![]() They can be perfect for topping up the batteries of devices you might take on a camping trip, but generally aren’t much help when it comes to feeding more power-hungry products, such as televisions, portable fridges and kettles. Portable solar chargers are best used to power small electrical items, such as smartphones and portable battery packs. What are the best uses for solar chargers? So yes, a solar panel left in a car on a sunny day will continue to work, but it’ll charge up a battery far less quickly than when outside in direct sunlight. According to Sol Volatics, a website that provides advice on solar panel installations, the efficiency of a panel can be reduced by up to 50 per cent, depending on the thickness and cleanliness of the glass. Yes, but the amount of energy harvested by the panel will be greatly reduced, especially if the glass is tinted or has UV light-blocking properties. While performance varies from model to model, most models can last upward of three years, with some of the more premium designs claiming to last an impressive 25 years. They are also a great choice as they can be folded out to a greater surface area than a rigid model. Semi-flexible or rigid panels: Flexible solar panels are great for those with limited bag space as they can be simply rolled or folded up for easy transport.For this reason, a large surface area is a good option for times when the weather conditions are less than favourable, including cloud cover or low-intensity light in winter. Surface area: The larger the solar panel, the more sunlight it can collect and, in turn, the faster it gets converted to battery-stored power.The higher the number, the more electricity is generated during a given time period. ![]() Output capacity: Solar panels are rated in watts.Typically, there are three things worth considering – output capacity, surface area and the flexibility of the panels. Solar chargers FAQs What should I look for when buying a solar charger?īefore buying a solar charger, it’s important to factor in what kind of trips you will be using it for. Anyone with a campsite outhouse or an off-grid shed not connected to mains power can use relatively cheap solar panels to keep a portable power station ticking over too, meaning there should always be free juice in the tank when you need it. Solar chargers are most often seen when camping in remote spots, attending festivals and touring through the wilderness, but they’re also used to keep the batteries of cars, motorhomes and boats from going flat when they’re not being used. Many solar chargers come with battery packs for just this reason. Some solar chargers can be plugged directly into a phone to charge it, but because most panels don’t actually store any energy it’s best to connect solar chargers to a separate battery pack and charge your devices from that. So long as you’ve got enough sunlight, the best solar chargers can indefinitely extend the life of your phone, your headphones, and even your laptop. ![]() ![]() Chargers that were once too big to carry can now be folded down to fit inside a travel case or hang from the back of your pack while hiking. That means it’s more essential than ever to carry a back-up solar charger or solar panel when camping, going off-grid, or travelling in the great outdoors with your favourite tech.Īdvances in technology mean today’s solar panels are smaller, lighter and more efficient than ever. Though battery technology keeps improving, our gadgets are becoming more power-hungry, meaning the battery life of the average phone lasts just a single day. While even the best portable solar panels and chargers aren’t powerful enough for heavy-duty jobs such as heating a water tank or running large appliances, they can easily keep phones, tablets and laptops charged up, using nothing but sunshine. With energy prices soaring, more of us are looking for all the free electricity we can get.
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