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Solar Chargers
Does it have a charging socket? As an example let's say you want to use a solar powered charger to charge a digital camera. Whether you can use a universal solar charger to charge it depends on the charging system of the camera. Does it have a power charging socket or do you need to remove the battery to recharge it?
If it is recharged via a charging socket then it can be charged by a universal solar charger. Cameras that require the battery to be removed and charged externally can only be solar charged by certain types of solar battery chargers.
Solar charger voltage
Will the solar charger have enough power? Look at the nameplate data on the original camera charger. The nameplate data are the technical specifications engraved or stamped on the charger. All electrical devices should have this information.
On a typical digital device's charger you will see something like INPUT AC240V 50Hz 2A / OUTPUT DC4V 200mA. We are only interested in the output specifications.
In our example of the camera the output from the charger is a direct current (DC) voltage of 4 volts and the output current is 200 milli-amps (mA) or 0.2 amps (1000 milli-amps equals 1 amp).
The output from the charger is the electrical power that is fed to the battery charging circuit through the input socket. Therefore if we want to substitute the original charger for a universal charger like a solar charger then we need to ensure that the output voltage is at least 4 volts.
It can be higher, say 5 volts or even 6V, but not much more because then it might damage the battery or burn out the charging circuit.
An output voltage lower than 4 volts would not have enough power to energize the camera's charging circuit.
The output current (amps) is not as critical a parameter, it is more of an indication of how rapidly the battery would be charged. As a rule of thumb if the output current is halved then it would take twice as long to charge up a battery and if the current were doubled it would take half as long, all other things being equal.
Excessive current will overheat of the battery during charging and should be avoided because overheating will shorten the life of a battery. But it is unusual for a solar charger to supply excessive current so you should select a solar charger with a higher output current.
Solar charger connectors
Will the solar charger have the adapter tips you need? The next consideration when selecting a solar charger is to provide a proper connection from the solar charger to the camera's charger input socket. We need a suitable power plug adapter for the digital camera.
The connector adapter ensures the positive and negative leads of the solar charger's output cable connect with the positive and negative terminals of the charger socket on the camera.
Most cameras have a charging socket that accepts a round pin plug of about 4 mm diameter so measure the diameter of the connector on the original charger and choose an adapter that matches it.
A good solar charger will have an assortment of connectors for various devices and others can bought if the one you require is not packaged with the solar charger.
Larger Solar chargers
What if the battery is charged externally like most digital cameras? If you need to remove the camera battery to be charged with an external battery charger then that will require a larger portable solar charger that can generate 12V and an inverter to change the 12VDC to get 240VAC. There are solar chargers like the Lithium Ion battery solar charger for digital camera batteries that can can recharge flat type 3.7V Li-Ion batteries externally, plus it has an output socket and cables to charge mobile phones, making it quite a versatile universal solar charger.
An inverter is a type of transformer that changes DC current into AC current. They are used in larger solar power systems to provide AC electrical power to household appliances from the DC supplied from the solar panels.
Inverters come in various sizes and types, you will only need a small one to power the charger via its AC plug.
Some devices may also be supplied with a car charger which can plug into a solar panel with a cigarette lighter (CLA) socket.
Now that you know the solar charger requirements for you application it's time to see what is available.
The usual personal solar charger has an output voltage of about 5 volts and output current of about 500mA. This will allow you to charge most mobile phones and Ipods.
Some mobile phones require a bit more voltage, for instance some motorolas will only accept a charging input of 5.5 volts or more, but generally speaking just about all solar chargers will charge up any mobile phone if you have the right power connector adapter for the phone's charging port.
Solar chargers and portable solar panels are available in many designs and sizes for various applications.
The latest solar chargers will enable you to recharge mobile phones and other personal devices like Ipods and MP4 players. These handy solar powered chargers enable you to use just one charger to replace the jumble of chargers and cables cluttering up your home.
Solar chargers range from pocket-sized solar cells with internal batteries that are suitable for charging mobile phones and personal devices to larger portable solar panels designed to charge up an external battery to provide power for portable appliances when traveling or camping.
