Solar Energy Gadgets For A Green Life

There is a huge range of small scale solar energy devices on the market today, with more appearing all the time. The majority of these devices are aimed at charging mobile electronic devices or allowing their operation when the battery is depleted.

With such a wide range of products available it can be difficult to identify quality items. As for all other manufactured goods, good quality products often look exactly the same as poor quality ones. Buying long lasting, well built items is the best choice for ourselves and the planet as we minimize both long term expense and waste.

Small Solar Energy Chargers

The sleek, futuristic looking Solio solar charger comes with a swathe of connectors for charging different devices and also has a built in battery for excess power storage. Its battery capacity and ability to plug directly into the mains electricity makes it compare favourably withproducts such as the Freeloader solar charger.

By comparison, the Soldius solar charger charges at a much faster rate but does not have a backup battery. This both limits its usefulness to the daytime hours and reduces its weight.

Then there is the incredibly cheap Brando Solar USB Charger line of products. These are less than half the cost of other comparable units. Is this a price breakthrough or a case of buyer beware?

At the other end of the price spectrum is Tod's solar charger. The case is alligator skin and the price goes with it. That said, it's just a basic charger like the rest.

If you are looking to recharge regular batteries, you may benefit from having a solar AA battery charger. Be careful to buy a quality unit that does not come with its own batteries.

A new addition to the gadget recharging field is the ChumAlong solar power battery charger, an excellent item for efficiently charging your mobile devices. The price of the device may be limiting to the average person though.

Larger Personal Solar Energy Chargers

When powering up your phone is not enough and you need energy to run larger devices such as a laptop computer, bigger solar generators are needed. These come in a range of shapes, sizes and prices.

The Briefcase Solar Charger by Sunshine is a proven unit that can run a laptop computer in direct sunshine. It's even good for a range of other devices.

GoBe has produced a similar solar charger that comes with a battery hub that is separate from the solar panels. This could be very handy in a wide range of situations from camping to emergencies.

Small Solar Energy Battery Packs

Similar in many ways to the small solar chargers, devices such as the FSP solar storage battery have more of a focus on storing energy than charging the connected device directly.

Another very handy storage device is the hybrid solar - wind charger by Kinesis Industries. This is a great item for outdoors use.

Solar Energy Generators

The PowerCube 6000 is a fair attempt at producing a stand alone solar powered generator that can match the performance of its petrol driven competitors. However the price and bulkiness of this unit will limit its appeal to those with excess money to spend.

By comparison the Solar Stik looks lightweight, far more practical and even comes at a better price. The warranty on the parts and workmanship is equal to or better than the Powercube, making it an ideal portable energy solution.

Products With Built In Solar

Some devices have had built in solar panels for ages, and some are just coming onto the market. The solar phone has recently received a boost from a couple of major manufacturers. One example are Samsung cellphones that have started down the solar path with the new E1107 model.

The new SG5 solar wetsuit by Billabong also harnesses the sun's power, but not for electricity. This suit give about 30% more heat to the wearer, and when surfing in very cold conditions this can be a massive boost.

A Spanish company called iUnika has released a range of solar powered computers that are aimed at the economy end of the market. iUnika have kept costs down by using trailing edge technology and open source software.

Another nice piece is the solar bag. There's quite a few of these on the market, but Reware's version is very durable and features a removable flexible solar panel.

A new music product due out in April 2010 is the Reverb Solar which is iPod and iPhone compatible. This monster of an amplifier comes with an equally monstrous price tag.

The true test of a device is how it works for you. Some are great, some are rubbish... Have you got a story about a solar gadget that you like, that you wish you'd never bought or that has helped you out of a tricky spot? Or do you just love your gadget so much you want everyone to hear about it?

Use the form below to share your story and see it published on its own page here on this website. Send in a picture too, so others can see you and the gadget in action!

Cyclone Steve

I was doing some relief teaching in a remote community in the Northern Territory in 2000 when Cyclone Steve came my way. I had been warned about the possibility ...

Jasmine's Solar Powered Runway Not rated yet
I bought some cheap solar garden lights, from a catalogue. The advert said "Buy five and get five free." I just could not resist a cheap buy. A fortnight ...

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3-November-2009