Best Solar & Wind Power
Anker PowerPort Solar Charge with the Power of the Sun. Fast Charging Technology Exclusive to Anker, PowerIQ discovers and replicates your device's original charging protocol to provide its fastest possible charging speed up to 2.4 amp per port or 3 amps overall (with enough direct sunlight). Incredibly Durable Industrial-strength PET plastic faced solar panels sewn into high-wear polyester canvas ensure it's able to withstand the trials of your outdoor adventures. What You Get: Anker PowerPort Solar (21W 2-Port USB Solar Charger), 3ft Micro USB cable, welcome guide, our fan-favorite 18-month warranty and friendly customer service.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I wondered why my Anker PowerCore 20100 power bank would never charge from this solar charger, but would charge from a wall charger. I again contacted Anker support and asked for a list of batteries that have been tested with and charge properly from the Anker solar charger. The Anker Astro E7 26800mah Power Bank works perfectly with the Anker solar charger. However if the sunlight drops too low and the charger produces close to 0 ma, but then the sun comes out before the solar charger powers off, the RavPower would not charge anymore."
"My first test of the panels was on a mostly cloudy day when my power brick was charged in the 26-50% range. My pack was drained back down to the 26-50% range and was fully charged after about 4 hours in direct sunlight, using both cables. As expected the angle of the panels affected power output as well, with around 45 degrees to the current sun azimuth producing the highest output."
"Both three panel fold outs were arranged in nearly identical positions on a small table in my back yard. Both units consistently produced sufficient power to cause my 5 inch Android phone to reflect charging. I strongly suspect that both the Anker and Aukey solar chargers would have charged at a much higher rate had something more than a 5" Smart phone been used. That both the solar chargers charged the Smart phone at a greater rate than the regulated power supply would tend to validate the claim of both manufacturers that their solar chargers would charge at the fastest rate safely possible for a given device. My technical video reviews routinely require at least a couple of hours to produce and I would appreciate a helpful rating if you found it so. POSTSCRIPT. Since some of you might be interested in seeing how the Anker Solar Charger did under a greater load, I placed the panels on the same table about 1:15 p.m., again with a nearly cloudless sky; the temperature was again about 50 degrees. With the panels laying flat on the table, the Drok meter registered 4.64 volts at 1.28 amps (5.9392 watts). The Aukey charger was not tested, but since it employs the same brand, quantity and size panels, I have no reason to believe the results under a greater load would have been substantially different. POSTSCRIPT - STATING THE OBVIOUS. While there is no simple answer to realized solar panel efficiency, suffice to say that you are much more likely to achieve good results in Arizona than in New England."
Charge Smarter The advanced combination of iSmart and Smart IC technologies will detect all connected devices' individual input and distribute the total output accordingly to guarantee the appropriate charge they can benefit from. Equipped with 4 practical hooks to always catch as much sunlight as possible, and 2 iSmart USB cables, you'll have the best travel companion for your smartphone, camera, and any other USB device that ran out of juice. Charge Smarter: iSmart technology automatically adjusts to connected devices and provides the optimal charging current to minimize charging time.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Facts: - One iPhone 6 Plus completely drained. - 1 RAVPower 15W foldable solar charger. - 1 OEM Apple 4 ft long lightning charging cable. - San Francisco Sunny Day with no clouds and about 63 degrees. Test Results: I placed the RAVPower 15W in direct sunlight; and, below, is my test results: 1000 - 1030 Hours PST: 23% charge to iPhone 6 Plus. 1030 - 1100 Hours PST: 30% charge to iPhone 6 Plus. 1100 - 1130 Hours PST: 35% charge to iPhone 6 Plus. 1130 - 1200 Hours PST: Fullly charged iPhone 6 Plus. In about two hours, RAV Power 15W fully charged my iPhone 6 plus, under direct sunlight, without clouds, at around 63 degrees, in San Francisco, CA. Facts: - One iPhone 6 Plus completely drained. - 1 RAVPower 15W foldable solar charger. - 1 OEM Apple 4 ft long lightning charging cable. - San Francisco Sunny Day with no clouds and about 63 degrees. - 1 Double-pain, vacuum sealed Marvin house-window rated to prevent approximately 95% UV light spectrum. Test Results: 1000 - 1030 Hours PST: 17% charge to iPhone 6 Plus. 1030 - 1100 Hours PST: 18% charge to iPhone 6 Plus. 1100 - 1130 Hours PST: 20% charge to iPhone 6 Plus. 1130 - 1200 Hours PST: 20% charged iPhone 6 Plus. 1200 -1230 Hours PST: 21% charged iPhone 6 Plus. 1230 - 1245 Hours PST: Fully charged iPhone 6 Plus. In about two hours and forty-five minutes, RAV Power 15W fully charged my iPhone 6 plus, indoors and under direct sunlight, without clouds, at around 63 degrees, in San Francisco, CA."
