freeloader chargers
Discussion
I’m off to Nepal in the New Year trekking and am looking into solar chargers for my phone etc. Has anybody used a Freeloader solar charger (cheap £20 one) with a Blackberry Bold? Does it work? Does it take fortnight to charge?
Would it be better to use one of those power chimp things that you can stick in a readily available AA battery to charge your phone with?
Would it be better to use one of those power chimp things that you can stick in a readily available AA battery to charge your phone with?
What's wrong with buying an adapter or a suitable charger when you get out there? Cheaper option.
Freeloader doesn't get great reviews.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Freeloader-SC8088-Solar-Ch...
Freeloader doesn't get great reviews.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Freeloader-SC8088-Solar-Ch...
Rofly Lollers said:
What's wrong with buying an adapter or a suitable charger when you get out there? Cheaper option.
Freeloader doesn't get great reviews.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Freeloader-SC8088-Solar-Ch...
Nepal Treking suggests that the suitable adapter/charger may require a power lead kilometers long. Not everywhere has readily available electric points. Freeloader doesn't get great reviews.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Freeloader-SC8088-Solar-Ch...
I have a freeloader, used it on my iphone and hero.
Its ok in direct sunshine (greek beaches, sahara etc...) but even the smallest shadow on the panels can reduce the charging ability a lot.
you can get larger panels for it to hang off a rucksack etc...
I wouldnt rely on it for power but as a way of keeping your handset topped up just incase
Its ok in direct sunshine (greek beaches, sahara etc...) but even the smallest shadow on the panels can reduce the charging ability a lot.
you can get larger panels for it to hang off a rucksack etc...
I wouldnt rely on it for power but as a way of keeping your handset topped up just incase
Kaelic said:
I have a freeloader, used it on my iphone and hero.
Its ok in direct sunshine (greek beaches, sahara etc...) but even the smallest shadow on the panels can reduce the charging ability a lot.
you can get larger panels for it to hang off a rucksack etc...
I wouldnt rely on it for power but as a way of keeping your handset topped up just incase
+1, not perfect, but better than nothing. At least you should get lots of sun to charge from! Its ok in direct sunshine (greek beaches, sahara etc...) but even the smallest shadow on the panels can reduce the charging ability a lot.
you can get larger panels for it to hang off a rucksack etc...
I wouldnt rely on it for power but as a way of keeping your handset topped up just incase
Oh, it won't work through glass either. Stupid me didn't realise that.
Or how about this? I know it's more labour intensive but it might be cloudy! 
http://www.paramountzone.com/rphone.htm
http://www.paramountzone.com/rphone.htm
I've got one of these http://www.epogo.co.uk/130-portable-chargers/482-j... which I use when out and about on my iphone.
Don't expect too much from any of the solar chargers as they take forever to recharge the battery. The good thing about the juicebar one is that you can charge it off a USB port as well so it stays fully charged (I know that misses the point of it being solar, but it does give the best of both worlds).
I do know that there is another juicebar product coming out soon* that has a much better solar panel and a bigger battery so might be worth asking them about that. The key is to look at the battery size as that indicates how much charge you will get - obviously the bigger the battery though, the longer to charge. They're also about to introduce a small iPhone one that I've tested and is good in an emergency but wouldn't want to rely on it 24/7.
*They are a client - this isn't an attempt to advertise - other solar chargers are available and all that.
Don't expect too much from any of the solar chargers as they take forever to recharge the battery. The good thing about the juicebar one is that you can charge it off a USB port as well so it stays fully charged (I know that misses the point of it being solar, but it does give the best of both worlds).
I do know that there is another juicebar product coming out soon* that has a much better solar panel and a bigger battery so might be worth asking them about that. The key is to look at the battery size as that indicates how much charge you will get - obviously the bigger the battery though, the longer to charge. They're also about to introduce a small iPhone one that I've tested and is good in an emergency but wouldn't want to rely on it 24/7.
*They are a client - this isn't an attempt to advertise - other solar chargers are available and all that.
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