Solar charger reviews

[Lee Wright]

Has anyone had any experience of the mobile solar chargers? Looking for peoples experience using them in the field rather than just having them sat outside at 45 degrees measuring the maximum gain, I want to strap one to the lid of my bag so it can be charging while I'm walking then charge the phone when stationary.

Any help appreciated, anything more than two days is a bit of a big ask with a smart phone, especially when GeoCaching!

 

[rik_uk3]

I doubt you will do it from that set up. To be honest I'd carry a couple of spare or use a double size battery (available for some phones with larger back panels to match) or if your stuck with an iPhone and can't change the battery look for a plug in type battery pack. If your in a fixed camp with a larger panel you are in with a chance.

 

[Lee Wright]

Well I'm looking anywhere up to 8" square really, the spare battery thing isn't really an option as the battery cover is a bit of a swine to get off. Plug in battery pack is an option, need to do some maths with Li-Po batteries, still a bit shafted on longer journies though.

 

[knifefan]

I've been considering the freeloader globetrotter pro, seems to have a good following but a bit pricey at £90

 

[trekkingnut]

I've been considering the freeloader globetrotter pro, seems to have a good following but a bit pricey at £90

i had a freeloader with extra panel and it totally disintegrated and was generally just rubbish.

power monkeys seem to be the most durable.

they have just brought out the powermonkey extreme which is waterproof too. big bonus.

couple of the lads use them on expeditions and they always seem to work well....

not sure about other brands...

 

[snozz]

Will second the powermonkeys. Buy a couple of the 'units' and pre-charge them. I've got the freeloader with extra big solar panel and it takes a couple of days to charge anything reasonably. I now go pre-prepared with a fully charged freeloader and a fully charged power monkey.

 

[Globetrotter.uk]

I use the Freeloader Globetrotter set up. The slim battery pack with 2 detachable panels is handy to place in the window at home or on a dash board. Also the rucksack panel is light enough that you don't really notice it. Seams to work for me.

 

[roger-uk]

I have HTC wildfire and use a Freeloader.

Power it up via computer before you go andI take a spare battery for Wildfire.

It makes an economical system for several days with spare battery in case weather is overcast.

 

[3bears]

short term, buy a spare battery really, but that's only good if you're out for a couple of days- long term, there inst really enough sunlight for a standard free loader- the only way I get by with mine is using the globetrotter panel- this works well I find

 

[Manacles]

I use a Solio, which is the one that folds out like a propeller. Have used it for years and it's been very good. I recall it being fairly expensive though (I remember it being around £60), and certainly dearer than the Freeloader range of chargers.

It is worth checking your phone is compatible with whichever make and model you ultimately choose as some phones have charging circuits that require more current to turn on than some solar units can supply (I went through two chargers before I found one that suited my phone)

 

[Pacman99uk]

ive got 2 solio classics (the 3 solar panel one) which i found were ok when strapped to the top of my bag and it was quite sunny, my girlfriend took hers skiing and it powered her ipod up a few times in good sunlight. i believe they are about 1600mah so can only charge your phone about once on the battery although they can charge themselves and power a device at the same time.

I managed to buy a brand new from makro in a damaged box for £25 and a broken one from ebay for about 8 quid. if you can find a broken one on ebay for cheap they mostly seem to have a problem where someone drops or knocks them and a soldered copper and plastic piece falls off inside... the fix is really easy and only requires you solder 2 wires onto the broken piece and board in order to get them working again. there is also room for you to replace the battery with a slightly larger one although i havent tried it myself yet.

right now i use a powertraveller powergorilla when i know ill be travelling over 4 days as it has a 21000mah battery and for hiking over a few days ill take my powertraveller minigorilla with a 6000mah battery (can weigh them both if you need me to), theres a solar attachment too and i highly recommend powertraveller stuff.

-W

 

[Rebel]

I recently bought the PowerMonkey eXplorer. So far I've only tested the solar charger, not actually used it in a real world situation. However in theory it should work reasonably well because it can charge the PowerMonkey while you are walking and doesn't need to be connected directly to the phone. The PowerMonkey holds about double the charge capacity of the average smartphone. So if you leave home with everything charged up the solar panel should keep your PowerMonkey topped up. You also have the option of using a second solar panel and having the two work simultaneously via a split wire to double the solar power.

The solar panel comes with a velcro strap so you can position it on your pack (or hat) so it can be working while you are walking. You can also have the PowerMonkey plugged into your phone and the solar charger at the same time if you wish.

The PowerMonkey provides enough power to properly charge or power a high end smartphone like the Galaxy S, HTC Desire or iPhone 4. Beware of some chargers they don't provide enough power for smartphones; even the PowerChimp by the same company can't be used with high end smartphones.

The product seems to be well made and reasonably rugged, I'm quite impressed (and as a plus it's a UK designed gadget).

https://powertraveller.com/iwantsome/primatepower/

Full specs on the Website

 

[Retired Member southey]

Brilliant, cheers for the review rebel, i have been looking at the power monkey set ups, really like the idea of the split solar packs.

 

[Toddy]

Thanks Southey It's appreciated
I've dealt with it.

cheers,
M

 

[resnikov]

I recently bought the PowerMonkey eXplorer. So far I've only tested the solar charger, not actually used it in a real world situation. However in theory it should work reasonably well because it can charge the PowerMonkey while you are walking and doesn't need to be connected directly to the phone. The PowerMonkey holds about double the charge capacity of the average smartphone. So if you leave home with everything charged up the solar panel should keep your PowerMonkey topped up. You also have the option of using a second solar panel and having the two work simultaneously via a split wire to double the solar power.

The solar panel comes with a velcro strap so you can position it on your pack (or hat) so it can be working while you are walking. You can also have the PowerMonkey plugged into your phone and the solar charger at the same time if you wish.

The PowerMonkey provides enough power to properly charge or power a high end smartphone like the Galaxy S, HTC Desire or iPhone 4. Beware of some chargers they don't provide enough power for smartphones; even the PowerChimp by the same company can't be used with high end smartphones.

The product seems to be well made and reasonably rugged, I'm quite impressed (and as a plus it's a UK designed gadget).

https://powertraveller.com/iwantsome/primatepower/

Full specs on the Website

I second that, I have a PowerMonkey myself and its great.

 

[lab72]

The power monkey is spot on

 

[backwoodsman]

http://www.play.com/Electronics/Ele...tml?_$ja=tsid:11518|cat:15571131|prd:15571131
i have this and its really quite good

 

[Teepee]

I'm not getting on well with the Freeloader Pico, don't recomend it for our climate. Its OK for an emergency backup IMO, but not much good for keeping the phone useable.

 

[tomongoose]

I had an old solar charger years ago that wasn't very good it took 16hrs to charge up my battery so a mate suggested I left in on over night!

 

[Paul_B]

http://www.play.com/Electronics/Ele...tml?_$ja=tsid:11518|cat:15571131|prd:15571131
i have this and its really quite good

This has a 1000mah battery for storage. This is less than that in my Samsung Sii so won't even offer one re-charge.

Has anyone tried a Veho pebble? Its a 5000mah batter pack. Or 5 times that of the Solio rocsta and a lot of the cheapo external batteries.