"I also tested it with my son's Samsung Galaxy 3 smartphone and it charged it from 60% to 75% in about an hour on a very overcast day where the sun was only visible as a bright area in a very gray, overcast sky. Note that it does not come with any charging cords or adapters and you would need one with a standard USB connector for your devices you plan to charge with it."
"Its fairly compact and very portable, I just got around to testing the solar panels charging capabilities."
"It stopped working after 3 months."
"It would charge for a minute or so, and then stop charging. I finally decided to try the other outlet, which kept the charge continuous, but the battery percentage did not change. Not sure if this is an issue, but: I noticed that when all the cells are exposed to sunlight, the outlet that does not have a load on it produces a continuous clicking or buzzing sound. There are no solar chargers even mentioned anywhere on their website."
The RAVPower RP-PC005 is a solar powered portable charger that utilizes the sun's rays to charge your smartphones and tablets. Constructed with our premium SUNPOWER solar charging cells that have an increased charging efficiency of 21.5% - 23.5%, you can power your portable devices from sunrise to sundown whenever you are outside. Exclusive iSmart Technology: All three USB ports are equipped with iSmart technology, which automatically detects and delivers the optimal charging current for connected devices; up to 2.4A per port or 4.8A overall when used under direct sunlight.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Short Review: Wonderful Solar CHARGER that will quickly charge 3 devices at once.. Another is the Griffin Outdoor 10,000mAH battery bank and the smaller one is just an inexpensive 2500mAH bank.. On a sunny day in TN, this charger had no issues fully charging all the banks AT THE SAME TIME in under 5 hours. Depending on external factors, this charger might not always offer enough power to charge your high usage device.. And second, its not good for your phones to stay in the sun all day. 2.). I always recommend that a buyer only expect a charger to charge with ON AVERAGE half its capacity.."
"Option to charge three items simultaneously, how quickly depends on a lot...... amount of sunshine, cloud cover, angle of exposure, etc."
"Great product to use especially when your are outside or when an emergency happens and you need to charge your phone or anything that uses usb to charge."
"I used it near sunset with a few cirrus clouds in the sky and it charged my pixel phone in an hour!"
"Now i'm playing with POWER!"
"The product its self is excellent."
"If you need it buy it."
Best Renewable Energy Controllers
πππππππππππππππ. ALLPOWERS Power Your Life All The Time. πππππππππππππ. Rated Discharge Current: 20A; USB Output Voltage: 5V/3A; Battery Voltage: 12V/24V auto.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Have it wired into a usb step up transformer (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C93Z8JY/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) in order to power a usb battery pack."
"This morning, with a heavier overcast that threatened rain I got about 0.12 W. The output of the solar cell is very dependent on lighting conditions and your power draw. If you are powering a standard USB device (e.g. cell phone), a boost converter may be all you need; for more complicated applications you may need to add a battery and charging circuit to maintain continuous operation."
"I had a question about the number of cells and Allpowers answered my question immediately. The price is fare and the shipment time is great, I highly recommend this panel for any one wanting to add solar to their RV."
"I have my Allpower 20A charge controller connected to my small test system while I learn more about using solar."
"I wish I had done my math, and realized i needed higher voltages in order to build my project."
"This is a charge controller, why all the solar cell reviews?"
"Ehhhh, one was alright and the other's soldering points lifted up the tab while I was wiring, it still works but the soldering contact is now compromised, it'll probably bend and tear causing the cell to become useless, sorta sucks specially since I ordered two more."
"Not functioning properly."
