Solar Powered Battery Chargers: Which Ones?

[Justin]

So I'm interested in ordering one of those solar powered battery chargers; something I can use to charge a phone or two, or maybe a tablet. In checking Amazon, there's about a million different ones to choose from, and I have no idea what to look for.

Does anyone have a good recommendation?

I was looking at this one:
https://smile.amazon.com/25000mAh-Hiluckey-Compatible-Smartphones-Waterproof/dp/B07FMFGGNR/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=solar+panel+charger&qid=1565288592&s=gateway&sr=8-3

Or maybe this one:
https://smile.amazon.com/Charger-25000mAh-Battery-Portable-External/dp/B07MR5RPLL/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=solar+panel+charger&qid=1565288564&s=gateway&sr=8-4


Ideally I'd like something I could use on weekend campouts, hikes and things like that. Longest term use would be for a week or so on a hunting trip, but that's kind of a maybe.

Thanks.

[ray1970]

I made one years ago just for camping trips. Can?t remember what I spent but maybe $25 or so. I just took a small 12V panel and wired in a cigarette lighter receptacle so any charger that you would plug into a car would work. Last used it at Sturgis and it kept me charged for days.

[Irving]

I'd pick the first one. They both have the same capacity in storage, but the first one has a lot of panels, so it will charge faster. The second one even had a warning that it charges slow and to charge it at home first. To me that indicates that it's really just a power bank that they glued a cheap panel onto.

[Justin]

That was kind of my thought as well.

[Justin]

Starting to wonder if it's better to just buy a solar panel and have a separate battery from it rather than one of the combined units.

[Irving]

Look into Goal Zero stuff as well. They were trailblazers in the market, but I don't know how much of the cost is their name. Also want to mention that the 2.1A chargers of the first link are what you want. A 1A charger is near worthless now a days.

Finally, if you are thinking of a separate battery, or are looking for a project, you can make your own solar charger kit pretty easy and it'll do much more at the expense of weight.

My favorite how-to video is removed, but look up solarburrito on YouTube. He's got some okay tours around some stuff he's built.

[cmailliard]

They are pricey, but Ascent Solar are probably the best panels out there. The technology is awesome, it is used on satellites. I have a couple XD12's and I pair them with a Fenix ARE-X2 charger. The ARE-X2 can charge multiple types of batteries plus act as a battery bank to charge devices. It will charge my phone, but mostly it is for my Garmin, lights, and radios. While the all in one devices are nice and compact, they are not very rugged or durable. At the Ascent Solar building (120th and Washington, they are a Colorado company), they have examples of how durable their panels are. They have one with bullet holes through it, still working. This setup may be slightly different than what you are looking for, but for durability nothing is better.

[Grant H.]

A former coworker has the first one you linked. All day on the dash, parked in sun, didn't add much charge to the bank, and actually got the batteries quite warm (Li-Ion doesn't like that)...

FYI - at 25AH (25000MAH) their claim of 1A current from the solar panel will take 25 hours of full direct sun to charge that battery bank.

Goal Zero, Yeti, Ascent, etc (all of the pre-packaged solar stuff) is generally very expensive for what you get.

The advantage? They are packaged into a slick setup, and ready to go, but expensive.

When I have a longer moment, I will make some suggestions for something cheaper/better if you're willing to DIY.

[Irving]

Isn't trying to charge through a windshield like pissing into to the wind though?

[Grant H.]

Isn't trying to charge through a windshield like pissing into to the wind though?

Yeah. Fair point.

Still not thrilled that these require you to cook your li-ion batteries...

[Irving]

I was looking up solar chargers on YouTube and it seems like there are plenty of review and comparison videos. I wasn't sure how light/small Justin wants to go. You can make your own that will fit in a pistol box. Those would be fine for car camping or a canoe trip or something, but not something you'd want to hike with. Can set it up however you like though.

25AH seems like a LOT in such a small package. The deep cycle I use in my van on that solar set-up is only I think 18AH and that battery is 10x as big as those products.

[Justin]

Here's a review I found:

https://smile.amazon.com/ospublishing/story/17401e1f-b1d2-49a7-8d94-8419f6f25328/ref=sxin_2_osp15-17401e1f_cov?pd_rd_w=lZlEz&pf_rd_p=43ba9e17-96f5-4491-b054-e546013f7dc4&pf_rd_r=73PVJ6B5T5PS9GJQCRHC&pd_rd_r=9c62e25e-36f9-4fd2-9b4c-dc67d037427c&pd_rd_wg=mJXXe&cv_ct_wn=osp-search&cv_ct_pg=search&linkCode=oas&ascsubtag=ogl02-20&cv_ct_id=amzn1.osp.17401e1f-b1d2-49a7-8d94-8419f6f25328&qid=1565289673

I'm not really interested in building my own; I've already got way too many halfway finished projects as it is.

I'll check around on YouTube as well, but I wanted to get a general sense from anyone here who could offer insight from firsthand experience.