{"id":11959,"date":"2022-10-31T16:55:20","date_gmt":"2022-10-31T15:55:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/powerbank20.com\/?page_id=11959"},"modified":"2024-10-07T17:23:08","modified_gmt":"2024-10-07T15:23:08","slug":"solar-charger","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/powerbank20.com\/en\/solar-charger\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Portable Solar Chargers for Cell Phones"},"content":{"rendered":"

A solar charger<\/strong> is a practical and sustainable option to charge your mobile devices, cameras, flashlights, and other gadgets at any time and place, without relying on outlets or a portable charger<\/a><\/span>. You will only need the energy from the sun to keep your devices charged.<\/p>\n

In this guide, we will explore the features and specifications of the solar charger, learn how to choose the most suitable model for your needs and analyze the differences with respect to the solar power bank<\/span>. In addition, you will learn how to get the most out of it, making the most of the available solar energy.<\/p>\n

In short, this guide will help you understand the benefits of a solar charger and make an informed decision about whether it is the ideal accessory for an outdoor lifestyle.<\/p>\n

No time to read? No problem! In the list below you can see the solar chargers we like the most on Amazon according to the criteria outlined in this guide:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n
\n
\n \n \"BigBlue\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n
\n
\n BigBlue 28W - 3x USB-A<\/a><\/b>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
\n
\n Get it on amazon.com<\/span><\/a>\n <\/div> \n
\n <\/div> \n\n <\/div> \n
\n
\n \n \"Anker\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n
\n
\n Anker 30W - 1x USB-A + 1x USB-C<\/a><\/b>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
\n
\n Get it on amazon.com<\/span><\/a>\n <\/div> \n
\n <\/div> \n\n <\/div> \n
\n
\n \n \"FlexSolar\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n
\n
\n FlexSolar 30W - 1x USB-A QC 3.0 + 1x USB-C PD 18W<\/a><\/b>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
\n
\n Get it on amazon.com<\/span><\/a>\n <\/div> \n
\n <\/div> \n\n <\/div> \n
\n
\n \n \"BLAVOR\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n
\n
\n BLAVOR 30W - 24W USB-A QC3.0 + 18V DC<\/a><\/b>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
\n
\n Get it on amazon.com<\/span><\/a>\n <\/div> \n
\n <\/div> \n\n <\/div> \n
\n
\n \n \"ALLPOWERS\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n
\n
\n ALLPOWERS 60W - 2x USB-A + 1x USB-C PD 60W + 18V DC<\/a><\/b>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
\n
\n Get it on amazon.com<\/span><\/a>\n <\/div> \n
\n <\/div> \n\n <\/div> \n \n<\/div>\n
These are the models recommended by our team for the month of July 2026<\/strong>. You can also visit the best-selling solar chargers on Amazon here<\/a><\/span>.<\/div><\/div>\n

If you have made it this far, congratulations reader! Your interest in getting to know this practical gadget in depth is evident. We assure you that we will strive to provide you with detailed and useful information about this gadget so that you can make an informed decision and get the most out of it.<\/p>\n\n

What is a solar charger? How does it work?<\/h2>\n

Basically, we could say that a solar charger works just like a cell phone charger with the difference that its energy is obtained from sunlight.<\/p>\n

The solar charger is composed of one or more solar panels that are responsible for transforming sunlight into electrical energy to recharge instantly any other device with a USB charging port such as a cell phone, tablet, Bluetooth speaker, smartwatch…<\/p>\n

Each solar panel is composed of photovoltaic cells<\/a>, usually made of monocrystalline<\/strong> or polycrystalline silicon<\/strong> although we can also find models with panels made of CIGS<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"celdas<\/p>\n

One of the major limitations of these solar panels is the small amount of energy they produce per individual cell.<\/p>\n

That is why it would be necessary to use large panels (which would be impractical for a portable solar charger) for this reason several small panels are connected in parallel and then deployed to capture more solar radiation.<\/p>\n

Moreover, solar chargers do not store the energy produced in an internal battery<\/span> but transfer it directly to the connected device. For this reason, we recommend 2 tips:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Have a correct exposure of the sun’s rays on the charger panels<\/strong> so that the device is charged as fast as possible.<\/li>\n
  2. Use a power bank<\/strong> as the main charging device to store the energy obtained and charge other devices at any other time of the day.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    How to choose a solar charger: key features<\/h2>\n

    There are many factors that can determine the buyer’s choice of one solar charger over another, let’s see which are the most important for us:<\/p>\n

    Solar charger power (W)<\/h3>\n

    The power, measured in watts (W), that appears in the specifications of a solar charger indicates the capacity of its panels to produce energy from sunlight.<\/p>\n