Choosing the right Solar charger
When choosing a solar charger bigger is better.
A large solar panel will generate more electrical current and charge up a battery faster than a small solar panel.
Similarly a larger storage battery in the solar charger will hold more charge and enable you to get more charges out of it.
Therefore a larger solar module will charge up the solar charger's battery quicker and a larger solar charger battery will hold more charge and provide longer use before having to recharge it.
This is the general rule of solar voltaic power generation; when selecting any solar power system from the smallest pocket sized charger to the largest solar power installations bigger is always better.
A solar charger with a 2 watt solar panel will product twice as much current as a 1 watt solar panel and a battery with a capacity of 4 amp hours (Ah) will hold twice the charge of a 2Ah battery.
Check the output volts
Another important consideration when selecting a solar Charger is the output voltage.
Types of solar charger
Most mobile phones require about 5 to 6 volts to recharge so the solar charger needs to be able to supply the required voltage.
Some solar chargers output voltages are adjustable to supply different voltages to charge up a variety of portable devices.
Therefore you may need a charger that can supply 9 volts to charge up some digital cameras, but only need 5 or 6 volts to charge your mobile phone.
Larger portable solar panels supply 12 volts.
This is the same as a car's CLA socket so these portable solar panels are suitable for electronic devices and small appliances that can be charged or powered via a 12 volt CLA supply.
MPPT Solar chargers
Its interesting to note that some solar chargers don't have internal storage batteries. For instance the Soldius solar charger does not, instead it has advanced electronics for direct charging, called MPPT technology, a first for small solar chargers.
Solar charger Buyers Checklist
Choose the right solar charger for your personal need and you won't be disappointed.
Questions about Solar Chargers
Q: I need a solar charger for a Motorola Defy with a micro USB charger connector. Can you recommend a solar charger that will work for this?.
A: Any of the SRESKY solar chargers will do the job. My recommendation would be the SBC15 as it has the largest solar panel and will recharge the internal 2000mA Li-ion battery twice as fast. You will need to purchase the micro USB connector from our ADAPTER TIPS category as it is not included with the solar chargers. Don't expect one of these small solar chargers to do the job of a car or AC charger as they only generate 300 to 500 milli-amps and will never completely recharge a phone battery, at best you might get it 80% recharged.
Q: Does placing a solar charger behind glass increase the charging times?
A: Glass windows do absorb some sunlight which will increase charging time, but the chargers will still operate satisfactorily, it is more important to make sure the solar panel is facing directly into the sun and that no shadows fall on any part of the solar panel surface if youu want the solar panel to operate most effectively.
Q: I am after a solar charger which can charge NiMH batteries.
A: We have the Ansmann Solar Charger (Product Code: MB3589) which takes 2 NiMH (Nickel Metal Hydride) batteries to charge up mobile phones but the batteries can be removed after they have charged and used to power other devices. We also have the Solar Battery Charger (Product Code: MB3502) that can solar charge any AA rechargeable batteries.
Q: I want to charge an iPod touch and iPhone. Can you recommend a good solar charger and the proper cables for charging them?
A: The Sresky Titan (SBC15) is the largest solar panels of the solar chargers so it is a good choice for an IPod and iphone
It also has a 2000 mAh solar storage battery to to recharge some of the larger iPhone batteries.
Q: Which solar charger do I need to charge a digital camera?
A: It depends on your type of camera, but generally speaking, if you want to charge digital cameras that have a charging socket then the SBC06 solar charger has switchable output voltage from 5 volts to 9.5volts which most digital cameras require for charging. You will need to also choose the right adapter tip from our charger adapter tips category.
But if the camera battery is a flat Li-Ion type ( like mobile phone batteries) that can be removed from the camera to be recharged then you need the SBC23 solar charger with battery caddy which can recharge removable 3.7 volt and 7.4 volt Li-ion batteries, and it can recharge mobile phones as well.
Q: I have charged the SBC15 solar charger in the sun for a few hours but after one use my phone is now saying 'charging is not supported with this accessory' Is there any way of getting around this?
