Solar power is continuously gaining momentum and popularity. There are now solar chargers designed to power cell-phones, cars, laptops, etc. The solar charger harnesses energy form the sun and stores the energy within its battery for later use. Typically, a solar charger can hold on to its charge for up to a year. The advantage to using a solar charger is that it eliminates all of those unnecessary, bulky chargers for every electronic device.

The Most Recommended Solar Chargers Are:

• Go Power! GPDL-20 20-Watt Self Regulating Unbreakable Solar Module
• Sunforce 60-Watt Solar Charging Kit
• Brunton 26 Watt Foldable Solar Array
• HQRP 20W Mono-crystalline Solar Panel

It may be difficult to choose between the best solar chargers because there are a lot of great models out there that basically perform the same functions. Upon being fully charged, the solar charger can fill a cell-phone’s life twice or play up to twenty hours of music.

Solar battery chargers 101

Keep in mind that Your panel will produce 100% full wattage output when placed on direct sunshine. Before buying a portable solar power system, it’s good to answer these questions:

• How long would the solar panel take to charge a 12 volt battery?
• What’s the ideal wattage for a solar charger?
• How can I control if it works fine?
• Will it fry my battery?

Most models have an illuminated LEDs that lets you know the panel is charging. Other have a built in controller to block the charge when the battery is full.

Choose the right solar recharger

To explain in further detail about the conversion, basically an hour of sunshine will equal about an hour of music, or 25 minutes of conversation. The batteries in most solar units last up to about a year, and the charger works with numerous gadgets: Bluetooth, iphone, games, digital cameras, etc.

The charger is extremely light and easy to transport making it optimal for travel purposes.

The General rule to calculate the average charge time:
Take Amp/hour rating of the battery and Divide by the charger rating (in amperes) and then add about 10% for the extra time to top off the battery
I.e. Assuming You have a typical full size auto battery, it is about 50 amp hours.

To Calculate how much time You’ll need to charge the battery with a 15 Watt solar charger You’ll need:

1. Calculate the Ampere per hour of the charger: 15 Watts /12 Volts = 1,25 Amperes
2. Calculate the division: 50 amp hours / 1,25 ampers = 40 Hours of direct sunlight
3. Add 10%: 4 hours

A 15 watt charger is great for vehicles such as cars, boats, ATV’s, even electric fences. 7  watts are perfect for laptops and camcorders. A 2  watt charger is perfect for cell phones, ipods, and smaller cameras.

There is a formula to help describe the way solar energy works: the output for solar energy is described as watts. The wattage can be understood by multiplying the voltage by the amperage.

More specifically: volts x amps x watts = / e.g. a six volt 30 watt solar panel measuring ten by 22 inches has a voltage of about 8.55, and amperage of 1.75.

One can determine the correct amount of wattage needed based on how much each electronic device expels.

How Many Hours Does the Solar Charge Give You ?

The answer depends on the number and size of the solar panels and the set-up or system installed in your area. The prevailing weather condition in your location is another factor. Winter days, rainy and overcast skies can affect the capacity of solar panel systems to absorb and produce solar energy. Even the time and position of the sun are important factors.

If conditions are perfect, the energy radiating from the sun in the mid-afternoon is usually at its peak compared to the early morning and late afternoon sunlight. If you live in an area with sunlight all year round, your solar panel system will produce optimum results. Avoidable factors such as obstructive shadows from nearby objects and improper mounting of solar panels can also affect energy output.

Calculating the number of hours a solar charge provides depend on the previously mentioned factors. For example, a 60 watt solar panel in a location which receives at least 6 hours of optimum sunlight can generate an average of 360 watt hours per day. On the other hand, the same 60 watt solar panel in an area which receives 2.5 hours of sunlight can only generate 150 watt hours per day.

How Big Of A Solar Panel Is Needed To Charge A Deep Cycle Battery?

Before looking at the optimal size of a solar panel that is needed to charge a deep cycle battery, you first have to look at the design and makeup of a deep cycle battery. Deep cycle batteries are your regular batteries such as the ones that are in cars, RV’s, and boats. They are designed to be charged and recharged thousands of times. These batteries are rated according to amp hours. This means how many amps it can provide over a set amount of hours. The most common is a 350ah battery. This means it can provide 35 amps of power over the course of ten hours of usage.

When it comes to the best solar panel needed to charge a deep cycle battery, a 12 volt panel is the most common that is used. The best way to figure out what sized panel that you will need you will calculate the powering load of the panel (3 amps is the norm with a 12 volt panel) multiplied with the amount of time that the panel gets the most sun, which during a very sunny day can run between 4 and 6 hours. With that being said, a 12 volt panel at the most can provide 12 to 18 amps to your deep cycle battery. Figure this out and that means one good day of sun can lead to 5 hours of use to a 350ah battery.

