Solar Power Charger!

[Harry2]

My first Solar charger was such solar panel with build-in battery.

So I know such a design doesn't properly perform!

Charging the phone with such a device isn't a problem

But charging the the build-in battery of the solar charger by using the sunshine, that is a problem
It works, but it needs about three sunny days to charge its build-in battery.

The reason for this delay is a general design error of this kind of solar chargers with build-in batteries.
The panel needs the sun, but the in-build Li-Ion battery hates the heat of the sun.

A Li-Ion battery to charge above temperatures of +45C (+113F) will be dangerous, so the charging control circuit will shut off the charging when the battery reaches this temperature.
So there will be delays, because when the sun is the brightest the charging of the solar charger will be shut off

Far better are solar panels without a build-in battery. They can charge the phone directly or can charge a separate mobile charger's build-in battery for later use.

For such a "stand-alone" solar panel one should choose a panel with 5W at last and a high quality.
Cheap panels won't become a joyfully toy

Harry

 

[loulou]

Did anyone test out solar powered chargers? My phone isn't charging at the moment but whilst looking for replacement battery/AC chargers I happened upon the solar versions, and they sound great.

Very few of them on ebay actually give an estimated charging time, so it's really hard to tell which will be fit for the bin on arrival, or actually useful.

Anyone?

 

[Harry2]

My opinion about solar panels with build-in batteries I wrote in the post above yours

I have a stand-alone panel which is on my backpack for hiking trips.
The customs part was a little tricky because the panel is Swiss sale.
But there is a thread about a solar panel which seens to have the same quality
http://androidforums.com/showthread.php?p=3617722

But if you want someting to carry along in your pocket, you might look for a portable charger (without solar ).
I use a JustMobile Gum Pro, 4400mAh battery and 120 grams weight.

Harry

 

[d510addict]

In all honesty, your best bet for a solor powered charging system/portable power system has got to be goal zero.

Portable Solar Battery Charger | Portable Solar Panels | Off-Grid Solar Generators | Goal Zero - Extreme Portable Power

This is their site, they sell through REI and a few other out door stores through out the west.

I've personally used t heir stuff and see them at the sportsman shows all the time. Have yet to be disappointed.

 

[pavsam]

Just want to share with diy funs. I was able to build a decent solar charger from 3 Radioshack solar panels (6 V, 1.5 W each.) The charging speed of my sgs2 that I was able to reach was 20 %/hour.
cheers