Solar Charger Fundamentals

Basics
Solar chargers are portable and compact devices that use solar energy to charge batteries or produce electricity. Solar power or energy is the energy derived from the sun. Popular devices that can make use of these chargers to power themselves or charge their batteries include: cell phones, flashlights, iPods, iPads, mobile phones and other compact audio devices that are able to utilize solar chargers. Often these chargers are designed for a particular type of product. The efficiency of the unit used is highly dependent on the solar panel used. The sizes of solar panels vary in relation to the output generated by such panel. The smaller the level of output, the smaller the size of the solar panel and vice versa; the lesser the efficiency of a solar panel, the greater the amount of space it will require.

There are 3 major types of solar panels used in chargers.

The amorphous solar panel - also known as the thin film panel, it uses the lowest amount of silicon cells which results in the production of solar panels with the lowest level of efficiency. Efficiency level of the thin film panel is usually 10 percent or below. They are the cheapest panels and the most unreliable.
Thepolycrystalline or multi-crystalline solar panel is the next most efficient panel after the mono-crystalline panel. It is the most preferred choice because it combines a perfect blend of cost effectiveness and level of performance. These days, they are manufactured to resemble the mono-crystalline solar panels in size, level of efficiency and level of heat tolerance. The polycrystalline solar panel is the standard panel acceptable in the UK
The mono crystalline solar panel is the smallest panel with the smallest solar cells. it has the largest level of efficiency and takes up the least space. Their efficiency level can be as high as 19 percent. They are the most expensive and most reliable solar panels available in today's market.

Types of Solar Chargers by Application

Automotive Solar Trickle Chargers - are designed with vehicles in mind, these chargers have small solar panels which are directly hooked to a car cigarette lighter plug. The automotive solar trickle charger charges your car battery slowly, replacing the small losses in battery caused by car features that never go off. Battery renewal is done at the maximum rate of 125m Amps every hour when the sun is at its fullest. These chargers rarely come with solar panels big enough to charge a 12V car battery but they supplement with trickles of energy to the level of energy in the car battery. With this charger, there is no need for you to keep your hood open as they can be comfortably attached to your dashboard, keeping your car securely locked while charging. They also have built in diodes to prevent reversal in current which can drain your battery especially at night. This is useful if you want to run something off your car battery without keeping the engine running.
Folding Chargers - an outstanding invention in the field of solar energy in recent years, the creation of flexible thin-film solar cells have led to an increased level of their use in the creation of portable chargers. Apart from the fact that they can be unfolded to allow a larger surface area to be exposed to the sun, they can also be easily rolled up to make them portable. They are extremely light weight and are less prone to damages than other chargers. With weight usually below 1 pound, they produce good level of power if they receive adequate exposure to sunlight. They usually come with built in grommets or hooks so as to make them easier to hang. They also come with plugs and adapters and are compatible plenty compact electronic device.
Clam-shell chargers - clamshell chargers have their solar panels enclosed in folding cases to give protection to their solar cells and to make them easier to carry. They are very common and come in different sizes and voltages depending on the use they are intended for. They can be used with different mobile devices as they have different plugs and adaptors. Some can be plugged directly to electronic devices to charge their batteries while some are designed to charge batteries separately.
Solar Bags and Backpacks - these backpacks and bags are created using flexible thin solar cells. Often, these bags are designed to charge what they are holding. They may charge the devices directly or charge batteries in a built in charging pouch. They are great for charging your devices when you are on the move.

Purchasing Tips

Here some of the factors to look out for when buying solar chargers:

Plug Compatibility - Be sure the charger you buy comes with a power plug that fits the device you wish to use it with.
Charge Time - Most solar chargers produce small amounts of power within short periods due to the presence of just one or two solar cells. The low number or size of solar cells will lead to longer time for charging you device. Exposure of you electronic device to excessive sun can cause damage; if you need a faster way to charge your device, look for chargers with higher number of cells. Of course the tradeoff will be in size. More cells the bigger the charger. To get the chargers with higher number of cells, check for output in watts.Physical dimensions - The physical dimensions of a solar charger usually determine their efficiency. Size is a good indication of power output.
Environment factors - The purpose and the environment in which the charger will be used is also an important factor to consider. If you plan on using it outdoors or in extreme conditions of hot, cold or humidity make sure the charger you have in mind can handle it.

Robert Clark is a freelancer writer. His articles on solar chargers and solar charger reviews can be found at: Solar Charger Web

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Solar Chargers and the Great Outdoors

AppId is over the quota

If you are like me and feel the need to get away from the rat race every now and then, but still want to keep in touch with what is going on, then a Solar Charger could be your new best friend.

Whether it is heading into the wilderness with your tent and backpack, or jumping into your boat to do a bit of fishing, or even hitching up the caravan and getting away to the coast for the weekend, it is good to know that if you feel the need to contact someone or do some online work then you need never worry about running low on battery again.

If you invest in a Solar Powered Charger, then you have the capability to charge up your devices anywhere in the world. These devices may be your mobile, laptop or even your Nintendo if that's how you like to relax. These state of the art chargers are robustly built to withstand rough handling, are very portable and small enough to carry in any knapsack. The solar phone chargers are particularly compact and can be carried in your pocket.

For example the Gobi 2011 Expedition was a non-stop trek across the fifth largest desert in the world (and Asia's largest!) and the team was supplied with portable chargers for their amazing journey. On the 26th May 2011, the expedition team started their 1000miles / 1600km trek across the Mongolian Gobi Desert to Sainshand (the capital city in the East), by camel. The team endured sandstorms, torrential thunder and rain, extreme temperature fluctuations, isolation, blizzards, aggressive camels and injuries. During the expedition, the team managed to interact with and document the many nomadic families, their indigenous lives far removed from our own, who proudly continue their way of life regardless of climate change and globalisation.

On July 15th 2011, the Gobi 2011 Expedition successfully crossed the desert with the seven team members reaching the 1000-mile mark after 51 days, 11 hours and 40 minutes. 1000 miles is a tough endeavour. One team member remarked that the Solar Chargers were so amazing he was surprised they "didn't" fire laser beams! They also proved they were resistant to falling from the back of a camel.

I don't anticipate crossing any deserts in the near future but I will be heading up to Scotland in January for some winter activities and I need to keep in contact with how my business is doing. My Solar Charger will be in the car for my laptop and phone. I hope that I won't need it in an emergency but it is reassuring to know that there is always juice in the phone.

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