With the Great British Summer shining and the Great Outdoors calling too, you’ll need something to keep you energized for those great days out. Here are some of the best solar power portable chargers and accessories available today. We have selected those which are sold here in the UK to help shrink that unnecessary carbon footprint caused by product shipping.
Universal Solar Charger
The Universal Solar Charger is a highly innovative and stylish product. It is a book-sized solar charger that has 6V and 12V outputs; charges a wide range of applications from mobile phones, iPods to digital cameras and more. It also incorporates a docking compartment that allows for 6 x AAA rechargeable batteries to be charged (sold separately).
As the Universal Solar Charger powers your latest gizmos and gadgets, a discreet green LED flashes, until the batteries are full, when a red LED will indicate that the process has been completed.
It measures at 230 x 180 x 30mm, with a 2.2W power rating and operates a voltage of 7-8V. The device has hinges on its spine, so when the sun is shining you an open it up (much like a book) and close it just as conveniently to protect the photovoltaic module from any damage.
The charger costs £14.99 and comes fitted with a multi-purpose adaptor and also five mobile phone adapters too (Nokia, Samsung, Siemens, Motorola and Sony-Ericsson).
Freeloader Portable Solar Charger
Freeloader is an advanced portable charging system that can power any handheld device anywhere, anytime. It takes power from its solar panels or via a supplied charge cable that plugs in to a computers’ USB. Supplied in a tough but stylish aluminium body, Freeloader can take the knocks of every day life whether on a business trip, backpacking or relaxing on a beach.
Its multi-purpose adaptors fit the following:
1) LG Chocolate series phones
2) Motorola V66 series and current V3 series phones
3) All Nokia current and N series phones
4) Samsung A288 and current D800 series phones
5) Sony Ericsson T28 and current K750 series phones
6) 4mm straight jack for Sony PSP, Tom Tom sat nav, digital cameras, PDAs and two-way radios
7) Mini USB for Blackberry Smart phones, Nintendo DS, Bluetooth headsets - USB 2.0 female socket for iPod, iPod Shuffle, MP3 players, smart phones, PDAs, GPS plus much more
Once the unit is charged, it can power an iPod up to 18 hours, mobile phone up to 44 hours, PSP up to 2.5 hours, PDA up to 22 hours. The Freeloader holds is very efficient and can hold its battery charge for up to 3 months – plus when the charger is powering-up devices its internal battery continues storing energy. But it is the Freeloader’s patented crystalline solar cell design and 1000mAh environmentally friendly Li-ion battery which makes it one of the best chargers available today.
Freeloader Supercharger
This is the first of the accessories featured here. The Supercharger is a super tough, super fast means to charge a Freeloader. Supercharger will fully power up a Freeloader in as little as 4 hours in sunshine, which means it is possible to charge Freeloader twice in one day. This additional accessory is a must have for the pro-active gadget enthusiast. By using an ultra efficient, compact, 1.5 watt crystalline solar cell, Freeloader can be rapidly charged in all weather conditions.
Supercharger is a fully weather resistant unit supplied in a tough case with two innovative buckles and a Velcro attachment strap, for secure fixing to a rucksack, travel bag, bike panniers and more. Weighing only 200grams, the extra weight will barely be noticed.
Supercharger easily couples to the Freeloader battery / hub using the original USB charge cable supplied with Freeloader. Just plug in for instant performance that cant be beaten.
Freeloader AA and AAA Battery Charger
This portable charger is the smallest and lightest (80g) AA and AAA battery charger in the world. It charges both NiCd and NiMh AA and AAA batteries – which are the two most common forms sold in most highstreet shops. Despite not being a solar powered charger it is a Freeloader accessory to the Freeloader Solar Charger mentioned above, and can be charged from that docking station directly through its in-built USB connector.
It costs £12.99 and is produced in the UK – so less of a footprint caused by shipping.
Product features include:
• Charge times from Freeloader: 1 to 2 Hours (75%) and from USB: 3 to 4 hours
• Includes emergency torch
• Power indicator shows charging status and retained battery power
• Provides power to Freeloader in emergencies through supplied cable
• Built in a tough rubberised housing
• Supplied with 2 x 1300mAh NiMH batteries, reducer cradle to suit 2 x AAA batteries and cable to back feed power into Freeloader
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Posted under Articles, Lifestyle & Fashion, Renewable Energy
This post was written by Ryan Whatley on August 15, 2008