Review: 7 in 1 Solar Power Charger
Rating: 
Cost: Currently $18.24 w/Free Shipping
NOTE: You should be able to get another 5% off by using the coupon code RM5OFF2 during the checkout
I had very low expectations before getting a chance to review this product, but once I did it really went above and beyond what I was expecting.
Solar chargers are known to be slow and almost not worth the effort. I mean, who wants to plug their Blackberry into a charger for hours just to get a bar or two of power out of the sun? The problem is that getting power from the sun just takes a long time. But that is where this solar charger really took a great idea.
While you can plug the solar charger into your BlackBerry and charge it directly from the sun very slowly, this solar charger has a built in battery. What that means is that you can leave the solar charger by itself in your window for an hour or two and just let it charge its own battery slowly in the sun. Then later, when your BlackBerry runs out of juice, you can plug it in and it will charge your battery straight from the solar charger’s battery. This let’s it work faster when charging.
Oddly, it also comes with a wall charger so that you can charge the solar charger’s battery and just use it as a backup battery without the whole solar power part. I guess this is great as an extra feature, but if the whole idea is to be able to charge it off the natural sun, then this doesn’t really make all that much sense.
When charging, the solar charger comes with a million different kinds of plugs for BlackBerrys and other types of standard phones. Most importantly, it comes with a USB connector so that you charge almost anything from its USB. I tried it out on my BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8220 and it got me about two power bars off of an hour or two worth of sun-charging. I think that’s pretty good for a backup power supply. I tried it with my wife’s old iPod Nano and it also charged nicely. Although, my friend let me try it on his iPhone 3G and it wouldn’t charge. The device does come with a MiniUSB adapter which will work on the Bold and older devices but the newer 8220, Storm, & 8900 use a MicroUSB jack which is not provided so you have to just use its USB cable.
A minor annoyance is that when charging some things it makes a funny hissing noise. That just sounds like poor craftsmanship to me.
All in all I think this is a pretty “green” and “cool” charger that is good for use when traveling or just outside the home. I wouldn’t use it for a full-charge, but its great for a quick power boost. For instance, I just took it with me on a vacation to Puerto Rico and it was hot and sunny. I was out on the beach all day with no power outlets in sight. But the solar charger was perfect to give me a little power jump during the day.
Here is the score-card breakdown:
Pro:
- Green factor
- Charges easily
- Has its own battery
- Can be charged from an outlet
- Comes with all sorts of adapters.
Con:
- Doesn’t charge all devices
- Makes weird noises when charging
- Can’t fully charge your phone
- Takes a while to charge the internal battery.
mettleh3d ( View Profile) - Posts: 15
Posted: January 28, 2009 at 5:09 PM EST
I own the other solar charger I believe Ronen reviewed way back when. It was that review that convinced me to buy it.
Its a great little gadget but charging via solar truly takes all day and even during an 8hour span of constant sun I achieved maybe a bar of power at most (of 5).
Additionally, the charger provides power faster than it can charge itself meaning that at empty, unless its got a sufficient store in its internal battery, you CAN’T place your berry and the charger in the sun and walk away. The charger will stop providing and the charger itself won’t charge further until you disconnect both.
Pro: Good backup battery.
mettleh3d ( View Profile) - Posts: 15
Posted: January 28, 2009 at 5:13 PM EST
Edit: Review by Summer.
papped Not Registered
Posted: January 28, 2009 at 7:50 PM EST
Someone let me know if it charges the Bold or not =P
mettleh3d ( View Profile) - Posts: 15
Posted: January 29, 2009 at 1:28 AM EST
Yes. it charges the bold np
papped Not Registered
Posted: January 29, 2009 at 1:46 AM EST
thanks
DavidB Not Registered
Posted: January 29, 2009 at 8:16 AM EST from my BlackBerry 9530
I’ve never thought a solar charger to use in the car was worth spending money on. I am spending money on gas already, which via alternator already generates vastly more power than ever mobile gadget I own could consume.
What makes this thing useful is its built in battery. I am not sure its utility is high if it is so slow to charge, especially if it lacks sufficient output power to run my device even when its battery is depleted.
shooter ( View Profile) - Posts: 6
Posted: January 29, 2009 at 8:19 AM EST from my BlackBerry 8830
Seems like the reviewer was being a bit harsh. For that price, almost universal connectivity and being a backup battery is amazing. If you add in the fact that it can draw power from the *sun* then it is a great value even if it can’t fully charge your phone. If you have ever been somewhere where you *could’t* find an outlet, you’d agree. I paid $15 for a backup battery that only plugs into *one* device and requires 2 AA batteries. Seems to me an emergency charger that can draw power from the wall OR the sun is worth a lot more than that.
David S. Not Registered
Posted: January 29, 2009 at 11:14 AM EST
I wrote the review and it was my first one. So looking at everyones comments I want to say a few things.
1. For the price, this is definitely a great product. I didn’t know the price when I reviewed it so let’s chalk that up to the learning curve. But with that said, even for the price some things still bother me–like the hissing sound when charging.
2. The best way to use this device is to keep it out and let the internal battery charge itself in the sun. Once the internal battery is charged, THEN you should charge your phone or other device. Charging it directly from the sun will be very slow and almost pointless.
Thanks for the comments!
papped Not Registered
Posted: January 29, 2009 at 1:29 PM EST
#2 definitely seems like *the* reason to get this thing.
Otherwise solar charges are practically worthless. But the internal battery idea is pretty genius, as long as the internal battery can hold enough of a charge.
My main question about this device is how much could a full internal battery charge power the device (roughly).
David S. Not Registered
Posted: January 29, 2009 at 1:43 PM EST
When I tested it on the Blackberry flip I charged it in the sun for about 2 hours (manual says about an hour and a half) and then I plugged it in. I got about 2 out of five bars off the charge. At this point in time I think that’s great.
papped Not Registered
Posted: January 29, 2009 at 5:19 PM EST
That seems more than reasonable for the price tag.
shooter ( View Profile) - Posts: 6
Posted: January 29, 2009 at 12:16 PM EST from my BlackBerry 8830
Since it’s your first review, a couple of comments for future thought when reviewing products like this:
1. How does the unit feel? Like it was cheaply made, or solid and substantial? Heavier than it should be? Slim and svelte?
2. How were the instructions? Easy to follow? Written in “Engrish”?
3. Shipping and customer service– if you ordered it, how fast did it get there? If you call customer service, do you get someone live? And do they know what they are talking about? Do they have a web site?
4. What would you suggest they improve?
5. Was your unit a “regular” production unit, or a prototype or early release model?
Just some thoughts that might help for the future.
Eric
HaTaX Not Registered
Posted: January 30, 2009 at 1:34 AM EST
I just ordered the 5 in 1 kit that looks the be the same exact thing, minus two of the plugs that I will most likely never use…. Only $10.21 shipped! This will be perfect for use on camping trips, just enough to keep devices topped off and can charge during the day while you’re out and about.
This is the one I ordered:
http://www.budgetgadgets.com/solar-power-charger-cellphonedigital-camerapdamp3ipod-p-2909.html
papped Not Registered
Posted: February 3, 2009 at 7:46 PM EST
Nice find, might have to get that since I don’t need the extra connectors.
HaTaX Not Registered
Posted: February 20, 2009 at 12:14 AM EST
Got it a few days ago and have to say this was an awesome purchase for about $12 shipped! Does what it says, wish it had a little higher capacity battery but perhaps that will break in a little bit with some use on it.
Takes forever to charge via a usb cable but seems to charge up quickly in the sun as well.
Might have to pick up a few more of these as they’d be awesome for camping. Easy to keep the toys charged.