Best Solar & Wind Power Inverters
PST's commercial grade design is also suitable for heavy duty loads, long periods of continuous operation, and for emergency back-up. Enter your model number to make sure this fits.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"If you intend to power your inverter from your vehicle's cigarette lighter, then you should know that this inverter is limited to 150 watts (100 watts, more likely) when using this power source. Therefore, such folks might want to consider a lower-capacity pure-sine-wave inverter instead, such as the 150 watt Samlex PST-15S-12A or the 180 watt AIMS Power (PWRI18012S) 180W Pure Sine Power Inverter with Cables. If you want to wire this inverter for operation above 150 watts, you will need to run wire of the appropriate gauge (8 AWG, 6 AWG, 4 AWG) depending on wire length (3 feet or less, 3 to 6 feet, 6 to 10 feet, respectively). CONSIDER DC POWER SUPPLIES INSTEAD OF AN INVERTER: You might be better off obtaining DC chargers/power supplies for your devices instead of using an inverter. WHAT'S IN THE BOX: ** PST-300-12 inverter; inverter has a standard two outlet (duplex) GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) receptacle to connect AC loads. ** 14 AWG wire set with cigarette lighter plug to power inverter from car accessory socket. ** 12 AWG wire set with battery clamps to power inverter from battery. ** Hard copy of "Owner's Guide". ** Two set screws. SPECIFICATIONS: ** Input: 12 volts DC. ** Output: 120 volts, 60 Hz AC. ** Inverter Type: Pure sine wave. ** Continuous rating: 300 watts when wired directly to battery with larger cables; 150 watts (or less) when powered by either of the included cable sets. ** Surge rating: 500 watts. ** Peak efficiency: 88 percent. ** DC input connection type: tubular-type screw-down terminals (supplied cables have flat-blade terminals). GENERAL INFO: This is a pure-sine-wave inverter; therefore, it can power many devices that will not work with a modified-sine-wave inverter. According to the manufacturer, when either of the two provided cable sets is used to power the inverter, the load must be maintained less than 150 watts. As discussed later, to use this inverter with higher loads the inverter must be wired directly to a battery with cables of the appropriate wire gauge (8 AWG, 6 AWG, or 4 AWG, depending on cable length) and with fuse protection on the positive cable. If you want to power small loads (like an LED light) during a power outage, you could plug this inverter into a jump-starting battery pack using the included cigarette-lighter-plug cable. Therefore, switch the inverter off if the inverter is not loaded (you could also install a battery switch on the positive cable). According to the manufacturer, if you use either of these wire sets, the inverter load must be limited to less than 150 watts (or less, depending on the fuse size in your vehicle). For example, if the fuse is 10 amps, then inverter load should be limited to 80 percent of 120 watts (10 amps times 12 volts), or 96 watts DC load, or about 80 watts AC load (accounting for inverter efficiency). WIRING INVERTER FOR OPERATION UP TO 300 WATTS: If you want to run this inverter at the full load capacity of 300 watts, then you need to connect the inverter to the battery with cables larger (in diameter) than those supplied. The biggest challenge in wiring this inverter may be finding wire terminals that will work adequately with this inverter's DC inputs (which are tubular screw-down connections for flat blade crimp terminals, not screw posts for ring terminals). The manufacturer recommends the following gauges for the two wires (positive and negative) that connect the battery to the inverter: ** 3 feet or less - - - 8 AWG wires (0.1285 inch diameter). ** 3 feet to 6 feet - - - 6 AWG wires (0.1620 inch diameter). ** 6 feet to 10 feet - - - 4 AWG wires (0.2043 inch diameter). ** Greater than 10 feet - - - not addressed (therefore, not recommended). Note: A lower AWG number means a thicker (larger diameter) cable. When buying cables, make sure you meet the requirements specified by the inverter's manufacturer (wire gauge based on length of cable). FUSE IS REQUIRED ON THE POSITIVE CABLE: If you wire this inverter for 300-watt operation, you must have a fuse (or circuit breaker) on the positive wire. When wiring loads to batteries, I prefer to use marine-grade fuse blocks that connect directly to the positive battery terminal (i.e., there is no wire between the battery and the fuse block). At higher loads, a fan will start that will establish forced air flow through the inverter; therefore, you need to keep the air space around the inverter clear. LOW-VOLTAGE ALARM AND LOW-VOLTAGE SHUT DOWN: The inverter produces an alarm when input voltage drops to 10.5 VDC; the inverter will automatically shut down at an input voltage of 10.0 VDC. The inverter must be manually reset to recover from an overload shutdown: (1) the cause of the overload must be removed or otherwise corrected; (2) the inverter's power switch must be switched OFF for at least 3 minutes; (3) after the inverter has been switched OFF for at least 3 minutes, the overload should be reset and the it may be switched ON. INVERTERS AND MOTORS: If your inverter is going to run inductive loads (such as motors) then you need to consider the volt-amp requirements of your load instead of the watts, based on power factor and starting current."
"Included cable with battery clamps are for medium use, while the cable for the 12 volt lighter socket is probably good for approximately 100 watts of ac output, depending on vehicle wire and fuse size feeding the outlet. It is good to have two, as the smaller one can be portable, while a larger one should be more permanently installed."