A: That message on your phone does not mean there is a problem but that the charge from the solar charger is insufficient to initiate the charging circuit of your phone. Make sure the solar charger is fully charged and make sure the plugs are properly inserted in the phone and the charger. The blue charger indicator lights can be misleading, even with all 4 blue lights showing on the charger, it may still only be 75% charged so leave it charging in sun as long as possible, also make sure it is in full sunlight at all times. If there in no sun then it can also be charged up from a computer USB port with the USB cable included in the kit. It is worth noting that a solar charger or any battery powered charger will never charge a phone as fully as an AC powered charger or 12V car charger, at best they take it to about 90% of a full charge, this applies to all solar and battery-powered chargers.
(Follow up reply from customer: Thanks for your quick response. I have fully charged the solar charger now and the message is gone. Thanks for the added info which I will take on board. I love the solar charger!)
Q: I am interested in the Soldius Solar Charger. I have a mobile phone with a micro usb connector. Does it support this?
A: Sorry, no, only the phone tips shown with the charger are included, although the included USB socket tip is very useful for charging any phones that can be charged by USB port, just attach the phone's USB cable and use the solar charger like a solar powered USB port.
Q: Can you recommend a Solar Charger for my Samsung Galaxy mobile phone?
A: Any of our Sresky solar chargers will charge the Samsung mobile phones. To charge the galaxy models you can purchase the micro USB tip from the 'SOLAR CHARGER CONNECTORS' category. When choosing a connector look closely at the photo of the connector tip and make sure the part that inserts into the phone's charger socket looks exactly like the plug tip on your phone's AC charger.
Q: I recently bought a solar mobile phone charger from you and I think it does not work at all. Are you able to exchange or refund money? I can send it back.
A: I see you have the SBC03 solar charger, it was checked and working properly before it was sent to you, the test entails putting it in the sun to ensure the solar panels are functional, charging the internal battery by 5V USB power and then ensuring it initiates charging of a mobile phone. Can you please explain what you mean when you say it does not work at all and may I ask a few specific questions: Does the indicator light on the side shine green in the sun and does it shine red (charging) or green (fully charged) when it is plugged into a USB port? Have you left it in full sunlight for at least 10 hours to ensure the battery is fully charged? What are you attempting to charge with the solar charger that wont charge?
Q: (Customer's reply) The problem I am having is that the solar charger seems to charge up, I just can’t get it to successfully discharge – that is, put charge into any of my devices. I was surprised that the pack of small adapters only contained ONE with a mini-adapter which would fit the solar charger and even that does not charge my phone.
A: I see you have the SBC03 solar charger, and you did not order the micro USB tip, which is the tip you need. You are using the wrong cable and tip. You will have received 2 cables. One is only used to plug into a USB port for charging the solar charger internal battery from a USB port. The other cable has a round pin socket that fits all the supplied tips.
Q: I'm interested in purchasing a solar charger that will charge mobile phones, Cameras Etc with a car (lighter) socket
A: If you want to use solar power to charge various devices using car chargers meant specifically for each device then the usual mobile phone solar charger won't do, you need one of the portable solar panels to charge up a small 12 volt battery. You will also need a car 12V socket that clips on the battery connections so you can charge up your gadgets using their car chargers, The cable will have battery clamps on one end and the 12 volt socket on the other end. All of the above will get you a good portable solar power system that you can use for many purposes. See the 'PORTABLE SOLAR PANELS' category for more information.
Choosing a solar charger
OK, so you have decided to buy a solar charger, but which is best for your needs?
Don't really know what features to look for? Well, that depends on what you want from it. Do you want to use it indoors on a sunny window sill? or do you intend to leave it in your backpack to use outdoors? Ecopia solar chargers are versatile enough to be used anywhere but they do have varied features for special uses like this mobile phone solar charger that has suction pads that stick to a window.Does it have a charging socket? As an example let's say you want to use a solar powered charger to charge a digital camera. Whether you can use a universal solar charger to charge it depends on the charging system of the camera. Does it have a power charging socket or do you need to remove the battery to recharge it?
