In our highly connected world, we often face a dilemma when our mobile devices run flat while we are out and about. Whether you are rushing between meetings or are out on a hike, an empty mobile battery can have a massive impact on being able to keep in touch with important people.
Portable power banks are designed to charge your mobile devices’ batteries while you are on the go and unable to plug into an outlet or mobile charging hub. These chargers are small enough to carry with you while providing plenty of charging power to keep devices like your iPhone charged.
Solar phone chargers and power banks make use of solar technology. They harvest the sun’s energy and convert it into electricity that you can use to power your devices in a more sustainable way.
How do solar phone chargers work?
A solar phone charger harvests the sun’s energy (called photons) and converts it into electrons in the solar cell to produce an electric circuit. This creates an electrical current that charges the solar power bank or your phone.
Although portable solar chargers work the same as larger solar systems, there is one notable difference. Solar phone chargers deliver Direct Current (DC) and not Alternating Current (AC) like the outlets in your home. Still, this can be used for charging your phone or other small devices.
Do solar phone chargers have an internal battery?
Not all solar phone chargers have internal batteries. Some solar power chargers only consist of solar panels (and other necessary hardware) to charge your cell phone. These panel-only solar phone chargers need to be exposed to sunlight (and sometimes bright sunlight) to be able to charge your mobile devices.
How to choose a solar phone charger
Choosing the best solar phone charger for you depends on how and where you will be using it. If you will be using your solar phone charger while hiking or camping, a charger with foldable solar panels will allow you to quickly charge your devices. The panels can be hung from your backpack so that you can charge your cell phone while you are hiking.
Smaller portable solar chargers are better if you don’t want to carry around a bulky charger along with everything else and only need something to give your cell phone’s battery a boost if it runs low.
What features should my solar charger have?
While solar chargers differ in how they work and what they offer, there are some features that you need to consider when looking for one.
Is it durable?
You are unlikely to be using your solar phone charger while sitting at your desk at home. No, the reason why you want a solar phone charger is so that you can take it with you to charge your iPhone while you are out and about.
When looking for a new portable charger, consider whether it will be durable enough to be carried around – and perhaps dropped every now and then. The solar panels should be attached securely and protected in case you do drop your solar phone charger. You can look at online reviews of different solar phone chargers to see what other users say about the durability of the product.
Is it light and compact enough to carry around?
If your solar phone charger is heavy and too large to carry conveniently, it may end up sitting on your shelf at home instead of charging your phone while you are out. Look for a compact solar charger (with a power bank if you need one) that is small and light enough to carry with you while still giving you enough charging power to charge your phone relatively quickly.
The size of the solar panel affects its power output -how many watts the solar phone charger can produce. Smaller panels mean less power output (wattage), and thus a portable charger with a small solar panel will take longer to charge your phone than one with a larger panel.
Suppose you want a solar cell phone charger that works fast but is still small enough to carry around. In that case, you can look at a portable solar charger that has foldable or collapsible solar panels. These panels fold up when the charger does not need to be exposed to sunlight and unfurls when you want to charge it.
Backup battery and different charging configurations.
Some solar phone chargers have batteries that store electricity. These batteries can charge your phone at times when your solar phone charger isn’t able to convert sunlight energy into electricity. This can happen when it is cloudy or rainy or during the night.
You could also look for a solar power bank that can be charged by plugging it into a power source like an outlet or car charging port.
How well will it charge your phone?
Consider the battery capacity (how much power the portable charger can hold) and how much power it can provide to your phone when it needs to be charged. You may want to look for a solar charger power bank that can charge your phone multiple times before the charger needs to be recharged. Solar panel chargers that have a higher power output and deliver a higher wattage to your iPhone will be able to charge your phone quicker.
Having said that, a charger that provides too much power could overcharge your phone’s battery.
How long does the solar phone charger take to charge?
It could take considerably longer to charge a solar phone charger than it does a regular power bank. In some cases, it could take around 12 hours to fully charge a solar phone charger. More efficient solar phone chargers charge quicker and thus would work better on cloudy days or when you don’t have the time (or patience perhaps) to leave it out in the sun for a few hours.
How many devices can connect to the solar phone charger?
Some solar battery chargers only have one port and thus can only charge one device at a time. If you plan on connecting multiple devices, look for a charger and solar power bank with multiple ports. This could come in handy when you need to charge your mobile phone and tablet or when you go on a camping trip with a group of friends.
What phones are compatible with solar phone chargers?
Solar powered phone chargers are compatible with most phones. In fact, they are compatible with most devices that charge via a USB port. Still, it is good to confirm that the particular charger you want will work with your phone.
How to use a solar charger.
Keep in mind that solar phone chargers generally take longer to charge electronic devices like phones or iPads than regular battery chargers.
Since they are not as powerful as regular battery chargers, solar phone chargers and power banks are best used for charging a device that is low on power and not completely dead.
It is simple to charge your phone with a solar charger. The first step is to place the charger in direct sunlight with the panel facing the sun. Next, plug in your device to start charging it.
If you have a solar charger that does not have a backup battery, you will need to connect your phone to the charger while it is in the sun. If your charger does have a battery, you can charge the solar charger and then use it to charge your phone whenever you need it – even when it is cloudy or during the night.
You can continue using your phone or other electronic devices while they are connected to your solar charger. Chargers with backup batteries can be left in the sun once your devices have been fully charged. These chargers usually direct power to your device first before charging the battery bank. Leaving them to absorb sunlight will enable them to store energy that you can use later.
Do solar phone chargers save money?
The benefits of solar phone chargers are more about the convenience of charging your phone when you don’t have access to a power outlet and having a slightly smaller carbon footprint than it is about saving money.
Large solar arrays, like the ones that power homes, produce plenty of electricity, sometimes enough to power the home with power left over. In these cases, homeowners can reap the financial benefits.
Solar phone chargers, however, only produce a small amount of power to charge your phone. Most models cost between $30 and $100. It costs around $1 per year to charge a phone. That means you will have to charge multiple devices numerous times a year to see any real savings with a solar phone charger.
How to make a solar charger.
It is possible to make a solar charger at home, and there are a few DIY articles and videos online. Keep in mind that you will be working with technical components that will be generating electricity, and thorough research and some know-how are required.
Harvesting solar energy has many benefits. Solar chargers and battery packs enable you to charge your devices when you are unable to plug into a power outlet. The solar industry is growing, and there are numerous solar chargers on the market. When looking for the best portable solar power phone charger, you need to consider where and how you plan on using it. This will help you decide which solar phone charger will meet your needs best.