A Good Solar Power Battery Charger
This solar powered battery charger, Solar 11-in-1 Battery Charger, looks to be a great preparedness item to have for all typical consumer-size batteries. I have two solar chargers that look nearly identical to this one (except for the built-in meter gauge) which I purchased years ago. They are still working perfectly and I have used them countless times. Being able to charge batteries from solar energy for your flashlights, AM/FM/Shortwave radio, your emergency weather-alert radio, or your walkie-talkies or most any other communication device, is ‘insurance’ that you will be a step ahead of the rest during black-out.
For some time I have been interested in solar power, solar energy, including large and small solar power systems as well as solar cooking and solar cookers. When I came across this small battery charger, I liked the fact that it includes a meter-gauge, whereas the similar units that I currently own do not have a built-in gauge. It is nice reassurance to see the meter-reading of the energy being charged, and helps to optimize that angle facing towards the sun.
Battery chargers like this one require ‘rechargeable’ batteries of course. NiMH (Nickel-Metal-Hydride) batteries are economical and very good for rechargeable. Here are some of the latest technology NiMH rechargeable batteries:
AA NiMH Pre-Charged Rechargeable Batteries
AAA NiMH Pre-Charged Rechargeable Batteries
C Size NiMH Rechargeable Batteries
D Size NiMH Rechargeable Batteries
Solar battery charger product information:
C.Crane Universal Solar 11-in-One Battery Charger with Meter – This high powered solar charger charges two Rechargeable Batteries of the same type and size (D, C, AA, AAA). It puts out about 150ma and about 5 volts. All of the other solar battery chargers we tested were unsuitable because their voltage was too low.
The solar panel is incorporated into the hinged cover which can be angled for maximum sun exposure. Its in-built meter shows you the following conditions: -The strength of the sun -The strength of the current out-put from the solar panel -The time required to fully charge the different types of batteries.
This battery charger incorporates a built-in blocking diode to prevent reverse flow of electricity from charged batteries during storage. This charger is an ideal gadget for camping, fishing, boating, and picnics.
“D,” “C,” “AA,” and “AAA” size batteries. Batteries D-Size (UM-1) 1500mA 5.6×16.4×66.2mm 600mA C-Size (UM-2) 1000mA 5.6×16.4×66.2mm 720mA AA-Size (UM-3) 500mA 6.1x17x67mm 650mA AAA-Size(UM4) 180mA 7.8×16.4xx66.5mm 850mA 8.3x17x67mm 900mA 10.5x17x67mm 1200mA 10.7x17x67mm 1750mA
The charger highlighted here is cheap insurance to keep your radios, flashlights and other consumer devices running. Some portable radios have built-in solar chargers, most of which are fairly poor quality chargers, while most flashlights do not. So, especially for keeping a charged flashlight at the ready, I would not be caught without a solar battery charger on hand.
I wrote an article, Off-Grid Charging System, AA,AAA,C,D,9v, which illustrates another method of solar charging, albeit a bit more expensive – but powerful.
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A Good Solar Power Battery Charger,
Ken, I was wondering if you can enhance the amount of light that one of those solar battery chargers by putting up reflection devices around the charger’s cells. I was looking at that homemade solar oven, and couldn’t someone jump up the amount of light that a solar cell gets by surrounding it with something reflective aiming more light towards the cells. This also with other solar cells. I was thinking where I live and you live the sun angle is barely 20 degrees in the sky at winter solstice. Would it help for example to leave the solar cells out in the sun and have a couple of mirrors reflecting even more light towards the cells? I imagine the more light there is the faster the cells will charge, but I don’t know much about solar energy.
That’s a very insightful question. It is in fact something I’ve been playing around with my various solar-oven experiments too. Regarding solar photo-voltaic panels, there’s a point at which they’ll melt too
I don’t have the answer to your question, however I believe the cells will saturate at some point. I will be investigating and experimenting with solar a-lot once we get out of the winter months – even though the winter has been mild so far.
I use a solar rechargeable lamp that I got from Ikea here in Australia. A days worth of charging gets about 4 to 5 hours worth of usable light from the lamp, I have two and these can illuminate a good deal of the house if the lights go out. Another benefit is that the actual solar battery charger base is removable and can be taken with you and used to charge AA and AAA batteries if you go away. All I find is the issue is that the solar PV cells of some of these chargers are pretty poor, if I had the electrical skills I would make a dedicated charger that I could connect up to my PV pannel which would give a much better result – as slow charging NiMh batteries is not a good thing at low voltage.
That sounds like an interesting product. It’s nice to have a product with multiple uses, especially if designed well.
Solar Chargers are actually really great. Now, it really all boils down to the brand you get. You always have to make sure that it can carry enough voltage for your items. Some people buy Solar Chargers for smart phones and expect they can charge laptops with it. It’s not really the way it works.
@Alex, It’s not so much about the brand as it is the model and specifications. For example, the 11-in-1 solar charger listed in this article is very adequate for typical consumer batteries (AA, AAA, C, D). It’s quite another issue to charge laptop batteries.
solar chargers will become best way to save energy.
Do you have any input regarding the solar powered battery charger, Product Name: Solar Powered Battery Charger Charges 4 D, C, AA and AAA Batteries, on Amazon? it charges 4 batteries of one type at a time which is helpful as many battery powered items use more than two batteries at a time.
I believe the charger you are referring to is this one…
The reviews look fairly well. The price is fairly inexpensive, for what it does. It apparently has no means of telling you when the batteries are charged (not terribly good). It also apparently has no USB/microUSB or Apple adapter for many of the smartphones today (not good if you were expecting that). If you’re looking for a very basic charger for the batteries listed, then it may suit you.
I personally like this one for about half the price Solar 11-in-1 Battery Charger
A very good combination is a good quality portable folding solar panels and a Smart Charger, but you will pay for better quality and capabilities…