If it is recharged via a charging socket then it can be charged by a universal solar charger. Cameras that require the battery to be removed and charged externally can only be solar charged by certain types of solar battery chargers.
Solar charger voltage
Will the solar charger have enough power? Look at the nameplate data on the original camera charger. The nameplate data are the technical specifications engraved or stamped on the charger. All electrical devices should have this information.On a typical digital device's charger you will see something like INPUT AC240V 50Hz 2A / OUTPUT DC4V 200mA. We are only interested in the output specifications.
In our example of the camera the output from the charger is a direct current (DC) voltage of 4 volts and the output current is 200 milli-amps (mA) or 0.2 amps (1000 milli-amps equals 1 amp).
The output from the charger is the electrical power that is fed to the battery charging circuit through the input socket. Therefore if we want to substitute the original charger for a universal charger like a solar charger then we need to ensure that the output voltage is at least 4 volts.
It can be higher, say 5 volts or even 6V, but not much more because then it might damage the battery or burn out the charging circuit.
An output voltage lower than 4 volts would not have enough power to energize the camera's charging circuit.
The output current (amps) is not as critical a parameter, it is more of an indication of how rapidly the battery would be charged. As a rule of thumb if the output current is halved then it would take twice as long to charge up a battery and if the current were doubled it would take half as long, all other things being equal.
Excessive current will overheat of the battery during charging and should be avoided because overheating will shorten the life of a battery. But it is unusual for a solar charger to supply excessive current so you should select a solar charger with a higher output current.
Solar charger connectors
Will the solar charger have the adapter tips you need? The next consideration when selecting a solar charger is to provide a proper connection from the solar charger to the camera's charger input socket. We need a suitable power plug adapter for the digital camera.The connector adapter ensures the positive and negative leads of the solar charger's output cable connect with the positive and negative terminals of the charger socket on the camera.
Most cameras have a charging socket that accepts a round pin plug of about 4 mm diameter so measure the diameter of the connector on the original charger and choose an adapter that matches it.
A good solar charger will have an assortment of connectors for various devices and others can bought if the one you require is not packaged with the solar charger.
Larger Solar chargers
What if the battery is charged externally like most digital cameras? If you need to remove the camera battery to be charged with an external battery charger then that will require a larger portable solar charger that can generate 12V and an inverter to change the 12VDC to get 240VAC. There are solar chargers like the Lithium Ion battery solar charger for digital camera batteries that can can recharge flat type 3.7V Li-Ion batteries externally, plus it has an output socket and cables to charge mobile phones, making it quite a versatile universal solar charger. An inverter is a type of transformer that changes DC current into AC current. They are used in larger solar power systems to provide AC electrical power to household appliances from the DC supplied from the solar panels.
Inverters come in various sizes and types, you will only need a small one to power the charger via its AC plug.
Some devices may also be supplied with a car charger which can plug into a solar panel with a cigarette lighter (CLA) socket.
Now that you know the solar charger requirements for you application it's time to see what is available.
The usual personal solar charger has an output voltage of about 5 volts and output current of about 500mA. This will allow you to charge most mobile phones and Ipods.
Some mobile phones require a bit more voltage, for instance some motorolas will only accept a charging input of 5.5 volts or more, but generally speaking just about all solar chargers will charge up any mobile phone if you have the right power connector adapter for the phone's charging port.
Solar chargers and portable solar panels are available in many designs and sizes for various applications.
The latest solar chargers will enable you to recharge mobile phones and other personal devices like Ipods and MP4 players. These handy solar powered chargers enable you to use just one charger to replace the jumble of chargers and cables cluttering up your home.
Solar chargers range from pocket-sized solar cells with internal batteries that are suitable for charging mobile phones and personal devices to larger portable solar panels designed to charge up an external battery to provide power for portable appliances when traveling or camping.
Choosing the right Solar charger
When choosing a solar charger bigger is better.A large solar panel will generate more electrical current and charge up a battery faster than a small solar panel.
Similarly a larger storage battery in the solar charger will hold more charge and enable you to get more charges out of it.