What Can A 5 Watt Solar Panel Be Used For ?

A 5 watt solar panel is good for operating a multitude of different products. Automatic animal feeders and electric gates are two examples of products that make use of 5 watt solar panels. In some instances, this particular wattage solar panel is used for charging three, six, and twelve-volt batteries. Unlike common battery chargers which are plugged into an electrical outlet, solar panels are meant to be used during power outages or other scenarios where electricity is not available.

Present-day technology offers a world of conveniences. Many of these products are operated by batteries, electric current, or both. However, there are many different types of batteries to choose from. The product itself will have markings or enclosed directions stating what type of battery to use. People who take camping trips or have simply decided to use an alternate form of energy benefit greatly from 5 watt solar panels.

Autmobile, boat, and rv accessories use twelve-volt batteries all the time. Driver’s frequently opt to attach the solar panel to the dashboard or visor when the vehicle is turned-off and sitting in the sun or while operating the vehicle in the sun. A 5 watt solar panel is good for many uses.

How Long to Charge Battery with 13 Watt Solar ?

Some things to remember with a battery is it takes time to re-charge. With a thirteen watt solar battery you can expect to have it all charged within a week. The reason I say you should wait a week is because there are many different factors included on the battery being able to charge in a reasonable amount of time.

Some factors that come in to play about the battery is it’s condition, the usage of the battery itself (how long you use it, do you use it everyday? Once a week?) and finally the purpose of the battery. If you are using the battery for high machinery that can cause you to literally use the battery up within a few hours.

These are just a few main factors that can make charging this big of a battery a problem. Its important to remember that these types of solar batteries do not charge from straight 0 you will need to charge it all week.

An important tip when charging a battery like this you need to start off when the life of the battery is at least at 50 percent – this way you do not waste time trying to charge it from 0 percent and can at least get t fully charged within half a week.

What Can You Use With A 45 Watt Solar Panel ?

You’ve just purchased a 45 watt solar panel. Now what? Can you power anything with solar panels or do they have their limitations? Unfortunately, there is no simple answer to these questions.

A wide array of factors come into play when using solar power, like what type of battery should you use to store the power the solar panel produces? The short answer is, use a battery with the highest amperage rating available. You’ll also need a power inverter to change the power produced by the solar panel into usable energy. Which inverter should you buy? Buy one with the highest wattage rating you can afford.

Here’s a sample list of devices that will run on 45 watts or less and the power they consume:
Clock-2w
Fish Tank-4w
Radio-15w
Shaver-15w
Ceiling Fan-24w
CFL Light Bulb-18w
Laptop Computer-45w
17 Inch LCD Monitor-40w
Nintendo Wii-18w
Cordless Phone-3w

Power produced by a 45 watt solar panel will vary from day-to-day. Does the sun have to shine all day long for solar panels to work? Yes and no. Of course, more sun will produce more power. How long will a device run? That depends on how much the solar panel has charged the battery. A 45 watt solar panel is certainly not suitable as a whole-house power source. However, 45 watts of power can be of benefit for some applications.

Solar Battery Controllers

In most case a solar charger controller is highly recommended. The Solar Controller will continuously monitor the charge and cut it off when charging is complete.

It helps in:

• Preventing overcharge
• Improve charge quality
• Prevent battery discharge in low or no light conditions.

Some solar panels are made with blocking diodes pre-installed they prevent battery discharge during low or no light conditions.

Once connected, you can charge your 12-volt battery nonstop for days without damaging the battery.

Inverters

Inverters turn DC (Direct current) power into AC (alternate current) power, the type of current that powers everyday appliances.

Final Suggestions

There is no need to buy multiple solar chargers for each electronic device owned, so invest in one with the best quality. If the solar charger is needed to power a lot of devices frequently, makes sure to buy an additional panel at about fifty dollars to ensure the maximum access to available sunlight; this panel allows for powering two laptops at once, and it should feel good to know that the electronic devices are functioning on renewable energy.

For cars it makes sense to purchase a solar charger that sits on the dashboard and soaks up the sun. These are not designed to jump start the car battery, but rather to keep the existing car battery at full charge and functioning.

Basically, if used properly it can extend the battery’s life, which of course saves money in the long run. Therefore, when individuals use many gadgets by plugging them up to the cigarette lighter, the solar charger helps against stress and fatigue that is placed on the battery.

Of course it is still possible to find one solar charger that supplies power to all electronic devices, including a car battery. As mentioned previously, there are many really good choices out there, so investigate properly, ask professionals which best fits their needs and enjoy the fact that you are participating in the usage of renewable energy, an environmentally wise choice.

