RankNameRatingMore Info
1Solio Classic Universal Hybrid ChargerArray3.53.53.53.53.5
2Solio H1000 Universal Hybrid Solar ChargerArray44444

Solio H1000 Universal Hybrid Solar Charger

by Robert on November 15, 2009

Solio H1000 Universal Hybrid ChargerThe main selling point of this Solio Solar Battery Charger is it’s ability to store electricity in its internal battery which can be used later to charge many different types of mobile equipment including mobile phones, Ipods and GPS units.

Th advantage the Solio H1000 has is that it can also charge itself using the power of the sun. The Solio is a light (11 ozs) and is 8″ * 2.5″ * 0.5″ in size. It has a solar panel covering the entire front of the unit.

The battery can be charged either from a USB connection to your computer or from the inbuilt Solar Panel.

A variety of output tips are provided enabling a large array of mobile devices to be charged using this device.

If you read the reviews on this device opinion is split as to how well the solar panel actually works. I have one of these devices and love it that being said all is not entirely rosy in the Solio garden. I live in the UK and can tell you although it is possible to charge the battery with the power of the sun where I live you can’t do it in a single day! The sun just doesn’t shine enough to fully charge the device in a reasonable time.

I took the Solio with me whilst on holiday to Florida in the states and I have to say was pleasantly surprised with its performance. With bright sunshine I could charge it in about 6 – 8 hours which I didn’t think was bad.

The bottom line is if you live in a cold damp climate with no sun the solar charging abilities of this device will disappoint you however if you live in sunnier climes this could be just the job to keep your mobile devices topped up with juice whilst away from a mains power outlet. It also looks pretty cool and does what it says on the tin.

Pros:

Small and light weight device which can power your mobile devices away from mains power.

Cons:

You need a lot of sunlight to make it work properly if you live somewhere with little bright sunshine don’t bother with this device.

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Easy To Use44444
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Product Description

The Sunforce 50022 5 Watt Solar Battery Trickle Charger gives you another reason to love the sun – it’ll help keep your vehicle’s battery charged.

Just plug the this helpful 5-watt trickle charger into your vehicle’s 12-volt lighter socket and position the panel to pick up the most daylight possible.

Or, if you prefer, use the included alligator clips to connect it directly to the battery, so you can keep your lighter socket open for cell phone chargers or other accessories. Regardless of how you hook up the battery charger, you’ll never get caught off guard without the juice you need to start your car.

You can also use this device to maintain the charge on any 12-volt battery for clean, silent operation of various electronics, such as deer feeders and landscaping pumps. The 50022 features a built-in ultra-bright blue LED charging indicator, and is a great choice for automobiles, recreational vehicles (RV), tractors, all terrain vehicles (ATV), boats, electric fences, telemetry and more, and it is even effective on cloudy days.

This trickle charger is made of durable ABS plastic and amorphous solar cells, measures 14 x 0.75 x 13 inches (WxHxD), weighs 4 pounds, and has a maximum temperature range of -40 to 176-degrees Fahrenheit.The Sunforce 50022 5-Watt Solar Battery Trickle Charger gives you another reason to love the sun–it can help keep your vehicle’s battery charged. It provides up to 5-Watts or 350mA of power to prevent the natural voltage drain of batteries over time. It includes both a lighter socket adapter and alligator clips to give you flexible connection options.


The Sunforce 5-Watt Solar Trickle Charger is compact and easy to install.

Convenient Power That Helps Keep Your Batteries Charged
The Sunforce 50022 5-Watt Solar Battery Trickle Charger lets you harness the power of the sun, the most powerful and plentiful source of energy available to us. Unlike nuclear and fossil fuels, solar power is clean and pollution-free, and the equipment requires very little maintenance to operate.

This trickle charger is designed to stave off the natural voltage drain that 12-Volt batteries undergo over time. It can also maintain the charge of a 12-Volt battery while it is providing energy to small electronics like cell phone chargers or small pumps and motors. The Sunforce 50022 5-Watt Solar Battery Trickle Charger is constructed with durable ABS plastic and features amorphous solar cells and an ultra-bright blue LED charging indicator. Four mounting holes are pre-cut in the frame for easy permanent installation. It is weatherproof and remains effective even on cloudy days. The built-in overcharge/discharge protection prevents overcharging and reverse-current drain. This trickle charger is an ideal choice for automobiles, recreational vehicles, all-terrain vehicles, tractors, boats and more.


Sunforce Solar Panels are effective in areas of both high and lower
sun exposure, making them ideal for use in the United States.
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About Amorphous Solar Power
Amorphous solar panels are created by spraying silicon on to glass in very thin layers, and are commonly known as thin film solar panels. This process allows them to be better at generating electricity in all lighting conditions, including cloudy or shady environments.

Sunforce amorphous solar panels are weatherproof and suitable for outdoor use. They have a maximum operating temperature range of -40 to 176-degrees Fahrenheit, require virtually no maintenance, and are also effective on cloudy days.

Solar cells convert sunlight into an electric current; they do not actually store power. The Sunforce 50022 5-Watt Solar Battery Trickle Charger is designed to maintain an existing battery charge, and not to fully recharge a battery. It can remain connected to a vehicle battery at all times and will not adversely affect its operation or electrical components. Unless the trickle charger is permanently mounted, you should remove and store it to prevent physical harm while the vehicle is in motion.

Details:

  • 5-watt solar charger plugs into your vehicle’s 12-volt lighter socket
  • Works with automobile, all terrain vehicle (ATV), personal water craft (PWC), and boat batteries
  • Made of durable ABS plastic and amorphous solar cells
  • Includes alligator clips for direct connection to a battery
  • Measures 14 x 0.75 x 13 inches (WxHxD) and weighs 4 pounds

Amazon Rating: (4.0) (out of 60 reviews)
List Price: $ 69.99
Best Price:
Availability: Normally ships in 24 hours

Read The Amazon Customer Reviews – Sunforce 50022 5-Watt Solar Battery Trickle Charger

This solar powered charger has some great reviews and the only complaints seem to be about poor packaging.

Features44444
Easy To Use44444
Value For Money44444
Overall Rating44444

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Portable Generators – Not Solar But I Like Them

by Robert on September 12, 2010

I know not strictly anything to do with solar power and the green amongst you are probably going to get annoyed but I thought I’d bring up Portable Generators and point out how they could help you at home in an emergency.

Now I love solar power it’s cheap (once installed) and non polluting. The problem comes when we want more power. For charging small electrical devices like mobile phones and Ipods solar power works great and doesn’t cost very much.

But when we want to run TV’s and refrigerators off solar energy then we hit a few problems. It can be done but you’ll need a lot of solar panels, batteries to store the power and a sophisticated power management system to regulate the entire system. These systems cost many thousands of dollars and it takes many years to recoup the money.

If however you just wish to have power in an emergency a cheaper option is to buy a Portable Generator and fire it up in the event of a power outage.

These small Camping Generators are small, quiet and aren’t particularly expensive. A 1Kv inverter generator would set you back a mere $300-400 dollars and would be powerful enough to run some lighting a freezer and a small TV.

Power whenever you need it for as long as you have gasoline to power it.

It’s not Environmentally friendly but when you consider this is an emergency generator not one you’ll be running 24×7 just when you really need it it’s green credentials don’t really matter that much.

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