Therefore a larger solar module will charge up the solar charger's battery quicker and a larger solar charger battery will hold more charge and provide longer use before having to recharge it.
This is the general rule of solar voltaic power generation; when selecting any solar power system from the smallest pocket sized charger to the largest solar power installations bigger is always better.
A solar charger with a 2 watt solar panel will product twice as much current as a 1 watt solar panel and a battery with a capacity of 4 amp hours (Ah) will hold twice the charge of a 2Ah battery.
Check the output volts
Another important consideration when selecting a solar Charger is the output voltage.
Types of solar charger
Most mobile phones require about 5 to 6 volts to recharge so the solar charger needs to be able to supply the required voltage.Some solar chargers output voltages are adjustable to supply different voltages to charge up a variety of portable devices.
Therefore you may need a charger that can supply 9 volts to charge up some digital cameras, but only need 5 or 6 volts to charge your mobile phone.
Larger portable solar panels supply 12 volts.
This is the same as a car's CLA socket so these portable solar panels are suitable for electronic devices and small appliances that can be charged or powered via a 12 volt CLA supply.
MPPT Solar chargers
Its interesting to note that some solar chargers don't have internal storage batteries. For instance the Soldius solar charger does not, instead it has advanced electronics for direct charging, called MPPT technology, a first for small solar chargers. A Solar Charger is just a solar panel designed to charge up a battery.
This solar battery charger can be used to charge mobile phones and other small gadgets that can be charged using low voltage direct current. A typical solar charger will include a storage battery to retain the solar power provided by one or two small solar panels. The solar charger kit will also include cables and adapter tips for common makes of mobile phones, extra connectors for other devices like Ipods and cameras are available on our website. Our solar chargers can even charge your mobile phone while the solar charger's battery is being charged by the solar panels. Once charged, the internal battery allows the solar charger to be used as spare battery pack for use at night or indoors. The solar charger battery can also be charged by connecting to USB port so even when sunlight is not available it can still be used as a back-up power source.
LI-ION Batteries Used in Solar chargers
Solar chargers generally use eco friendly lithium-ion (Li-Ion) batteries, the lightest batteries available. They are perfect for use in portable battery packs and solar chargers because they are light and they have an advantage over other small portable batteries like NiCads because they don't need scheduled cycling to prolong the battery's life. This is great benefit in solar chargers where the battery is usually topped up whenever it is convenient. One point that should be noted is that Li-ion batteries are usually stored with only a half charge so before first use they should be fully charged for a couple of days before normal use.
Choose a solar charger for your mobile phone and Ipod, Ipad and Laptop, camera and music player
Solar chargers of various sizes and output voltage options are available, for instance some have larger solar panels and batteries with enough power to fully recharge several mobile phones and have several output voltages from 5 volts to 9 volts for charging any devices from mobile phones to digital cameras. If you intend to use the solar charger solely for charging a mobile phone or MP3 player or iPhone then the 5 volt output will be sufficient.
Solar charger voltage options
Check what voltage levels the receiving device requires. It's no good selecting a solar charger that will only deliver 5 volts if the device requires 9 volts for charging. Does the solar charger has a selectable range of output voltages? if you are using a solar charger with multiple output voltages but unsure of the voltage required for your personal device, then select the lowest voltage to charge the device. If that does not initiate charging then select higher voltages until it does. This procedure is important because if you choose a voltage that is higher than recommended for your device then it might damage the device.
The solar charger should supply a good amperage.
The other consideration is the charger's current. If it sends out a current flow of 100 milli-Amps then it 's going to take five times longer to charge up a battery than a charger with an output of 500mA.
That's like like trying to fill up a large water bucket with your garden hose if you only open the tap a quarter-turn its going to take much longer to fill the bucket than if you opened the tap fully.
Solar chargers generally use eco friendly lithium-ion (Li-Ion) batteries, the lightest batteries available. They are perfect for use in portable battery packs and solar chargers because they are light and they have an advantage over other small portable batteries like NiCads because they don't need scheduled cycling to prolong the battery's life. This is great benefit in solar chargers where the battery is usually topped up whenever it is convenient. One point that should be noted is that Li-ion batteries are usually stored with only a half charge so before first use they should be fully charged for a couple of days before normal use.
