Although some devices need a stable input and therefore require a battery in order to charge from solar, many charge just fine directly from a panel. We’ve noticed a growing number of smartphones falling into this category, many of them Android phones. This is particularly useful if someone’s concerned about weight or size and doesn’t need the extra reserve a battery supplies. As an added benefit, charging the device’s battery directly also means more efficient use of the collected solar energy.
We’ve found that our 3.4 Watt, 6 Volt solar panel seems to put out an appropriate amount of power for modern smartphones. Depending on which device you have, all that’s needed beyond the panel is either a F3.5×1.1 to MiniUSB adapter or a F3.5×1.1 to MicroUSB adapter (now the de facto standard in the Android lineup). We’ve recently paired the 3.4 Watt panel with an HTC Sensation and a Samsung Galaxy Nexus to see what charge times would be like in real-world conditions here in Brooklyn. The Sensation charged from 69% to 89% in about 45 minutes on a sunny day. The Nexus charged from 75% to 82% in about 36 minutes in slightly cloudier conditions. Even more recently, we were able to get our hands on a Samsung Galaxy S III, and while we weren’t able to test its charging rate, it was happy with the output of a 3.4 W panel according to its charge indicator.
While it may not be an option for all phones, a single 3.4 Watt panel could be an inexpensive and ultraportable way to ensure you always have juice left in your smartphone, no matter where you are!
See more kits using our portable solar panels.
What adaptor will I need to use this charger with a blackberry Z10?
Hi there!
Does a 5w solar panel can direct charge a phone with a 3.7 volts of battery? And how many hours it takes to fully charge it? From 0% to 100%.
yes our solar panels can charge a phone with a 3.7V battery because the phone wants 5V to charge, which our USB regulator provides. It is hard to say exactly how long it will take, because different phones have different battery sizes and different solar panels have different power outputs, so charging from 0-100% can range from 40 minutes to several hours, depending on your phone and solar conditions.
Will your solar panel charge any type of portable battery packs that are sold to charge cell phones if they have a micro USB charging port?
Hi Paul,
Many, but certainly not all battery packs. Most battery packs aren’t designed to charge from solar so they will have things like a high minimum current charging threshold. We have a number of hardware and software alterations inside the pack that ensure efficient charging. That said, if you have another battery pack with a MicroUSB input, the easiest way to find out is simply to connect them and test. A single 6V, 3.4 or 2.0 Watt panel is not going to damage the battery, it may just not work. /jeff
Will this Panel charge an Iphone without an adaptor
Regards
Michael.
Hi Michael,
The panel won’t charge an iPhone directly, you’ll need to go through one of our batteries (which also provides a much more consistent performance). /jeff