Solar powered battery pack

Thomas_Holding

Has anyone used one of these?  We are going camping and would like to have a source of power so my wife can use her phone to take photos.
(Using a camera instead is not something she will do).

eDicky

Beware, most of them are rubbish. You need a portable solar panel array from which you can charge the phone direct, or to a quality power bank. I have a good one which really works, I forget the name, I'll try to find it to tell you...

HonestJohn

There used to be a product called Tegstove that produced electricity from a butane burner. Enough to charge a phone. 

forgotmyname

Don't think the tegstove and many other similar ideas worked. Far easier to carry a battery bank. Peltiers are not that

efficient. Use the phone but carry "QUALITY" powerbanks rather than items that may or may not work.

20Ah battery in the size of a small/mid DSLR? 4 or 5 charges. If your off the beaten track remove the sim or
put it into airplane mode. My old battery that would not last a day runs for 5 days after removing the SIM.

eDicky

I found my folding solar panel and power bank, the brand is ANKER. Used for about six years, they still work although reduced efficiency.

I see that they now make a solar power bank, I would be confident of its quality:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Anker-Flashlight-Splashproof-Activities-Compatible/dp/B08BRC7SCY?ref_=ast_sto_dp

However, for keeping more that one phone charged their portable solar panel and separate power bank might be more useful.

matelodave

A fiddly little solar panel as fitted to the power bank shown above it likely to take several days to recharge it (even more if the sun doesn't shine). Gadgets like these are toys rather than for serious use.

To get anything like enough power you'd need a 10 watt panel which would be about 12" square, Thats around 2amps at 5v = 2000mAh in one hour providing the sun shines brightly, thats around 2-3 hours to charge a phone and ten hours or more to charge a 20,000mAh power bank

TBH you'd be better off getting a decent powerbank (around 20,00 mAh) and charging it from the car rather than hoping to rely on solar power. If you are really desperate or away from power for more than a couple of days get two and make sure you recharge them and the phone at every opportunity. (make sure you've got a mains usb charger and take advantage of any charging facilities in pubs and restaurants when you visit them)

As said, turn stuff like GPS, bluetooth and data off and the phone battery will last a lot longer, likewise avoid using the phone more than necessary and dont keep viewing all the pictures to extend your battery life.

Thomas_Holding

eDicky said:

Beware, most of them are rubbish. You need a portable solar panel array from which you can charge the phone direct, or to a quality power bank. I have a good one which really works, I forget the name, I'll try to find it to tell you...

That is what I thought - hence why I came here thanks a lot.

sdduk

I would also recommend using a power bank rather the solar, i have a few PBs and they are really good i have one that is 20,000mAh and it charges my phone about 4/5 times before recharging so the higher mAh the better.

Thomas_Holding

eDicky said:

I found my folding solar panel and power bank, the brand is ANKER. Used for about six years, they still work although reduced efficiency.

I see that they now make a solar power bank, I would be confident of its quality:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Anker-Flashlight-Splashproof-Activities-Compatible/dp/B08BRC7SCY?ref_=ast_sto_dp

However, for keeping more that one phone charged their portable solar panel and separate power bank might be more useful.

I bought that and it is not very good.    Basically if anyone is thinking of buying this don't bother.  

eDicky

You bought what - the solar panel or the solar power bank..?

Thomas_Holding

eDicky said:

You bought what - the solar panel or the solar power bank..?

I bought the solar power bank
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Anker-Flashlight-Splashproof-Activities-Compatible/dp/B08BRC7SCY?ref_=ast_sto_dp