You don’t need to hire a professional to plan a solar photovoltaic system for your RV. Using these steps, you can plan the perfect system on your own and calculate how long it will take to pay for itself.

The Most Recommended Solar Chargers Are:

• Go Power! GPDL-20 20-Watt Self Regulating Unbreakable Solar Module
• Sunforce 60-Watt Solar Charging Kit
• Brunton 26 Watt Foldable Solar Array
• HQRP 20W Mono-crystalline Solar Panel

This guide is articulated in sections where each section explains a specific question.
1° Estimate the Total Power You Need
2° Calculate Your Total Power System Size and Cost
3° Get an Estimate on Energy Savings and Payback

How can I increase the autonomy power of my motor home?

In a camper electricity and water are precious. We must therefore learn to save without depriving the indispensable. If you want to convert your Camper to solar power, you’ll need to increase its autonomy. Who stays a week in the same place needs to find a way to recharge the batteries, and a good solution is the solar panel. Be aware that they are expensive and fragile, just the branch of a tree to break, and is an additional weight. We also need to park in the sun, if you parked in the shade not serve. If we want to increase the autonomy of our campers we can increase the number of panels.

How to Determine an RV’s Solar Power Requirements?

Get a pen and notebook. List every electrical device: each light, all chargers, TV, washer, dryer, microwave, A/C, etc. List the wattage used next to the item, and indicate whether they are AC (alternating current) or DC (direct current, as in battery powered). Make two columns if you need to. List how long each device is used and multiply the hours used by the wattage to get the daily total used. Add the total current needs in each column, and the total needed overall. Although this may seem daunting at first, it really is easy to do.

Decide if you want to run the items directly from the solar photovoltaic system or if you’ll use the system to charge a battery bank first then use the power. Those appliances labeled as AC will need an inverter to accept the DC power directly from the batteries. Inverters are available for individual appliances or for entire AC systems.

What and how should I install the solar panels on my camper?

A photovoltaic system area is based on:

• One or more photovoltaic panels
• A charge regulator to measure voltage and current
• A battery.
• 1 Mounting kit
• 1 Display light to see the different levels of solar energy
• 1 Parallel to keep the battery engine charged after the service battery is loaded from solar
• 1 Set of cables to connect the panel on the roof and maintai an excellent insulation against the infiltration of water from the roof.

What would be a good RV solar panel with good wattage?

To calculate the power and let it work nearly 100% we need to consider:

1. Intensity of solar radiation (sunshine). The highest value is obtained only in exceptional weather conditions and practically never in real situations.
2. Temperature of 25 ° C but we all know that in a day of exceptionally high sunshine for sure the temperature is above 25 ° C. Higher temperatures cause a decreasing of the performance of the panel.
3. Incidence of perpendicular sunlight.

Calculate Your Total Power System Size and Cost

Calculate your total RV photovoltaic power requirements by using the following information located at: http://www.energysavers.gov/pdfs/208.pdf. By using the correct incline of the rooftop panels, you can easily calculate how much energy can be collected and the correct number of panels needed for your RV.

Sound hard? Not really.

Let’s say, for example you’re going to stay in Arizona. What Will a 220 Watt Solar RV Kit Run? A single 200-watt solar panel could provide you with 16,000 watts of power every day (with 8 hrs sunlight). Using your wattage total for your appliances (i.e., 80,000 watts/day) you’ll need a total of 5- 200 watt solar panels. The total cost for those will be $3,475.

What size solar panel is required on a Caravan or Motorhome?

Example 1: Big motorhome then big consumer

• Using 2 lights, refrigerator, TV, VCR, etc.
• Having 3 evenings of autonomy in summer, 2 nights in winter
• Power panels: 140 watts with adjustable solution
• 180 watts with non-adjustable

Example 2: Average consumer

• Power: 90 watts with adjustable solution
• 110 Watt not adjustable

Example 3: Small consumer mini camper

• 50 Watt power adjustable
• 65 Watt not adjustable

What’s the right wattage for caravans to run lights, TV etc?

In choosing the type of panel you can follow the following guidelines:

• 80 watt panel: It ‘a small plant, ideal for those who use the camper mainly in the warmer months and not use auxiliary utilities such as CTV or fans.
• 125 watt panel: The ideal solution for those who use the television.
• 140 watt panel: It represents the best solution for anyone, making use of summer vehicle, stopping long ago and wants to have a good availability of power for various accessories.
• 2 panel of 125 watt: The choice we recommend to all those who have a refrigerator compressor, or make an intensive use, even in winter.

