David did all of his schooling at Narooma before heading off to study environmental science at Wollongong University, and his parents Martin and Kathie still live in town.

He has switched his focus from building campervans to develop a high power mini solar power system anyone can assemble and use in 30 seconds, without any instructions.

His Sun-Seeker Pack is a lightweight, powerful solar powered lithium battery system all contained in a small waterproof backpack.

David ended up owning a business converting NSW ambulances into high end campervans later in life.

“I quickly realised when I was getting started in the campervan conversion business that the installation of the power system is an expensive, complicated and time-consuming job,” he said.

So one day he decided that there had to be a better solution for the rapidly expanding industry of portable solar power. This led to the creation of the patent-pending Sun-Seeker Pack design.

After several rounds of prototyping, he has created sleek and functional prototypes and tested them in a variety of situations around Australia, including hiking trips through the Royal National Park south of Sydney, installations in campervans, boats, tradie worksites and disaster relief scenarios.

He has also decided to donate 1 in 50 unites to the SES organisation.

David has taken his idea to Kickstarter.com in an attempt to raise $120,000 in 45 days.

“If the Sun-Seeker project doesn’t reach its goal at the end of 45 days then it might be years before you’ll see it on the market and the SES won’t receive anything,” he said.

David has a Facebook page and Twitter account and his hoping to raise awareness of his invention online.

More about the Sun-Seeker

It’s a project he is very excited about.

However, “I focussed so much on producing the best possible design and prototype I ran out of money before I could go into production, I didn’t realise the cost involved in making the moulds for factory machinery.”

Therefore, David has taken his idea to Kickstarter.com in an attempt to raise $120,000 in 45 days.

While the Sun-Seeker Pack incorporates some design components seen in other products, it is a significantly more versatile unit than any others on the market.

“We pulled the powerful features of a full sized campervan solar setup, and combined them with the latest in solar panel and lithium battery technology in such a way that we ended up with a product that can power nearly anything but takes up a fraction of the space and weight,” he said.

“Anyone can see how to assemble it and be up and running 30 seconds after you buy it.”

It can be charged via the included solar panel, from your car cigarette lighter or from a household power socket and has outputs via USB, 12v cigarette and light sockets, 240v household sockets, a built in floodlight, and the ability to jumpstart your car all stored in a backpack measuring 30x40x15cm and weighing around 10kg.

“To put that in perspective a comparative capacity AGM battery alone in a standard campervan system weighs upwards of 30kg!”

Kickstarter campaigns operate under an “all-or-nothing” funding model so if the Sun-Seeker project doesn’t reach its goal at the end of 45 days then it might be years before you’ll see it on the market.

To follow the project, be sure to find it on Twitter (@sunseekerpack) and Facebook and spread the word to your social media networks.

For more in depth information have a look at the website www.sunseekerpack.com and if you like what you see head to Kickstarter.com and consider donating as little as $5 to help the project come to life.

If you decide to donate more, you will be among the first in the world to get your hands on the first production run of the Sun-Seeker Pack!