If you’re always on the go or find yourself forgetting to charge up then a solar charger is your smart phone’s best friend. Along with the iPhone, Evo and most smart phones, you can also charge additional portable devices including digital cameras, GPSs, and ereaders.
Solar chargers in essence create energy from sunlight with one or more solar panels. The charge is stored within the charger’s internal battery for use at anytime. Solar chargers can also power up from a wall outlet or usb. Two kinds of solar chargers to consider keeping small devices charged are pocket sized chargers and solar backpack chargers.
Small portable solar chargers vary in size. Some are as small as an iPod while most are comparable in size to a smart phone. The charger can attach in two ways: 1. Right on your smart phone (some just like a case) 2. With a charging cable that uses adapters. The internal battery size is another key point to consider. The rechargeable battery size can vary greatly. While some are capable of charging an iPhone one and a half times, others can only charge fifty percent of the iPhone’s battery.
Solar backpacks and bags resemble their non solar equivalent. The only noticeable difference is the one or more solar panels on the outside of the bag. Solar bags frequently have larger batteries, more solar panel surface for collecting sunlight and can charge faster. Most solar backpacks include protective laptop sleeves plus separate pockets on the inside and outside of the bag.
Since the size of the internal battery and solar panels vary greatly, charging times (both solar and electric) fluctuate within both categories. To give you some idea of what to expect, solar backpacks can charge from an electrical source in four to six hours and from the sun in about eight hours. Small solar chargers which typically have a smaller battery can charge from an electrical source in about four hours or from the sun in twelve to fourteen hours.
When searching for the best solar charger for you, be sure to find a charger that that is most suitable for you. Personally I use a P-Flip solar iPhone charger. Not only do I enjoy being able to charge my iPhone from empty to full (with some extra power to spare), but I also find myself using the charger’s built in dock while at home.
My blog is Solar Backpack HQ. I also write various articles about solar chargers including this one about portable iPhone chargers.
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