In addition to writing about the outdoors, I have also written about solar and renewable energy for the past decade. I have gained a lot of knowledge about how solar power and photovoltaics work and what they can and cannot do. The ECEEN version has a new take on how a solar charger should look. The book-style charger is one of the most durable with a zippered case protecting the solar panels. As for charging, you can use up to six 200W panels, and the one supplied with our review bundle averaged between 177W and 198W on a sunny March day. That’s enough to fully charge the Explorer 1500 Pro within seven to eight hours with a single panel. Each panel has four pull-out legs to hold it up at an angle, and folds down to a 540 x 615mm, 8kg bundle. Solar power banks – Combining an even smaller solar array with a USB power bank in one neat unit, keeping a solar power bank charging during the day will enable you to recharge your smartphone or tablet overnight. Solar generators and power banks will also have a mains or USB input, enabling them to be charged in a few hours before you head off on a trip. This is especially important with power banks, since they work better if you give them a charge to begin with, then use solar energy for topping up. Are there any other features worth looking out for?

On sunny days it provides ample power to keep multiple smartphones charged indefinitely. In cloudy weather it charges slower but still makes progress. The amount of wattage depends on amps and also volts. Volts are the amount of force of electricity, and multiplying amps and volts will equal the wattage. A higher number means higher power output. Efficiency When it comes to accessories, there are two main accessories you can use with the solar panels, cords and batteries. The great price of this charger is one factor that really sets it apart from the competition in terms of value.

Performance Comparison

Most solar power chargers are built to be lightweight. All of those on this list happen to be around one pound or lighter. Easy portability is important in instances where you will be carrying it around for longer amounts of time. Devices usually take a few hours, so you can’t really be sitting by your phone waiting for it to charge. Durability

In fact, with the combination of its quality construction and the very fair price, we feel it’s one of the best solar chargers out there. The types of solar cells in a solar panel also matter. Though we only recommended portable solar panels that used monocrystalline silicon solar cells, some solar chargers use polycrystalline silicon solar cells or even thin-film solar cells. A monocrystalline panel consists of monocrystalline solar cells, which are currently the most efficient commercially available solar cells. A polycrystalline solar panel is made of polycrystalline cells.There are also differences in useability between many solar chargers. Some models are easy to use and easy to set up, while others take a little more experience and maybe some head-scratching to start powering your devices. We'll walk you through all the different types of non-permanent solar panels available to help you decide what's best for you. What Do You Want To Do With Your Solar Power? I’ve written about countless outdoor companies, outdoor sports, and tested gear with publications including CompanyWeek, Outdoor USA Magazine (print), Elevation Outdoors, 5280, and more. If you like getting outside and staying out there as much as we do, you'll love this. We've tested and written about the top portable solar chargers and the best 100+ watt solar panels for camping. We've also tested the most promising portable chargers to pair with your solar setup. No matter where your adventures may take you, you'll stay powered up, and we've rounded up the watts to 30 watts: Many of the portable solar chargers we tested here fall into this wattage range. 20 to 30-watt chargers are great for faster charger speeds while still being relatively portable. Most solar chargers will get their chance to shine (no pun intended) in the outdoors. It’s necessary to have them be as durable as possible because they perform such an important function.