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 Topic: Lidl solar charger - any good?
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15/6/2014 at 5:39pm
Location: Near Petersfield Hants
Outfit: Barbados- Djakarta- Anssems trailer
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Hi everyone. I have no experience of using solar chargers but Lidl have one in store next week -
http://www.lidl.co.uk/en/our-offers-2491.htm?action=showDetail&id=13715
Just want to charge four lots of smart phones and camera on a non-electric site. I do have a car charger but don't plan on driving too far so there will be a squabble between us for who gets to plug into the charger!
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15/6/2014 at 5:51pm
Location: Midlands
Outfit: Mondeo Avondale Gram
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No mention of the voltage or output? Just mentions built in battery thats 2200mAh.
My phones battery has a higher capacity. So unless its a high voltage battery it may not be able to charge one device fully.
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15/6/2014 at 10:13pm
Location: super somerset
Outfit: empty drive for now
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a techy friend says it is suitable for your needs as you mention, and thats about all, he would consider getting one as he goes random camping with several friends in some outflung places,and would be ideal for that type of situation
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16/6/2014 at 12:29pm
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If you buy this item you can charge it up from the mains before leaving home, it will then charge 1 device and become flat. You will be unlikely to recharge it from sunlight sufficiently to recharge another device.
Think in terms of a 7W or 10W solar charger for charging small devices.
Only buy monochrystalline solar rechargers, polycrystalline units are cheaper but much less efficient, if it doesn't say monochrystalline it isn't.
If you want to recharge from batteries get 18750 Li-ion batteries and select a USB case for them.
A USB European 2 pin plug is ideal for getting power from French campsite toilet blocks.
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16/6/2014 at 12:48pm
Location: Midlands
Outfit: Mondeo Avondale Gram
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2200mAh at 3.7 volts. So it wouldnt even charge my phone fully.
16 - 24 hours to charge itself using the solar panel. Say 8 hours of decent sunlight a day it will take 2 or 3 days to charge itself?
Plug it into the car for an hour and save all the hassle.
More than 1 decice get some doublers. Dont buy cheap ones though. Nasty inside. One tiny thread of bare wire joining the sockets.
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18/6/2014 at 11:28pm
Location: Near Petersfield Hants
Outfit: Barbados- Djakarta- Anssems trailer
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Thanks for everyones input. I'll get a double usb charger for the car instead.
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19/6/2014 at 11:52am
Location: Oxford
Outfit: helsport Kongsvold
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Quote: Originally posted by Grampian91 on 16/6/2014
2200mAh at 3.7 volts. So it wouldnt even charge my phone fully.
16 - 24 hours to charge itself using the solar panel. Say 8 hours of decent sunlight a day it will take 2 or 3 days to charge itself?
Plug it into the car for an hour and save all the hassle.
More than 1 decice get some doublers. Dont buy cheap ones though. Nasty inside. One tiny thread of bare wire joining the sockets.
Exactly, 3.7v might not even activate most devices to charge.
The crucial things are a panel that will deliver a high enough voltage, most devices require at least the 5 volts supplied by USB, then after that, the current supplied, as this effects the charging time.
For example an ipad battery has a capacity of 9.3 amph and draws a maximum of around 2 amps when charging and requires a minimum of 5v to activate. so even at full charge rate would take 5.5 hours to fully charge from flat. with a 10w panel at 12v you are now talking a maximum current of 0.83 amps and a charging time of over 13 hours.
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20/6/2014 at 6:11pm
Location: Oxford
Outfit: helsport Kongsvold
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exactly my phone battery has a 2300mAh capacity and at a charging rate of 100mA would take about 28 hours direct from the sun.
The actual battery only has an output of 500mA so would take 5 plus hours.
as for recharge time I very much doubt it's even as efficient as they state
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