Solar phone chargers

[theriver]

Hello

Will probably go camping over the summer, minus electricity. Whereas my early mobile phones would go for days without needing a charge, this one won't make it through a weekend, so I've been thinking on how to charge it.

Does anyone have any experience with solar chargers for small devices? Any recommendations?

[MatthewL]

Turn it off and use it only when needed. Have some peace and quiet away from it!

[Jobos]

Hello

Will probably go camping over the summer, minus electricity. Whereas my early mobile phones would go for days without needing a charge, this one won't make it through a weekend, so I've been thinking on how to charge it.

Does anyone have any experience with solar chargers for small devices? Any recommendations?

Never used one but they are not expensive ALDI - Thursday Special Buys 31st May 2012

[mac_shinobi]

Car charger ?? or were you only after enviroment friendly solutions as per the solar charger ?

[theriver]

Turn it off and use it only when needed. Have some peace and quiet away from it!

LOL!

It's just too useful, not least for settling pop culture arguments round the fire.
@mac_shinobi, the car will be static for most of the time, so I am not sure I fancy charging from it.

[mac_shinobi]

Never used one but they are not expensive ALDI - Thursday Special Buys 31st May 2012

Found this one --> Solar Phone Charger / Solar Powered iPhone Charger - Now Only £19.99 for around £20 mark with multiple connectors for different phones / devices etc

[Danp]

Assuming its a smartphone, turn off data and set mobile networks to gsm one, then look at 2+ days battery life, works for me on my HTC

[jinnantonnixx]

Car charger is the best option, provided you don't need the ignition on to charge. The current drain is tiny to charge a phone.

Another option is to by a £10 SIM free phone which will last a week on a charge.

[theriver]

Thanks to all for input on this.

In the end I went for a Power Bee product that is along the lines @mac_shinobi found, but with a greater capacity, and as a bonus got it delivered in time for the weekend's trip.

So with this and in line with @Danp's suggestions of using only when needed I managed to eke power out for 5 days, with about 50% of the charge left in the Power Bee. And that was having used the phone as a mobile hospot for about a half hour, so I am quite pleased with it. If only we'd had some sunshine, so I could test the solar charging properly . . . .

[mac_shinobi]

Thanks to all for input on this.

In the end I went for a Power Bee product that is along the lines @mac_shinobi found, but with a greater capacity, and as a bonus got it delivered in time for the weekend's trip.

So with this and in line with @Danp's suggestions of using only when needed I managed to eke power out for 5 days, with about 50% of the charge left in the Power Bee. And that was having used the phone as a mobile hospot for about a half hour, so I am quite pleased with it. If only we'd had some sunshine, so I could test the solar charging properly . . . .

Got a link to the one you got or went with ?

[theriver]

Certainly - it's PowerBee Executive Solar Phone Charger for iPhone 2G 3G: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics

[Geoff]

I have an induction charger in the form of a yoyo. Much more fun and doesn't require sunlight. Additionally my bike has a Hub dynamo. This also can be hooked up via USB to my phone.

[jinnantonnixx]

A redneck version (which I have used for lighting while camping) would be an old car battery, crocodile clips and an after-market 12v lighter socket for your phone charger.

Inelegant, but effective.

[TechieWils]

Check out the PICO chargers from Maplins, multiple adapters for different makes and model. Small and light and fairly cheap. You can pre charge them off a usb and then just use it to top up your phone through out your visit. But like others have said turn off data, bluetooth, sceen brightness, off at night and only when needed.

My old desire lasted 5 days at the sonisphere festival last year like this and that was with phone calls and texts to friends at the festival and the missus.

link Freeloader PICO