Choose a solar charger for your mobile phone and Ipod, Ipad and Laptop, camera and music player
Solar chargers of various sizes and output voltage options are available, for instance some have larger solar panels and batteries with enough power to fully recharge several mobile phones and have several output voltages from 5 volts to 9 volts for charging any devices from mobile phones to digital cameras. If you intend to use the solar charger solely for charging a mobile phone or MP3 player or iPhone then the 5 volt output will be sufficient.
Solar charger voltage options
Check what voltage levels the receiving device requires. It's no good selecting a solar charger that will only deliver 5 volts if the device requires 9 volts for charging. Does the solar charger has a selectable range of output voltages? if you are using a solar charger with multiple output voltages but unsure of the voltage required for your personal device, then select the lowest voltage to charge the device. If that does not initiate charging then select higher voltages until it does. This procedure is important because if you choose a voltage that is higher than recommended for your device then it might damage the device.
The solar charger should supply a good amperage.
The other consideration is the charger's current. If it sends out a current flow of 100 milli-Amps then it 's going to take five times longer to charge up a battery than a charger with an output of 500mA.
That's like like trying to fill up a large water bucket with your garden hose if you only open the tap a quarter-turn its going to take much longer to fill the bucket than if you opened the tap fully.
Solar charger Buyers Checklist
1-Buy a solar charger with the correct output voltage for your needs
When choosing a solar charger for charging a variety of devices then the voltage must be you first consideration. But is important to remember that too much voltage will damage and possible burn out a device that is designed to accept a lower voltage.
2-Buy a solar charger with a large internal battery
The larger the storage battery, the more charge you will get from it before it needs to be recharged from the solar panel, but the solar panel will also take longer to recharge the solar charger battery.
3-Buy a solar charger with a suitable solar panel
A larger solar panel will charge a battery quicker than a small solar panel, but will be more bulky and less portable than a smaller one, so if you plan to carry around it in your bag then smaller is better.
4-Buy a solar charger with a decent amperage
Always choose a solar charger with the highest current flow because that is the weakest point of all solar chargers, generally they all take longer to charge than an AC charger.
Choose the right solar charger for your personal need and you won't be disappointed.
Contact us to help you choose the right universal solar charger.
Questions about Solar Chargers
Q: I need a solar charger for a Motorola Defy with a micro USB charger connector. Can you recommend a solar charger that will work for this?.A: Any of the SRESKY solar chargers will do the job. My recommendation would be the SBC15 as it has the largest solar panel and will recharge the internal 2000mA Li-ion battery twice as fast. You will need to purchase the micro USB connector from our ADAPTER TIPS category as it is not included with the solar chargers. Don't expect one of these small solar chargers to do the job of a car or AC charger as they only generate 300 to 500 milli-amps and will never completely recharge a phone battery, at best you might get it 80% recharged.
Q: Does placing a solar charger behind glass increase the charging times?
A: Glass windows do absorb some sunlight which will increase charging time, but the chargers will still operate satisfactorily, it is more important to make sure the solar panel is facing directly into the sun and that no shadows fall on any part of the solar panel surface if youu want the solar panel to operate most effectively.
Q: I am after a solar charger which can charge NiMH batteries.
A: We have the Ansmann Solar Charger (Product Code: MB3589) which takes 2 NiMH (Nickel Metal Hydride) batteries to charge up mobile phones but the batteries can be removed after they have charged and used to power other devices. We also have the Solar Battery Charger (Product Code: MB3502) that can solar charge any AA rechargeable batteries.
Q: I want to charge an iPod touch and iPhone. Can you recommend a good solar charger and the proper cables for charging them?
A: The Sresky Titan (SBC15) is the largest solar panels of the solar chargers so it is a good choice for an IPod and iphone
It also has a 2000 mAh solar storage battery to to recharge some of the larger iPhone batteries.
Q: Which solar charger do I need to charge a digital camera?
