Well I have been at this for several years and discussing solutions on several electronic sites... I have home brewed panels, tested products, and purchased several Goal Zero only to return it... I have burned up a cell phone in the process... As an Amateur Radio Operator and 4 years of schooling, I have come to this solution.
1. The closer the solar cell is to the actual charger that comes with the phone the more compatible it will be...
2. premium solar cells have collector lines that are smaller and closer together.
3. many packages use unnecessary weight to protect the cells
4. if the solar cell is at the same voltage it eliminates the need for a regulator.
5. better price means eliminate the middle man.
6. find a way to really charge in two hours of daylight instead of 6 or 8 as many small (over the counter) panels do.
7. bypass proprietary resistance networks and charge the phone directly.
That last one was a hurdle, I had to find out if anyone else was doing this .. and the answer is yes, there really is a lot of competition out there.
So under my desk is many chargers for several phones, Black Berry, Motorola, LG and they all have one thing in common... 5 volts and 400 to 700MA (Milliamps) a measurement of flow of electrons... the more amps the bigger the flow into the battery.
So we are looking to find a panel that has a USB connector at 5 volts 5watts or 1amp. to cut the charge time down, without overheating the battery. not enclosing the panel in a protective canvas. That is compatible with all phones... and Anker and Trent.
Iphone and Motorola require an almost continous 5.3 volts at 800 to 1000ma in order to cut charge time. They both use a resistor network between the power and data wires to determine if they are connected to a computer or the propietary charger. This was done to avoid knock off China chargers which have caught fire. The China charger copies sent a few to hospital and 1 death. So a couple of resistors can be added and Charge can be full speed - Goal Zero missed this important part in their build. They can be modified softly.
My google search looked something like this... 5v 5w 1000ma solar panel part
Here is where my search led me.. $40 Blue Solar from Singapore.add shipping..... my only concern is there is no mention of a protection diode.... but that can be added.
For the Iphone,Ipods and Ipad it would be two or three panels 5volt 2amp wired together... hence the cost would triple.
Why did I return the Goal Zero? its a 12 volt device, its heavy, and has a built in regulator. The phone complained right in the driveway with every cloud.... As someone pointed out the battery pack that it came with was inefficient. So it did not suit my needs.
No mention of Power film - the more I look at it the more I understand it doesn't have the juice and requires 2x the number of panels. Flexible panels are still a few generations away of being the right solution.
1. The closer the solar cell is to the actual charger that comes with the phone the more compatible it will be...
2. premium solar cells have collector lines that are smaller and closer together.
3. many packages use unnecessary weight to protect the cells
4. if the solar cell is at the same voltage it eliminates the need for a regulator.
5. better price means eliminate the middle man.
6. find a way to really charge in two hours of daylight instead of 6 or 8 as many small (over the counter) panels do.
7. bypass proprietary resistance networks and charge the phone directly.
That last one was a hurdle, I had to find out if anyone else was doing this .. and the answer is yes, there really is a lot of competition out there.
So under my desk is many chargers for several phones, Black Berry, Motorola, LG and they all have one thing in common... 5 volts and 400 to 700MA (Milliamps) a measurement of flow of electrons... the more amps the bigger the flow into the battery.
So we are looking to find a panel that has a USB connector at 5 volts 5watts or 1amp. to cut the charge time down, without overheating the battery. not enclosing the panel in a protective canvas. That is compatible with all phones... and Anker and Trent.
Iphone and Motorola require an almost continous 5.3 volts at 800 to 1000ma in order to cut charge time. They both use a resistor network between the power and data wires to determine if they are connected to a computer or the propietary charger. This was done to avoid knock off China chargers which have caught fire. The China charger copies sent a few to hospital and 1 death. So a couple of resistors can be added and Charge can be full speed - Goal Zero missed this important part in their build. They can be modified softly.
My google search looked something like this... 5v 5w 1000ma solar panel part
Here is where my search led me.. $40 Blue Solar from Singapore.add shipping..... my only concern is there is no mention of a protection diode.... but that can be added.
For the Iphone,Ipods and Ipad it would be two or three panels 5volt 2amp wired together... hence the cost would triple.
Why did I return the Goal Zero? its a 12 volt device, its heavy, and has a built in regulator. The phone complained right in the driveway with every cloud.... As someone pointed out the battery pack that it came with was inefficient. So it did not suit my needs.
No mention of Power film - the more I look at it the more I understand it doesn't have the juice and requires 2x the number of panels. Flexible panels are still a few generations away of being the right solution.
Be wise enough to walk away from the nonsense around you!