Can this unit be charged in 80-90 degree direct outdoor sun, other brand solar chargers would just stop working.
280899
80-90 is not too bad, though the dashboard scenario is probably NOT a good idea, since dash temperatures probably move closer to 100+ degrees. It's an unfortunate fact, leading to a sub-optimal partnership, that batteries don't do well with too much heat, and solar panels need the sun. Even Li-ion and li-po batteries (which utilize less electrolyte than, say, a lead-acid battery) are affected by heat. Heat will SHORTEN the life of a battery while temporarily boosting efficiency by reducing the internal resistance (less resistance = more current). If you charge in 80-90 degree heat, try to keep your Opteka OFF the ground, if possible, maximizing air flow around it. If you continue to expose your battery to high temperatures, you are guaranteed to reduce its life. Nitty Gritty details : http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/discharging_at_high_and_low_temperatures P.S. I charge mine on the window sill of my office, where it gets only afternoon sun (about 3 hours). It stays cool, but won't charge to over 3 bars.
280900
I've used it on my dashboard, hotter than that, and it seems to work just fine.
223358
I think high temperatures would be considered charging it in a very very location like 80+ degrees or charging it in direct sunlight. I would take it as the advice given as NOT to leave one's cellular phone in a hot car. Heat lowers the internal resistance but this stresses the battery.
877910
Yes, and the brighter the sunlight, the better the re-charging goes; so I pay attention to align it to direct sunlight as much as possible. Had the unit for quite a while now and still going strong.
1177166
no this won't work. there are other solar products designed for charging phones
1987316
I would have to think you could as long as the solar panel gets enough sun. However, this unit worked for less than a year and I would not buy another one like this. There are better units on the market.
2257955
Never tested it in any inclement weather, but it would be safe to say rain isn't a good idea. Would be ok if it got a few drop on it I'm sure. Build quality was pretty good. It just didn't charge with the solar panel.
1687016
You can, but it's not a true solar charger. The solar and wind charger are just too keep the battery from dropping in between charges. I contacted k3 they told me to charge the batter on this unit by solar from dead would take 180 -200 hours., with the wind charger would take over 400 hours..
181997
Yes, I put mine on a window sill where sun comes in and it works just fine that way. Once charged full it will work indoors away from sun until the charge runs out. Great little device!
72191
With good direct sunlight, you should have no problems. Shady days and the charging goes slower.
724046
Very strange for a produce designed to be in the sun to not survive in the sun. I had the unit in the sun and it stopped working - did not charge and could not supply power. When it cooled down it seemed to work fine. Bottom line: it failed what it needed to do (all day in the sun does not result in a full battery charge).
1608862
No. The solar panel needs direct sunlight to fully charge and function properly. I had this same issue and so I relocated solar light to get direct sun and purchased a battery operated light for the area not receiving direct sun.
2039458
The max current in bright direct sunlight is about 1.5 amps, so it should on ideal days. I use it to charge my 20ah battery pack...takes a few days as I usually don't have it in ideal spots.
258970
Its the same in the Midwest, if the solar panel gets a full day or two of bright sun it has a chance to store energy. Read manufacturer instructions: "...Your solar panel needs to be placed outside in a sunny area and needs to face the southern sky. If it is in the shade it will still charge, but not as well as in the sun. If it is behind glass, it may not charge properly." Motion detector activates the light for a few minutes or so. Hopes this helps...
513125
it doesn't matter; just leave it in the sun to charge it! IF your unit won't charge from the sun, then there are 2 possibilities:1. your circuit board is faulty and you need to replace the whole unit.2. you live in a place with latitude above 41 degrees or so, so solar power DOES NOT WORK in the winter because the sun is too weak.Seriously though, it uses a pair of AA Nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries but THE UNIT IS SEALED so you can't really get to them.
202206
Julie, I would suggest you pass on this item. It does need direct sunlight to recharge and if the location on the porch is in the shade, it would never charge up. In addition, this unit is very cheaply made. It looks like metal but it is very thin plastic.
1334080
it should work like any other solar charger, just do not overcharge any battery.
1220612
Yes,Marissa, that is exactly what the POWER unit will do. As long as there is light, WakaWaka POWER will charge. It does not need direct sun , but charges fastest in the in the sun. South Shore Bikes in South Lake Tahoe sells POWER to their customers for that exact reason, portable POWER on the go. You will not be disappointed.