"I use a smaller pure sine wave inverter for the TV, DishTV receiver, and laptop, but I started plugging the camper shore power cord into this inverter to run the refrigerator during the day when I have enough extra solar power; it recently ran for 3 months without having a problem, powering the refrigerator around 9 hours each day (210 watts), together with battery chargers of various sorts, a small electric heater part time at night (210 watts)."
Best Solar & Wind Power Parts & Accessories
But if you chose to purchase a low capacity power bank, it means you will charger everyday after used. Huge Capacity Solar Charger 24000mah,Never worrying about running out of power.Charge an iPhone 7 for over 7 times, Galaxy S7 Edge for 5 times, iPad mini for 3 times. When all lights turn to solid blue, it means it has been fully charged Parameter: Solar Panel: 5V/1W AC charging time: about 7-8 hours. In order to fully activate the battery,please charge it for 8 hours at least at the first 1-2 uses. Solar Charger:Recharge itself via solar power for emergency and Slowing Down the power losing.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Built-in 24000mah high capacity polymer battery equipped with a compact solar panel, which could recharge the battery itself under sunlight, eco-friendly and ideal for outdoor use."
"I always use it and this solar charger doing great job keeping my phone charge with a big power bank of 24000mah, this is huge capacity for power bank."
"I love this solar charger, it has a huge capacity, I have been charged my iPhone X 4 times already, still have battery, and it charged itself when I put it on the windows in the day time."
"I was sooo excited when I found our about this solar charger, I tried it and super, both of my phones and my boyfeiend's phone were charged!"
"It's heavy and big,but it charging very fast.This could be due to the charger I was using.I am very impressed with this product."
"Very powerful battery pack, was able to fully charge my cellphone 3time and best of all solar function works great!"
"This is great for vacations or just when you know you have a long day ahead of you.You can plug your product in and keep working while it quickly charges your battery.compact for easy on the go use!"
"really good product with big power storage and extremely fast charging."
Best Solar Battery Chargers & Charging Kits
What You Get: Anker PowerPort Solar (21W 2-Port USB Solar Charger), 3ft Micro USB cable, welcome guide, our fan-favorite 18-month warranty and friendly customer service.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I wondered why my Anker PowerCore 20100 power bank would never charge from this solar charger, but would charge from a wall charger. I again contacted Anker support and asked for a list of batteries that have been tested with and charge properly from the Anker solar charger. The Anker Astro E7 26800mah Power Bank works perfectly with the Anker solar charger. However if the sunlight drops too low and the charger produces close to 0 ma, but then the sun comes out before the solar charger powers off, the RavPower would not charge anymore."
"My first test of the panels was on a mostly cloudy day when my power brick was charged in the 26-50% range. My pack was drained back down to the 26-50% range and was fully charged after about 4 hours in direct sunlight, using both cables. As expected the angle of the panels affected power output as well, with around 45 degrees to the current sun azimuth producing the highest output."
"Both three panel fold outs were arranged in nearly identical positions on a small table in my back yard. Both units consistently produced sufficient power to cause my 5 inch Android phone to reflect charging. I strongly suspect that both the Anker and Aukey solar chargers would have charged at a much higher rate had something more than a 5" Smart phone been used. That both the solar chargers charged the Smart phone at a greater rate than the regulated power supply would tend to validate the claim of both manufacturers that their solar chargers would charge at the fastest rate safely possible for a given device. My technical video reviews routinely require at least a couple of hours to produce and I would appreciate a helpful rating if you found it so. POSTSCRIPT. Since some of you might be interested in seeing how the Anker Solar Charger did under a greater load, I placed the panels on the same table about 1:15 p.m., again with a nearly cloudless sky; the temperature was again about 50 degrees. With the panels laying flat on the table, the Drok meter registered 4.64 volts at 1.28 amps (5.9392 watts). The Aukey charger was not tested, but since it employs the same brand, quantity and size panels, I have no reason to believe the results under a greater load would have been substantially different. POSTSCRIPT - STATING THE OBVIOUS. While there is no simple answer to realized solar panel efficiency, suffice to say that you are much more likely to achieve good results in Arizona than in New England."
Best Portable Power Packs
In additon to boosting your vehicle and charging your devices, the. RG1000 from RUGGED GEEK. also features an. Ultra Bight, Multi-Mode, LED flashlight. with over 100 lumens of brightness. Featuring an. eye-catching, sporty tire tread design. on the top and bottom and a. bright LCD display. , this is one device you will want to show off. Ultra Bright LED Flashlight with Steady On, Strobe and SOS Modes for additional safety, protection and convenience. Clear Digital LCD display offers all the vital info you need at a glance including charge and output levels/voltage.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"After my car's battery died recently, I decided to invest in a portable jump starting kit."
