PowerFilm AA solar charger review & UK test....

[earthman]

So did I.

Why did both of you place those two batteries there?

Instinctively that looks wrong to me, surely they should go in the same battery compartment??

[Martyn]

Why did both of you place those two batteries there?

Instinctively that looks wrong to me, surely they should go in the same battery compartment??

Because there are two charging circuits. It looks like 3 of the six panels charge each circuit. So if you put two batteries in one box, you are only using half the panels - at least I think that's how it works. My logic was that if you put one battery in each box, you'll get a dedicated circuit per battery - that would make sense, but it doesnt seem to work like that and there is no information on the subject in the small pamphlet that comes with the charger.

[earthman]

Drain those batteries and get a test done.

On the back of the case it does state 3 hours, I'm guessing that's in ideal sunny conditions.

In the instructions there is a 'truewatt power grid' chart, this came from countless hours of real world testing apparently, list of devices/hours needed.

ipod - 2

Garmin GPS - 2

Cell phone - 1

Gopro camera - 4

Satellite phone - 2

[Martyn]

Testing where? California? Portugal?

Test it yourself in the UK mate.

[Martyn]

This shows the problem here in the UK - we are effectively sub-arctic...




Solar energy expressed in terms of watts per square meter. You can see that equatorial regions get as much as 7 times more solar energy per square meter than we do, so where the tests are done make a huge difference. Something that takes 2 hours to charge in California could take 14 hours to charge in Scotland. Then factor in the day to night cycle and if a charger takes 7 hours to charge 4 AA batteries in California, the same charger could take up to 7 days to do the same here. Then consider seasonal variance. The above grapgh is an average, which is fair enough in California where the seasonal variance isn't that huge, but here it could mean the charger takes a few hours on a sunny August day, but could take weeks in December.

[earthman]

Testing where? California? Portugal?

Test it yourself in the UK mate.

Yeah, you are right,......California probably.

Well so far I've used the battery pack to recharge/top up my phone from about 75% of it's capacity, after the second time the battery packs light just started to change colour to low warning, checking each cell gave a reading of just over 1 volt each.

I had the pack on charge this afternoon, not much sun around but it's green light now so hopefully fully charged.

Maybe the best way to use these is like that?? Is running them down to zero that good for them anyway?

[earthman]

Because there are two charging circuits. It looks like 3 of the six panels charge each circuit. So if you put two batteries in one box, you are only using half the panels - at least I think that's how it works. My logic was that if you put one battery in each box, you'll get a dedicated circuit per battery - that would make sense, but it doesnt seem to work like that and there is no information on the subject in the small pamphlet that comes with the charger.

Did you find out in the end if this is correct then?

[earthman]

Just seen that the 13W panel at Maplins is on sale at £49.99, maybe of use to someone?

http://www.maplin.co.uk/13w-solar-br...ampaign=12P5-4