Get an Estimate on Energy Savings and Payback

The economic benefits of an RV photovoltaic power system are easy to figure. Total how much in electricity costs you spend on your RV each month or as a year total. Divide that figure into the cost for your system. This is the estimate of how long it will take the system to pay for itself. Keep in mind that this is a base figure. It doesn’t take into account the cost of electricity from one county or state to another. Since electricity costs are rising, you can easily estimate the payback time while you use your RV and enjoy free energy at the same time while using a notebook with “savings to date” listed.

How to install the solar panels?

The ideal would always have the sun perpendicular. This is achievable only with a rotating and tilting variable, but this is not always possible.

Based on my experience the best solar panels to use for your RV are the Sunforce 60-Watt Solar Charging Kit (More Sunforce Solar Charger Reviews here), the Go Power! 95 Watt Solar Kit (In depth review here) or the HQRP 50W Mono-crystalline Solar Panel (More HQRP solar charger reviews here)

Goal Zero is a pioneer is the portable solar charging industry, making some of the best chargers on the market. There are many products, but this review will look at three of their most popular models: the Nomad 7 foldable solar panel, the Guide 10 Adventure Kit and the Sherpa 50 Adventure Kit. Each one has different features, making them perfect for different uses or trips.

Nomad 7 Solar Panel

The Nomad 7 is a very compact and lightweight solar panel. When folded up, it is not much taller than a pencil, and it’s about as wide as a small journal. The solar panel can collect about seven watts of energy from the sun, and the output is around five watts. You can also connect a USB or 12V connecter right into the solar panel, so you can charge directly from the sun.

The carrying case is both weather-resistant and convenient. There are many small pockets that allow you to carry small items, like additional chargers or small devices.

When it comes to charging, the Nomad 7 is rather efficient. It takes about two to four hours to charge most devices, including cell phones, MP3 players and GPS devices.

Overall, this solar panel is great if you need compact power, and you only need to charge small devices. It isn’t powerful enough for larger devices, so don’t try to use it for a computer or TV, but it is great for trips where you are only packing the essentials.

Guide 10 Adventure Kit

The Guide 10 Adventure Kit includes several items. You get the Nomad 7 solar panel, and you also get the Guide 10 battery pack, along with rechargeable batteries. This kit offers more power and versatility than the Nomad 7 panel alone, and it can charge some medium-sized devices. The entire kit is about the size of a small novel.

With the Guide 10, you get a USB charger that you can easily use to power most USB devices. Along with this, you get the rechargeable battery charger. Four AA batteries can be charged in just a matter of hours, and they can be used in flashlights, lamps and other objects that do not have USB ports.

This unit combines the Nomad 7’s power, with better USB support and rechargeable batteries. If you are going on a trip and you need battery-powered items, and if you want to better power your USB devices, then this charger is perfect. It is very versatile, compact and easy to carry around. While it isn’t great with many medium-sized devices, it normally powers devices up quicker than the Nomad 7.

Sherpa 50 Adventure Kit

The Sherpa 50 Adventure Kit is substantially larger and heavier than the Guide 10 Adventure Kit, but it is still very compact and about the size of a normal to somewhat large novel. The items you get are similar to the Guide 10 Adventure Kit, but this is meant for more powerful charging. Weighing about six pounds, you also get the Nomad 13.5M solar panel. This panel collects more energy than the Nomad 7, so this can power medium-sized devices.

To charge the Sherpa 50, you can either use the Nomad 13.5M solar panel, which takes about eight hours, or plug it into the wall for 2.5 hours. You can then plug any USB or 12V device into the Sherpa 50 for quick charging.

Though this device is not quite as compact as the two smaller units, it is still very easy to carry. If you have some serious power needs, then this unit will be perfect for your trip.

Solar powered cell phone chargers can be a better alternative to electrical cell phone chargers. You have to plug in your cell phone to a home outlet and then you have to wait a long time for your cell phone to be charged.

The charging of your cell phone takes electricity and the electricity costs money. It seems that you need to pay your mobile cell phone service provider for using your cell phone and you also have to pay the electric company for using your cell phone.

The Most Recommended Solar Chargers Are:

• Go Power! GPDL-20 20-Watt Self Regulating Unbreakable Solar Module
• Sunforce 60-Watt Solar Charging Kit
• Brunton 26 Watt Foldable Solar Array
• HQRP 20W Mono-crystalline Solar Panel

You are out of luck if you are outdoors and your cell phone battery dies. There are hardly any places that will let you plug in your cell phone in order to charge it. This is one of the reasons why a solar cell phone recharger is for you. You can charge your cell phone battery outdoors if your cell phone dies. It is true that you need sunlight in order to charge your cell phone, but most solar mobile phone chargers come with a storage device so that you can charge your cell phone even if there is no sunlight.

