Universal Solar Chargers Advantages and Disadvantages

In these days of ever increasing reliance on technology and gadgets many people have taken the choice to purchase a universal solar charger. With more people purchasing web connected devices, the need for keeping these devices powered is more important than ever.

Solar power works by converting the energy provided by the sun into electricity. Solar panels are made from photo-voltaic cells, these cells were first made by Bell laboratories in the early 1950's. Briefly, photo-voltaic cells work by using the power of light itself. Light is mainly consisted of photons which create an electric imbalance within the photo-voltaic cells upon striking the surface. This electric imbalance then causing an electric current to flow within a circuit created in the device. This current flow can then be used to either power a device directly or, more commonly in the case of a solar charger, be used to charge a battery which can then be used to provide power to another device.

A good universal solar charger will be able to attach to a variety of devices. They connect either via the use of different tips for the devices or they can alternatively physically attach to the batteries which the device may contain. A good quality charger will also be able to fully charge the device using its internal battery.

Its pretty easy to come to the main advantage of a solar charger, mainly that it does not require external power to charge a device. This is extremely handy if you are going to be spending some time away from mains power. Examples include when camping or exploring the great outdoors or when spending time in a music festival which just about has toilets let alone electric!

Solar power is also extremely environmentally friendly. Most domestic power is either generated via coal/gas powered power plants or through nuclear power. Both of these types of power generation produce harmfull byproducts which can harm the environment. Coal/gas burning power stations produce large quantities of greenhouse gases while the risk from radiation produced by nuclear power can never be totally dismissed.

In contrast, solar power is a form of renewable power. Along with wind and tidal power generation it is a clean form of power which creates no greenhouse gases and no radiation risks.

The next big advantage is cost. Once you purchase a solar charger there is no more cost involved in charging your device, unlike mains power which seems to increase in cost every six months!

The biggest disadvantage of solar chargers is that they need light to work. The efficiency of the photo-voltaic panels has increased greatly over the last decade or so, reaching the point where they do not need direct sunlight to work but will now create a satisfactory current even under overcast conditions. But it is still something you should be aware of depending where in the world you are based.

Charging your device via a solar charger can also be a lot slower than using a mains charger. This is due to the current generated by the solar panels being a lot less than what you would find at home. Universal solar chargers try to overcome this by utilising a lithium-ion battery within it. These types of battery are very good at releasing a higher charge than conventional ni-cad batteries, thus they create a higher current in their charging circuit.

This sums up the main pro's and con's of a universal solar charger.

If you are looking for a good quality universal solar charger then look no further than http://www.thesolarpowerstore.co.uk/

universal solar charger from the solar power store.

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Solar Backpacks Are A Handy Technology For Those On The Go

I like the idea of solar backpacks, having the ability to not only transport your personal electronic devices, but also being able to charge them on the go. For the most part, this technology isn't super viable, just because of the fact that the solar panel on the majority of solar backpacks doesn't cover a very large surface area. That being said, there are a couple of big name brands that manufacture a very nice quality backpack, and even generate an impressive 5 watts of power. 5 watts is not really enough power to keep all of your personal electronic devices fully charged, but it can definitely generate a fair share of energy over a couple of hours of direct sun.

The one thing I like the most about solar backpacks is that they're not too much more money than regular backpacks. One brand for example, Samsonite, which produces some of the best quality packs and carrying cases, also makes a solar backpack with a big solar panel woven into the back of it. A good quality Samsonite pack without a solar panel would already run you around $100, but with the solar panel included, it's only $135. So you aren't really paying much more for the solar feature included. Even if you can't see an immediate way to use the solar panel, it's always nice to have the feature available for those just in case moments when you're on the go.

But for real usability, it's still only really worth it for people of pretty specific situations. Most people don't spend near sufficient time in the sun to make a solar backpack worth their time. College students and backpackers are probably the only big segment of the population that could make full use of a technology like this. Businessmen who always find themselves on the go could probably also make use of this technology, but the rest of us who spend 8 hours a day at a desk right next to an electrical outlet, we don't generally need a technology like this.

But personal solar panels are really beginning to alter the way that people do outdoor adventures. One activity specifically, Geocaching, makes great use of portable solar technology. Geochaching, for people who don't know about it, is basically a blend between backpacking and treasure hunting. Most geocachers use GPS and other little gadgets to get the job done, and like having the ability to power them while on the go. Another outdoor adventure that portable solar is changing is boating. Peel and stick solar technology are showing up on boats all across the nation. It's pretty neat.

While these panels are great the big issue with solar backpacks is that they just don't generate enough power to make them very viable. That's why many people who use portable solar technology, purchase a flexible solar pad or some brand of peel and stick solar. These tend to produce more power and are pretty handy for most outdoor activities. These technologies is a bit more costly, but they really get the job done. So for people serious about being able to charge their portable electronics through the power of the sun, you might want to look into other personal technology as a better solution.

Check out the Samsonite solar backpack. In the realm of solar backpacks, it is the best out there. You might also want to look into peel and stick solar panels as a feasibly solution for your solar needs.

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