In this Guide we will talk about the solar phone charger, an essential accessory in Australia for nature lovers that will allow you to charge your mobile anywhere without depending on plugs or a portable charger, you will only answer to our beloved Australian Sun.
But before to start, these are the Top 3 Solar Power Bank for Mobile in Australia selling in Amazon.com.au
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Contents
Why should you buy a portable solar charger?
The truth is that we are dealing with a useful accessory for people who travel, make excursions, hiking trails … since, due to its compact size and practical use, it is the ideal solution for those looking for a portable charger.
By relying solely on the sun, it is possible to save time when charging your mobile phone or other devices (cameras, speakers …) while you move from one place to another with the solar charger behind you, without needing a plug, each time it is more an attractive accessory for users.
As a small inconvenience, it is necessary to know that most solar chargers do not include an internal energy storage battery (such as a powerbank), therefore, it is recommended to correctly expose the sun’s rays on the panels of the solar charger so that the charge mobile is faster.
How does a solar phone charger works?
A solar charger is made up of one or more solar panels . Each solar panel or plate is made up of small photoelectric cells , usually silicon (material suitable for transmitting electrons) and can be of high quality monocrystalline or polycrystalline, with lower quality and inferior results.
One of the biggest limitations provided by these solar panels, in addition to the material used to manufacture them, is the low amount of energy they collect per individual cell.
That is why it would be necessary to use large panels (which would be impractical in our case) or, what is usually done, connect several small panels in parallel that are later deployed to capture more solar radiation.
Types of solar panels: Monocrystalline vs Polycrystalline
When deciding on a solar panel, most users ask themselves this question : which is the best?
If we want to know, we must bear in mind that the performance of a solar panel will decrease as the temperature increases.
Monocrystalline panels:
They are the ones that attract the most radiation by having a darker colored cell. This makes them more recommended for cloudy or low radiation days.
Polycrystalline panels:
They are more bluish in color and reach lower temperatures, so there is less loss of performance and is recommended for days in full sun.
Therefore, there is no perfect solar panel for every day. If we perform an annual average, we will have a better performance in a monocrystalline solar panel in the months of low solar radiation and worse in the months of higher radiation, to give an example.
The solar chargers of the brands we recommend work with monocrystalline panels from the manufacturer SunPower that have an efficiency in their panels greater than 20%.
Therefore, when deciding on a solar charger , what is really important is that we look for the one with the best price, quality and use needs, without giving more importance than necessary if the panel is made of material or another.
What does the power (W) indicated on a solar charger mean?
The power , measured in watts (W), of a solar charger is the one that corresponds to its panel or the sum of all the small solar panels that make it up. The higher the power, the more number of panels and, therefore, the larger the size of the solar charger .
Now, one thing is the power it is capable of giving and another very different thing, is what it supplies in its output:
Manufacturers often limit the output power, that is, the solar charger does not offer all the power that its panel (or set of panels) is capable of delivering. This is done primarily for safety (to avoid excessive overheating) and to extend the life of the panel itself .
In addition, there will always be another reduction in power depending on the conditions of use of the charger: angle of incidence of the sun’s rays, cloudy days, etc …
According to the power, which solar charger should I buy?
The higher the output power of the solar charger the faster the connected devices will charge , since the USB ports will have a greater capacity to meet the power demand of each connected device.
However, there are two key factors to consider:
Devices that you will use with the solar charger
It is the first question you should ask yourself and be clear: what and how many devices do you plan to use with the charger?
It is good to know because the prices of solar chargers vary greatly depending on the power capable of supplying.
That is, if you are going to recharge 2 or 3 at a time you are interested in buying a solar charger with a higher power . On the other hand, if its use is occasional and for a single device such as a mobile, then with a 15-20W charger it would be more than enough for a quick charge.
How the sun’s rays affect the solar panel
Assuming a very sunny day, to have a good performance and, therefore, more power at the output, the solar panels must be placed so that the rays hit them perpendicularly .
Solar power bank vs Solar charger
Although both products fulfill the same function, a solar power bank has certain differences that may be more interesting to the user:
Flexibility
With a power bank with a solar panel you can store the solar energy in an internal battery to later use it to recharge your devices.
As you can see, this allows us to have greater flexibility than using a solar charger: since you would have to connect the device to be recharged at the same time during the solar exposure of the charger.
Power and charging time
1) The drawback of external solar batteries is their charging time , the solar panel they incorporate is very small, that is, they have a reduced area of exposure to the sun that would imply many hours for a full charge of the battery.
However, they can also be recharged like any power bank through the micro USB port.
This same problem happens when you go to recharge a device with the power bank through its solar panel:
2) If the power bank does not have energy stored in its battery and you have to resort to charging it through the “mini” solar panel, then the time to charge the device will be much longer than with a solar charger , which, as we have commented, is the which is why they use large solar panels and provide greater power (W).
UPDATE: Power banks with solar panels
We have found this model of the Blavor brand that includes 4 or 5 folding solar panels, thus reducing the solar charging time, unlike other power banks that only integrate a mini solar panel .
Finally an external solar battery that includes several panels!
FAQs about Solar Phone Chargers
- ☀️Why should you buy a solar phone charger?
Because is a useful accessory for people who travel, make excursions, hiking trails, etc.
- ☀️How does a solar phone charger works?
A solar panel charges a rechargeable battery, that in turn charges your mobile.
- ☀️According to the power, which solar charger should I buy?
If you are going to recharge 2 or 3 at a time, you are interested in buying a solar charger with a high power.
- ☀️What does the power (W) indicated on a solar charger mean?
The higher the output power of the solar charger the faster the connected devices will charge
Last update on 2020-10-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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