How Much Time do I Need to Full Charge?

General Rule to estimate total hours of direct sunlights to full charge: (Amperer per Hour of the Battery / Amperes per Hour of the Charger) + 10%

Assuming You have a 5 Watt / Hour Cell Phone Battery (like the one of Sony Ericsson Kurara, Nokia N900 or Razr V3)  and a 2 Watt output solar Charger, You need first to convert Watt in Ampere: Ampere= Watt/Volts

It’s about 5/12 = 0.417 Amperes per Hours for the batery and 0.167 Amperes for the charger

To Calculate how much time You’ll need to charge the battery with a 2 Watt solar charger You’ll have:
1° Calculate the Ampere per hour of the charger: 2 Watts /12 Volts = 0.167 Amperes
2° Divide 0.417 amp hours (cell phone batery) / 0.167 ampers (solar charger) = 2.50 Hours of direct sunlight to full charge You cell phone Battery
3° Add 10%: 2.75 hours

Result: You’ll need an average of 3 hours of direct sunlight to full charge Your cell phone battery using a 2 Watt solar charger or 30 minutes if You have one of 18 Watt.

What to Look for Before Buy

There are many kinds of solar cell phone chargers. When choosing a solar cell phone charger look for one that is best adjusted to the kind of cell phone you have. Find a cell phone that is useful, reliable and that is affordable.

The ISun is one of the best solar cell phone chargers in the market. This solar module comes with two watts of energy output. It is reliable when going on a long trip and there are no places to charge you cell phone.

The iSun can also charge navigation systems, iPods and other small electronics up to two watts of energy. If you need to power another small electronic device of more than two watts the iSun allows you to plug in one or more iSun devices for more energy.

It is only of any use if there is no other source of power

The Portable Solar Charger for Cell Phones is a great acquisition that saves both money when charging your cell phone and money when buying this exciting gadget. The solar charger can be powered via the sun with, a USB cable or directly to the wall. This portable solar charger comes with one solar cell. The output voltage is 5.5 volts and it is compatible with most brands of cell phones (like Blackberry and LG).

The Solio Classic is ideal for those people that are constantly moving around. It uses both electricity and solar energy to charge your phone. It offers 20 minutes of talk after an hour period of sunshine. The batteries are replaceable and they last for up to one year. The Solio is perfect to power other hand held devices.

Solar cell phone chargers can help you save money on cell phone usage over a year’s period. They are handy devices that provide energy to your cell phone when your cell phone dies.

Cell phones are an important part of people’s everyday life and lots of communications are relayed through a cell phone that is why having a good cell phone charger is important.

Read More:

• Boost Mobile Phones has a lot of  Tricks & Tips, Free BlackBerry Software, Free Themes & Ringtones, News & Updates
• 1800mobiles.com has a great selection of cell phone chargers
• Wireless Emporium has a great selection of mobile phone chargers by brands

Where Can I Buy a Solar Powered Mobile Phone ?

Finding solar powered mobile phones can be quite challenging depending on where you are. In today’s market very few models arise from the major manufacturers. Samsung recently introduced one and joins the likes of Sharp as the only other manufacturers to have models run from solar power.

Finding these phones can be quite difficult for some. Samsung announced that their solar powered phone, The Crest, would be available in India, Europe and much of Asia in 2009, but not the US. Sharp has recently pushed release of their phone from Japan to China and Europe and has targeted the rest of the globe in the near future. Unfortunately for US consumers Sharp has not released the phone in the country.

For US consumers finding the solar powered phones (that they don’t import themselves) is next to impossible, all though there are still solar powered options. Various skins for iphones and ipads are available that will convert the energy of the sun into electricity. Also various solar powered chargers are on the market in the US. Sharp though will beat the other competitors such as LG and Samsung to the US market though the release date is unsure at the moment.

How to Make a Solar Cell Phone Charger ?

Start by taking apart your solar lamp, the top usually snaps off, and then you have to unscrew the portion with the led and circuit board, unscrew the circuit board, and the light sensor, being careful not to damage any of the wires. use the pliers to cut away excess plastic from around the battery casing, and to remove the on/off switch. you want it intact.

Carefully remove the solar panel. discard the led. repeat with each solar light.
Solder the battery compartments positive to negative, in a chain using some extra wire.
Remove the part of your charger that plugs into your phone, soldering the wires to each end of your solar panel chain. Glue the panels around the record. Charge your phone using the sun!

Solar chargers for cars are becoming the most probable choice for powering cars and this is perhaps due to the convenience they create. As you drive, the solar charger will be charging your car battery and the best thing is that as long as you connect your battery to it, your battery cannot die simply because the car has not been driven for a while.

