The ChumAlong
Solar Power Battery Charger

This is a great looking solar power battery charger and the idea is an excellent one. Making the most of the available sunshine means less panel needs to be produced per watt, and any increase in efficiency is welcome.

It is targeted at consumers who want to recharge mobile devices but do not have a lot of room to spare.

However at this stage the gain in efficiency is overwhelmed by the cost of the unit. The tracking machinery does not warrant the higher price tag. Given that you can buy a 15 Watt panel for about $120 just about anywhere, this unit is far from a good deal. There is no way that this unit will produce more electricity than two or three 15W panels that are immobile.

If you have more money than space, this unit may be a good option. It looks a bit on the flimsy side, and if this is so its usefulness as an outdoors portable solar generator is in question.

On the other hand it's good to see the tracking technology making it into the mainstream market. Hopefully this trend will continue, with tracking becoming an integral part of domestic solar energy arrays.

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