    This power corresponds to the sum of all the solar panels that make up the charger, for example, this BigBlue model has 4 panels of 7W, then the total power is 28W (4 x 7W).<\/p>\n

    As a general rule, the more power the solar charger has, the more panels it will have, and therefore, the larger and heavier it will be.<\/p>\n

    \"BigBlue
    The BigBlue solar charger consists of 4 panels of 7W power.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    However, one thing is the power that the solar charger is capable of generating and quite another thing is the power it supplies at its output ports<\/span>:<\/p>\n

    Manufacturers usually limit the output power, i.e., the solar charger does not offer all the power that its panel (or set of panels) is capable of producing. This is done mainly for safety<\/strong> (to avoid excessive overheating) and to extend the life of the panel itself<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

    In addition, there will always be another power reduction depending on the conditions of use of the charger: angle of incidence of the sun’s rays, cloudy days, etc…<\/p>\n

    Output ports power<\/h3>\n

    The output power at the charging ports of the solar charger determines the charging speed<\/strong> of the connected devices, i.e., the higher the power, the faster the devices will charge since the ports will have a greater capacity to meet the power demand of each connected device.<\/p>\n

    Let’s see an example comparing 2 models of the BigBlue brand that, in optimal light conditions<\/span>, their solar panels can generate up to 28W:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    Model<\/strong><\/td>\nSolar charger power <\/strong><\/td>\nUSB output ports power<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
    B401D<\/td>\n28W<\/td>\n3x 5V\/2.4A max, 5V\/4.8A 24W<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    B401E<\/td>\n28W<\/td>\n2x 5V\/2.4A max, 5V\/4.0A 20W<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

    In this table we can see that each USB port can supply a maximum power of 12W (5V x 2.4A), then if we want to charge a single device that supports a current of up to 2.4 amps of current at 5 volts, we could use either of the 2 models.<\/p>\n

    But what if we want to charge another device at the same time<\/span> at its maximum charging speed (5V-2.4A)?<\/p>\n

    In this case, the B401E model is limited to 20W between its 2 USB ports, unlike the B401D model which is able to provide the power demanded by each device.<\/p>\n

    Charging ports: USB and DC<\/h3>\n

    Most solar chargers include USB output ports that can be used to charge any electronic device that charges through this type of port.<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    In general, it is a USB type-A<\/strong> that works at a voltage of 5 volts (standard charging) and supplies a maximum power between 10-12W.<\/p>\n

    Although there are also new models that incorporate the USB type-C<\/strong> port and even support Quick Charge (QC)<\/strong> or Power Delivery (PD)<\/strong> fast charging protocols being able to supply up to 24W and work with a voltage of 5, 9, and 12V.<\/p>\n

    The DC port<\/strong> is the other type of output port that we can find in higher-power solar chargers. It works with a voltage between 18-20V and is commonly used to charge a solar generator, a laptop, or a drone.<\/p>\n

    Solar panel efficiency<\/h3>\n

    Efficiency is the ability of the charger’s panels to convert solar energy into electrical energy.<\/p>\n

    Assuming optimal lighting conditions<\/span> and correct orientation of the charger<\/span> to receive as much solar radiation as possible, solar panels have an efficiency between 21-24%<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

    This efficiency will depend on the quality and type of panel<\/span> used by the manufacturer, we recommend brands that use panels with SunPower technology<\/a>:<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    SunPower<\/strong> is a company specialized in the production of crystalline silicon panels<\/strong> that are characterized by their high quality, based on a silicon technology that was developed at Stanford University<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

    SunPower panels have been used in large solar power plants worldwide as well as in NASA projects<\/a>, that is, what Amazon sellers seek to convey with this is that they are panels that guarantee quality and excellent performance<\/span>.<\/p>\n

    Solar Power bank vs Solar Charger: how long does it take to fully charge?\u231a<\/h2>\n

    At first glance, you may think that a power bank with an integrated solar panel<\/strong> is cool because you can store solar energy<\/strong> in its internal battery and then use it to recharge your devices.<\/p>\n

    However, unlike a solar charger, the solar panel that incorporates a power bank is very small, which means that it would need to be exposed to the sun for many hours to fully charge its battery. This same problem occurs if you want to recharge a device.<\/p>\n

    We think a solar power bank should be used as a normal power bank and recharged by USB cable before traveling or hiking.<\/p>\n

    \"powerbank<\/p>\n

    If you are looking to charge your devices directly with solar energy, use a solar charger<\/strong>! or a combination of both accessories to store the energy generated.<\/p>\n

    Next, let’s see a practical example of how long it would take to fully charge a power bank using its solar panel:<\/p>\n

    To do this, we have purchased the PN-W12 model of the Blavor<\/strong> brand, which has the following specifications:<\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n