"I have been researching these for a few months trying to decide the best brand, top consumer rated (not someone paid for a false rating), and one that had an LED screen that displays the charge status. It comes with an 80% charge straight out of the box! Charged for about an hour for a full 100%."
"Pros. Cranked my 6 liter Cadillac Escalade as per attached video. Well organized compact carry case. Digital LED readout. Amazing Capacity. Idiot proof - Intelligent Jump Cables and USB Outlets. Every kind of Adapter you could ever need. Cons β None that I can find. I wanted this as I have 4 motorcycles (3 Harley Davidsons ranging from 1340cc to 2030cc (a 124 cu. As mentioned I ran the flashlight until it died and then fully charged the unit before attempting to start the Escalade. I also left out that after starting the Escalade I looked at the level of charge in the unit fully expecting it to be dead and it still had 100% charge. I also think it will be great when Iβm overnighting on the boat as now I donβt have to worry about running my battery dead at night (by watching a video) as I can either extend my laptop run time or if I kill my boat battery out in the middle of the ocean I can always jump my boat and not have to worry about the oars."
"Well, I'm crippled and my truck sits for weeks and it dies from a small draw on the battery from my sound system."
"Followup - after 8 months of regular use, the mode switch broke. Only caveat is that the mode switch IS a bit fragile, so try not to press it too hard when changing modes."
"Seen Rugged Geek on Amazon USA and to my amazement Rugged Geek would deliverer to my address in UK from USA ."
"Great little compact unit used it on a friends truck v6 and our v6 chevy, was surprised that when I plugged it in it was still at 100 % don't now how it works but I like it."
"The best part, the power bank doesn't just sit around waiting for the next time my car battery dies again."
Best Jump Starters
Size: JNC660 |. Style: Lead-Acid. PROFORMER battery technology is designed to provide extremely high power output, extended cranking power and a long service life.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I leave it in my car's trunk and I have used this so many times since December 2009 when I bought it that I have lost count. For that purpose, I have used it many times, both to jump-start my car when the battery died and to fill my car and motorcycle tires with air when they start to get low. Every time, the vehicle had started instantly--no hesitation."
"Also, if your battery is shot no charger will be able to jump start your car you will need a jump with cables."
"I've purchased an adapter to fit on screw end of compressor hose as treading and untreading hose can be a pain in cold weather. With adapter it stays on and you simply flip lever to secure."
"After A Month of personal use several times on my vehicle, my girlfriends vehicle, and people ive met its still working at top quality."
"You just open the hood of the vehicle that needs to be jumped, attach the cable clamps to the battery post and engine block, start the vehicle, disconnect the clamps and you are on your way."
"I wish I had found this sooner instead of wasting money on the cheap department store ones I had in the past. One thing to note is that It doesn't have built in reverse polarity protection so make sure you connect the leads to the right battery terminal (eg. It sounds like a no-brainer, but I was I wasn't paying attention one night and connected them in reverse and blew the main fuse on a vehicle that I was boosting."
Best Battery Chargers
The Battery Tender Plus is a 1.25-amp battery charger designed to fully charge a battery and maintain it at proper storage voltage without the damaging effects caused by trickle chargers. Battery Tender at 1.25-amp will charge as fast or faster than any 3-amp charger available. The Battery Tender Plus is a 1.25-amp battery charger designed to fully charge a battery and maintain it at proper storage voltage without the damaging effects caused by trickle chargers. Battery Tender at 1.25-amp will charge as fast or faster than any 3-amp charger available, Reverse Polarity Protection to ensure user safety Red and Green Lights Alternately Flash in this condition.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The Battery Tender can be used while the battery is hooked up to a vehicle/mower/etc."
"While charging, the Deltran produces just a slight warmth and the extra long cord I purchased ensured it reaches the battery without issues."
"This battery tender is awesome."
"Have been using it awhile and seems to do the job."
"Own 5 of these for over 10 years, overall do a decent job. Where the product falls short: have a green light indicating full charge, turn the key and nothing."
"The price of the tender with ahipping is a little cheaper than buying elsewhere with the adeed added convenience of not having to go find it."
"Avery nice charger."
"Unfortunate Battery Tender doesn't tell you this will not charge a dead deep cycle battery."