The Most Recommended Solar Chargers Are:

• Go Power! GPDL-20 20-Watt Self Regulating Unbreakable Solar Module
• Sunforce 60-Watt Solar Charging Kit
• Brunton 26 Watt Foldable Solar Array
• HQRP 20W Mono-crystalline Solar Panel

Use of solar chargers for cars is both economical since you use the sun which is a free resource and also environment friendly. To benefit more from your solar charger, just make sure you place the panel on the windscreen where it can receive the sunlight well. To connect it, there are crocodile clips provided that you can use to connect directly to the battery or via a cigarette lighter socket. A solar charger for your car should be powerful enough for reliability and this means its power output has to be very high.

Sunsei SE- 150 solar charger

The Sunsei SE- 150 will charge your car if it has a 12V battery. The charger has a 2.5 Watts, weighs about 410g and uses current of 0.2 A. It is used for lightweight automobiles such as cars as well as small boats and motorbikes. Sunsei SE- 150 solar charger is easy to connect and mount and never overcharges your car battery. It comes with a 4ft cigarette lighter adaptor cable and a 10ft battery clamp cable together with 4 suction cups hence you can connect it with the cigarette lighter socket or crocodile clip.

1W solar vehicle trickle charger

This will help keep your battery strong when parked and charges a 12V battery car. It is weather proof and you can either connect it directly to the battery or with the cigarette lighter cable available. This solar charger for cars weighs about 0.45kg and is safe for your battery since it does not overcharge. It is powered by an integral solar panel.

ICP Sunsei Se-500

This is best suited for larger vehicles and is a 7.5 Watt charger and would keep your vans, pickups and other large vehicles’ battery up when not in use. The panel of the ICP Sunsei Se-500 charger employs the latest technology. It comes with its complete set of accessories and it does not overcharge your battery hence safe for use. It is weather resistant hence ideal for extreme weather conditions such as snow.

One of the best ways to generate electricity is by using solar energy. 12v marine solar battery chargers are now widely used, are easy to install and can work for very many years without any problems. They are usually packed in a kit that has a solar panel, battery pack, conversion technology needed and any necessary wiring.

The Most Recommended Solar Chargers Are:

• Go Power! GPDL-20 20-Watt Self Regulating Unbreakable Solar Module
• Sunforce 60-Watt Solar Charging Kit
• Brunton 26 Watt Foldable Solar Array
• HQRP 20W Mono-crystalline Solar Panel

Using Solar Boat Trickle Chargers

They are used on boats to guard against any natural electronic drain and battery discharge. These solar chargers for boats are made using designs that are weather proof so they cannot be easily damaged while in the water.

Solar chargers can be used on boats for any complimentary electronic gear that may need to be used while the boat is out on the water.

The complimentary gear

The complimentary gear includes communication and entertainment devices, fish finders and sonar. There are some full kits that are available to run this electronic gear on the boats.

The solar chargers can also be used to charge the boats’ batteries and this usually comes in a different kit from the ones used to charge the electric gear. The kits have some solar panels that you can mount in various locations on your boat. The panels are connected to a marine solar charge controller unit that will charge the battery.

A solar power charger works well on a boat because the solar panels are very well exposed to the sun while on the water and this reduces the amount of time it takes for the batteries to be charged.

Some of the panels that are used for charging boats have integrated batteries that function as power packs. You can charge this internal battery then use it to charge the gear on the boat or the battery used to run the boat.

The panels that do not come will require a converter to switch the power supply and also regulate the voltage on your battery by stepping it up or down.

Know Before You Buy

When choosing the marine solar charging panel, you need to know the kind of battery that you have but in most cases, one charger will work for any gear or battery except if it is for Gel Cell. It is also important to calculate the wattage on the solar charger by knowing just how many Ampere per hours the battery stores.

Choose a charger that has a solar marine battery maintainer so that it will monitor the charging on a regular basis and stop it once the boat or the gear is fully charged.

What Size Solar Panel for Marine Battery do I Need?

Marine solar systems are fundamentally no different than other types of solar electric systems. They all have panels for harvesting the power, a battery for storage and sometimes and inverter to change the 12 volt (DC) to 120 volt (AC) current In designing a system for your boat, it is important to answer what size solar panel for marine battery you will need. To answer this, you must first determine what electrical needs you will have to power in your boat.

The most common power needs are for a bilge pump, lighting, devises like laptops and DVD players, kitchen appliances such as coffee makers and blenders, and fans . A 100 watt panel can power all of these but not all at the same time and only for a certain number of hours.

It is important to have a close look at what electrical devises you need to power on your boat and how many watts are required to run each appliance. Then you must estimate how many hours a day or week you will need to use each devise.

