how long does it take to charge up from solar? can it charge a phone while being charged? will it get damaged in temperatures as hot as 150F?
323498
Yes, it can charge your device while being usb charged,But it can't be charged by solar power. It can charge 60%~70% power for your phone after it solar charged for 6~7 hours under normal sunlight. Solar charging is useful for emergency when outside,but do not over count on this feature, And it's not suggested that putting it in temperatures as hot as 150F,thanks your question.
309045
The radio/battery is warmer to touch when charging, but does't get hot. Charge in a ventilated area and do not over charge.
1188946
The unit does come with an instruction booklet, but does not mention a concern about the panel itself overheating. I am going to leave my windows cracked to alleviate some of the heat, but the warnings do mention a concern over the connected/charging electronics themselves overheating in the sun. I plan to place the electronics in the charging pouch, and leave my windows cracked a little to avoid the greenhouse effect on the inside of my vehicle. I think this will work fine. I have had my phone overheat before in the direct sunlight, but in the shade it works fine, so I have a feeling that it should recharge no problem in the pouch.
1132060
The external battery holds a charge for a long, long time, therefore I haven't seen the need to charge it up. I have charged my I phone 4 with it. At 45% full the solar panels charged it in less than an hour. The panels work very well and the size is right and the price is right. From what I understand, you can encase it in a ziplock bag and it will work just as well and keep the panels protected.
306977
I've had a Palm Pre Plus for years, now. It gets pretty hot while being charged. It does get pretty warm while talking for some time, too. But, while not in use, it doesn't get hot. I've found that if I prop it up, while charging, it runs cooler.
207400
Hi Steven, yes the strong Arizona sun would be much better for solar charging. Also make sure to protect your device from the heat by wrapping it in a shirt or towel. --Nika
491374
Hard to say exactly because it depends on the intensity of the sun. I charged up mine totally in two full sun days.
1859499
I have one installed in a metal box on the roof. It has already been down to -10 F and probably to 100 F. That said, you may want to look at a MPPT charger. It seems you never get enough power out of a solar panel and the MPPT charger can get up to 30% more power to the battery / load. Its because a solar panel is a constant current device. The current is a function of how much light is hitting the solar panel and with a PWM charger you are pulling the voltage down to the battery voltage instead of allowing it to work at about 19 volts, which is the maximum power point for most 12 volt panes. I have one installed in a metal box on the roof. It has already been down to -10 F and probably to 100 F. That said, you may want to look at a MPPT charger. It seems you never get enough power out of a solar panel and the MPPT charger can get up to 30% more power to the battery / load. Its because a solar panel is a constant current device. The current is a function of how much light is hitting the solar panel and with a PWM charger you are pulling the voltage down to the battery voltage instead of allowing it to work at about 19 volts, which is the maximum power point for most 12 volt panes.
135875
Try and position the phone so you get more air flow to it. Charging plus a cpu intensive program can generate some real heat fast. If it's in a weather proof case you may need a diffrent one that allows better air flow.
1412388
I keep my bike in an unheated garage, but then I live in the high desert..elevation around 4000 feet. I haven't used the charger during the coldest part of our year yet...that's coming around the corner. Right now our night temps are around 40 to 50....not too bad...and the charger works like a champ. The true test will be late Dec to late Feb. I'll be able to answer your question after I've had the charger for a season.
2096029
mine has gotten quite warm. I don't use it longer than necessary - only in emergencies, not as a substitute for a regular charge. I'd be careful where you place it while charging.
1857936
It only goes to 180 degrees. It works flawlessly though! I've charged it mostly by USB, but I've used the solar charger twice. Seems to work well. At around 75% sunlight, it charged from 40% to 85% in around 2.5 hours. Still very productive for current tech! I'd highly recommend this over other competitors around the same price. For a better model, you could easily spend another $100.
1116693
No it does not make your phone over heat. I purchased mine last year and it works great. I can lay it on its side and it will fully charge my phone. I have a Samsung galaxy Note III and it charges my phone very quickly. I am planning on purchasing another one for my job.
1783343
Solar panels are like generators, not batteries. The panels have dual usb output connectors. You can charge an external battery that has usb or microusb input with the proper cables. Expect to get about 1.2-2.0 amps of charge rate with direct sunlight and a favorable angle (if the sun is low in the sky you will lose charge efficiency) two items will charge at a lesser rate. An Anker® 2nd Gen Astro3 12000mAh (4A Output) Portable Charger will charge at roughly 1.3 amps by itself. That will get 20-25% charge capacity of that external unit every 90-120 minutes of quality sunlight.
4314
This is not a good charger. Being that it has to be in the sun, it gets very hot. Batteries do not fully charge and if you plug something into it, it will burn up in the sun.
1328130
Your phone shouldn't get that hot unless there's a problem with the battery... as long as the battery life itself is okay, if you can put up with the warm phone I don't think you necessarily need the extra battery. My factory battery gets very warm as well and it seemed to be affecting the battery life, so I bought this product. I've been using these batteries instead of my factory battery.
632204
8-12 hrs depending on amount of direct sunlight, but u need to position it correctly ( not a big deal ) as sun moves. USB charging works very well to re-charge ...... its handy given you have off grid capability if required and it does't rain all week LOL