Solar chargers gather sunlight via the panel and convert it into DC (direct current) electricity. The electricity is then stored in the rechargeable battery for use or directly used to power devices.
What is a solar charger?
A solar charger is a charger that employs solar energy to supply electricity to devices or batteries. They are generally portable. Solar chargers can charge lead acid or Ni-Cd battery banks up to 48 V and hundreds of ampere hours (up to 4000 Ah) capacity. Such type of solar charger setups generally use an intelligent charge controller.
What is a portable solar charger used for?
Portable solar chargers are best used to power small electrical items, such as smartphones and portable battery packs. They can be perfect for topping up the batteries of devices you might take on a camping trip, but generally aren't much help when it comes to feeding more power-hungry products, such as televisions, portable fridges and kettles.
What makes a good portable solar charger?
Great portable solar chargers prioritize size, weight, and packability over all else. These smaller models are designed to charge electronic devices with lower energy needs, like cell phones and smartwatches. But if you're trying to charge something that takes a lot of power, they won't work as well.
How many Watts should a portable solar charger charge?
Once you get an idea of charging capacity and your intended use for a portable solar charger, it's time to figure out what devices you plan on using. For smaller handheld items such as smartphones, a portable solar charger with five to fifteen watts should suffice.
These chargers are usually designed to be used more like a portable battery pack and less like a solar panel because the solar panel often isn't big enough to reliably generate a lot of power from the sun. The panel will work in a pinch, but it can be slow to charge the integrated battery.
How many amps can a solar charger charge?
It has two USB-A outputs that can each put out up to three amps, which is enough power to charge any USB device. Roughly the size of a notebook, this solar charger unfolds into three panels and has a zippered case that can easily hold two charging cables, a battery pack, and more.