Solar supply stores can usually give you assistance on how best to match your marine electrical needs to the right size panels and battery when you are looking for help on what size solar panel for marine battery for your boat.

According to customer reviews, three of the best USB solar chargers include the Powerfilm USB and AA Solar Panel Charger, the Sosche SolBat II Solar Powered Backup Battery and Charger, and the Tenergy USB-5000 Hybrid Solar Charger. Here’s a closer look at each of these three solar USB chargers.

Technical Details

Powerfilm USB and AA Solar Power Charger
This charger (In depth review here) is one of Powerfilm’s foldable solar panels. It folds down small enough to fit in a cargo pocket. When it’s unfolded, it stretches 24” long and 5.5” wide. Most small USB devices can be charged from the Powerfilm. The compact size and durability of the Powerfilm charger makes it ideal for backpackers who want to charge up in the wilderness but don’t want a lot of extra weight.

Sosche SolBat II Solar Powered Backup Battery and Charger
The SolBat II (In depth review here) will charge most USB devices, including iPods, iPhones, and Blackberries. Unlike the foldable Powerfilm, this charger is hard-bodied, but like the Powerfilm, it can fit in a pocket. You can stick it to your car windshield and let it juice up from the sun as you drive, or just set it down in a sunny location.

Tenergy USB-5000 Hybrid Solar Charger
As the name suggests, this charger is a hybrid; it runs devices off of both solar power and, in low-light conditions, AA batteries. The advantage of the Tenergy is that you don’t have to rely upon sunlight to use the device. When the sun is down, use the batteries. When the sun is up, recharge the batteries or your USB device.

Installation and Maintenance

Each of these three products are easy to install – just set it in the sun and it will start doing its job. As each device is built for use outdoors, they are also all quite durable.

Pros and Cons of the Three Chargers

There’s not one of these three chargers that’s necessarily “better” than the other two. Each product is a solid value, and sells at a very reasonable price. One complaint users have on each product is that they aren’t necessarily strong enough to fully charge an iPhone. iPhones, it seems, are big energy consumers, and these little solar chargers are really challenged by the task of charging them up. Some consumer reviews suggest purchasing two devices instead of one to handle the power needs of multiple small electronics.

In the future we’ll write on:
How to make a USB solar charger?
Where to find a solar to usb charger?
How do i connect a solar panel to usb cable?
How can I convert a solar usb charger to AC?

Laptop batteries unfortunately run low as you use your laptop. Depending on the tasks you are performing, such as word processing versus watching a DVD, your battery will last for more or less time before it needs charging.

The battery rating can give you an indication of the amount of time you have between charges. Battery ratings are in amp hours usually. Higher amp hours means a longer time between charges or the ability to do more processing in a small amount of time.

The most common battery ratings are between 1 and 3 amp hours conventional batteries and these batteries take 4 hours or more to charge fully.

There are higher capacity batteries available that go up to 8 amp hours and charge a battery fully in 1-3 hours. However, some of these batteries are external and quite heavy.

So, considering the power your battery needs each hour and an average of 8 working hours a day, this means You’ll consume nearly 20,8 KWatt each year to run Your laptop (considering 260 working days).

Now try to imagine, each notebook owner creates 0.01 tonnes of CO2 per year. Now multiply this number for the total amount of laptop used in the world and feel guilty!!

Solar Chargers for Laptops

If you use your laptop/notebook computer outdoors frequently, you have probably found that you have to pack up and relocate to be near an outlet when your batteries run low.

To avoid this, you could use a solar laptop power supply. Since the sun is readily available, free, and a clean source of energy, this is your best choice for using your computer outside.

Since you are working outside, you are likely quite mobile, and require good portability. You also want your batteries to charge while you are working or charge in a short amount of time.

The price varies for solar powered laptop chargerS. They tend to be higher priced than solar chargers for a phone or mp3 player because of the power needed for a notebook computer.

Here are the top 3 solar chargers:

Voltaic Generator

This 15 watt charger is in the form of a solar powered laptop bag that is made of recycled materials. It has batteries to store the charge, and unfortunately this makes the bag heavy, at 4.5 pounds. Also, it takes 1 full day to charge a notebook computer. The price is competitive at $600 since you get the functionality of a laptop case as well. The bag comes in silver, orange black and green.

Xantrex Technologies 852-2071 Powerpack

Xantrex Technologies 852-2071 Xpower AC/DC Powerpack Solar With 400 Watt Inverter, Two AC Outlets, USB Port, And Digital Display

This 5 watt solar powerpack charges a 400 watt battery that will run almost anything you can think of. It has two AC outlets for charging your laptop or any accessories you might have. It can also simultaneously charge small devices using the USB port. The powerpack weighs a hefty 12 lbs, but it has multiple functions. At less than $200 this item is a cost effective choice that only sacrifices portability. This is a good choice if you are traveling by car or working in a stationary location, due to the weight of the charger.

