-connector for the charger end). Look on eBay for "solar car battery chargers" and you'll find some bargains. Walmart & Sears sell them online for under-$30 USD. (Most of them you'd have to change out the car-plug to a socket.) To properly run the electronics inside a 7.4 VDC charger, you might need around 7-15 watts from a solar panel (the Sony battery DC charger's sticker will have the info). The cheapest "car trickle chargers" are only 1 or 2 watts output (they're not having to run a DC-to-DC converter). A good "briefcase" style solar panel with 13-15 watts output will run around $75. You might be able to get away with using a 6 watt panel, which I've seen for around $40. hope this helps, --Dennis C.