Solar Powered Chargers

[manlymatt83]

How do they work? Do they work well?

Example:

Text

 

[effowe]

Haven't used one but that looks rather cumbersome and pricey. Solar technology is pretty inefficient these days, although some breakthroughs are being made. I would say it's not worth it right now, but the technology is advancing so something like this will work well, at some point.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Lol, I used to make those in one of my temporary jobs. It's a good product. They're slightly more efficient than the hard surface solar cells and the unit is waterproof. They are sold retail and to the services just for charging laptops. If the price works for you, go for it.

 

[manlymatt83]

Magnus: what about the cheaper kinds that claim to charge laptops? Like the under $100 ones? Better to invest in one of those $200-$300 units?

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

The main difference in quality is the more expensive ones tend to have more efficient solar cells and the milspec varieties have a much longer service life. These are flexible but not foldable hence the fairly large borders around the cells to allow for folding the unit into a square. I think the cheaper ones would do the job but, just not as long or charge in as short a time.

 

[manlymatt83]

At this point I'm ready to purchase one. Can anyone give me some serious additional advice on what to look for?

 

[0roo0roo]

i wonder how well they work since batteries dont like heat..

 

[Gibson486]

They work, but they are ineffecient.

The solar part will charge a battery....the battery goes to a dc/ac converter...it powers the laptop.

 

[43st]

I think Magnus is refering to PowerFilm. They make mil spec. chargers. Sundance solar sells some of their panels.

 

[Maluno]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
i wonder how well they work since batteries dont like heat..

 

[manlymatt83]

Originally posted by: 43st
I think Magnus is refering to PowerFilm. They make mil spec. chargers. Sundance solar sells some of their panels.

Is there a company I can call and say "I need a solar charger for my laptop" and they will just have an out of the box solution?

 

[91TTZ]

Originally posted by: Gibson486
They work, but they are ineffecient.

The solar part will charge a battery....the battery goes to a dc/ac converter...it powers the laptop.

Why would it go to a dc/ac converter? The laptop's power adapter would then have to convert it back to dc to use.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Hmmm...

My laptop's power adapter is 90 watt, 20 volt and the solar panel kit is 20 watt, 12 volt. My fully-charged battery is also 12.85 volts. That means two things:

- Charger is definitely only a charger, you could not use it reliably to run the computer if the battery dies.
- Charger would likely not be able to "top off" your battery.

ZV

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: 91TTZ

Originally posted by: Gibson486
They work, but they are ineffecient.

The solar part will charge a battery....the battery goes to a dc/ac converter...it powers the laptop.

Why would it go to a dc/ac converter? The laptop's power adapter would then have to convert it back to dc to use.

oh...you are right....i was thinking that the conversion was done in the product itself....it's actually done with the brick. Ignore the dc/ac part.