Portable Solar Laptop Charger Package 30 Watt

This 30 watt charger has a flexible solar panel. It is capable of charging while you work full time on your laptop. It has a high amount of power and a corresponding high price of $700. However, it is ultra portable at under 4 lbs.

Solar chargers are essential if you are using electronic gadgets like the PDA. These gadgets are very useful and not just disposable items.

If You like You can watch this video I did:

When choosing these batteries there are 2 main things that you need to consider:

1) The capacity of the charger to keep the charge for a long time is one quality that you need to consider. The battery need not be very heavy for convenience during travel.

2) It would be appropriate if you choose a battery that is not easily destroyed by overcharging or undercharging. There are, however, many models of the changers that are available in the market today.

Solstice 2.5 Solar Powered PDA Charger

A good example of such chargers is the solstice 2.5 solar powered PDA charger.

This is a portable solar charger that is convenient to use. It uses lithium ion and it can be used in many gadgets. This should be the best solar charger for the travelers.

It can be charged via solar panel and solar adapters. This product has been designed in a way that it is not destroyed by undercharging or overcharging. It will meet all your power needs while on transit.

Solio Solar Battery for PDA

Another product is the Solio solar battery for PDA, it is a pocket sizable charger and it is one of the commonly used ones. It has been rated as one of the most powerful solar chargers and can be used to charge a number of devices at a go. It is very convenient since it can be charged through the socket or you can place it under the sun and it will be charged.

The amazing thing about this charger is that it can hold the charge for a full year. The other advantage of this charger is that you will not have to limit yourself from carrying many gadgets because of charging. It can charge almost all the gadgets.

SolEX PDA Solar Battery Charger

The SolEX PDA Solar Battery Chargers is another product that you need to look out for in the market. It is made of a crystalline solar cell hence exceeds the quality of all other solar battery chargers. It takes few hours to be charged hence making it very convenient. In terms of durability, it is the perfect one to consider.

Other products like the Emergency Solar Charger for Cell Phone PDA are also readily available in the market. It is important to choose the solar charger that will last for as long to avoid occasional replacement.

When choosing a solar charger for your iphone (3g, 3gs or 4g), there are two basic options: products manufactured primarily for the i phone, and products that are universal. With specialized chargers, you have more thought going toward the iphone, yet if you have multiple devices and want to power all equally, there is the less expensive option of purchasing a unit that can multi-task.

The Most Recommended Solar Chargers Are:

• Go Power! GPDL-20 20-Watt Self Regulating Unbreakable Solar Module
• Sunforce 60-Watt Solar Charging Kit
• Brunton 26 Watt Foldable Solar Array
• HQRP 20W Mono-crystalline Solar Panel

Integrated and Separated Solar Chargers

There are two main designs: solar panels that integrate with your iphone, and solar chargers that are separate, with a cord linking the two.

Novothink is the 1° licensed solar iphone 3g charger

Novothink, the “first licensed solar chargers for the iphone,” has a solar panel on the back of their unit, which attaches to the iphone as a whole. Yet on their website they say that placing in a hot area may damage your iphone, as the operating temperatures of the phone may be more sensitive than the temperatures of the solar charger. So, put it in the sun, for hours, but make sure it’s a cool sun?

Other chargers, such as Solio, Lenmar, and FreeLoader either use a device that is attached to the bottom of the iphone, or have a linking cable that keeps the devices separate, in the off chance you want your battery juice served medium well, yet your iphone kept on a cold plate to the side.

How to Calculate Charging Time

Novothink has a 1500 mAh lithium battery, and provides 30-60 minutes of talk time after 2 hrs of solar exposure.

Video Review of Solio Magnesium Edition

Solio has different options, from 1000 mAh to 1800 mAh, and they boast 15 min of talk time per hr of solar exposure.

Lenmar has a 2200 mAh lithium battery, with a charge time of 4-6 hrs, depending on the intensity of the solar exposure. Run time of an iphone when connected is around 1.5 hrs.

Freeloader Video Review

FreeLoader has a 1000 mAh lithium battery, and with 8 hrs of solar charge, can “charge an ipod for 18 hrs.” That doesn’t say if the usage is standby or talk time. Customer reviews for these products were partly cloudy, and many people may need to test-drive for a few days to see if this solution is right for them. Going green is definitely a newer phenomenon in the marketplace, and companies are answering the call; the difficulty is being able to distinguish a genuinely reliable alternative energy source from those that are just looking to make a quick buck.