A: It depends on your type of camera, but generally speaking, if you want to charge digital cameras that have a charging socket then the SBC06 solar charger has switchable output voltage from 5 volts to 9.5volts which most digital cameras require for charging. You will need to also choose the right adapter tip from our charger adapter tips category.
But if the camera battery is a flat Li-Ion type ( like mobile phone batteries) that can be removed from the camera to be recharged then you need the SBC23 solar charger with battery caddy which can recharge removable 3.7 volt and 7.4 volt Li-ion batteries, and it can recharge mobile phones as well.
Q: I have charged the SBC15 solar charger in the sun for a few hours but after one use my phone is now saying 'charging is not supported with this accessory' Is there any way of getting around this?
A: That message on your phone does not mean there is a problem but that the charge from the solar charger is insufficient to initiate the charging circuit of your phone. Make sure the solar charger is fully charged and make sure the plugs are properly inserted in the phone and the charger. The blue charger indicator lights can be misleading, even with all 4 blue lights showing on the charger, it may still only be 75% charged so leave it charging in sun as long as possible, also make sure it is in full sunlight at all times. If there in no sun then it can also be charged up from a computer USB port with the USB cable included in the kit. It is worth noting that a solar charger or any battery powered charger will never charge a phone as fully as an AC powered charger or 12V car charger, at best they take it to about 90% of a full charge, this applies to all solar and battery-powered chargers.
(Follow up reply from customer: Thanks for your quick response. I have fully charged the solar charger now and the message is gone. Thanks for the added info which I will take on board. I love the solar charger!)
Q: I am interested in the Soldius Solar Charger. I have a mobile phone with a micro usb connector. Does it support this?
A: Sorry, no, only the phone tips shown with the charger are included, although the included USB socket tip is very useful for charging any phones that can be charged by USB port, just attach the phone's USB cable and use the solar charger like a solar powered USB port.
Q: Can you recommend a Solar Charger for my Samsung Galaxy mobile phone?
A: Any of our Sresky solar chargers will charge the Samsung mobile phones. To charge the galaxy models you can purchase the micro USB tip from the 'SOLAR CHARGER CONNECTORS' category. When choosing a connector look closely at the photo of the connector tip and make sure the part that inserts into the phone's charger socket looks exactly like the plug tip on your phone's AC charger.
Q: I recently bought a solar mobile phone charger from you and I think it does not work at all. Are you able to exchange or refund money? I can send it back.
A: I see you have the SBC03 solar charger, it was checked and working properly before it was sent to you, the test entails putting it in the sun to ensure the solar panels are functional, charging the internal battery by 5V USB power and then ensuring it initiates charging of a mobile phone. Can you please explain what you mean when you say it does not work at all and may I ask a few specific questions: Does the indicator light on the side shine green in the sun and does it shine red (charging) or green (fully charged) when it is plugged into a USB port? Have you left it in full sunlight for at least 10 hours to ensure the battery is fully charged? What are you attempting to charge with the solar charger that wont charge?
Q: (Customer's reply) The problem I am having is that the solar charger seems to charge up, I just can’t get it to successfully discharge – that is, put charge into any of my devices. I was surprised that the pack of small adapters only contained ONE with a mini-adapter which would fit the solar charger and even that does not charge my phone.
A: I see you have the SBC03 solar charger, and you did not order the micro USB tip, which is the tip you need. You are using the wrong cable and tip. You will have received 2 cables. One is only used to plug into a USB port for charging the solar charger internal battery from a USB port. The other cable has a round pin socket that fits all the supplied tips.
Q: I'm interested in purchasing a solar charger that will charge mobile phones, Cameras Etc with a car (lighter) socket
A: If you want to use solar power to charge various devices using car chargers meant specifically for each device then the usual mobile phone solar charger won't do, you need one of the portable solar panels to charge up a small 12 volt battery. You will also need a car 12V socket that clips on the battery connections so you can charge up your gadgets using their car chargers, The cable will have battery clamps on one end and the 12 volt socket on the other end. All of the above will get you a good portable solar power system that you can use for many purposes. See the 'PORTABLE SOLAR PANELS' category for more information.