|
Charging your batteries
with solar energy seemed like an impossibility just a few years ago,
but thanks to developments in solar
technology, it can now be a feasible and eco-friendly option
for your recharging needs when you are hiking up a steep mountain and
realizing that you forgot to charge your device at home.
Solar energy is a great
idea for those who really wish to plan for the future. In case of a
major emergency or catastrophe, solar panels will continue to provide
energy, even if the rest of the electric grid is completely shut down.
This means you can continue to charge and use your cell phone or any
other device, even if there is a power blackout – providing that you
still have cell phone reception, of course! This makes solar battery
chargers an ideal addition to any survival
or emergency kit.
 |
| |
|
Charging your devices with
solar energy allows a much greater freedom
of movement in these modern times. It is now possible to
charge your laptop or cell phone in the middle of the mountains or
virtually anywhere else on earth. You no longer have to be a slave to
power outlets when you choose solar energy to charge your
batteries.
|
|
|
 |
Even if you choose solar
energy as a backup means of power, you will always have the freedom and
security of knowing you will be able to recharge your devices wherever
or whenever the need may arise.
| What
Kinds of Batteries Can I Charge with Solar Power? |
Solar energy works through
a
solar cell which absorbs the sun’s rays and transforms them into
energy, which is then transferred to a battery where it is stored until
it’s needed. Solar lights and other products work in this exact same
way, so it’s no wonder that solar battery chargers are now available on
the market.
You can use a solar
charger to charge any normal rechargeable battery such as AA,
AAA, D,
and C batteries, as well as 9 volt batteries. These types
of solar
chargers have been available for quite awhile, and are just the tip of
the iceberg. Today you can purchase a charger which runs solely on
solar energy for your cell
phone, mp3
player, digital camera,
and other electronic devices.
Some companies have even
taken this a step further, offering chargers to power your RV solar panels, your boat’s
battery or even your golf cart battery, relying solely on harnessing
the power of the sun. Of course the length of time it takes to charge
your device will depend on the size of the battery, as well as the size
of your solar cell. If you wish to run your laptop or computer
completely off solar power, your recharging time will obviously be much
longer than if you wish to simply recharge an AA battery.
However, this doesn’t mean
that it’s impossible to run all of your electronic devices solely on
solar energy. If you choose the correct type of charger for your
device, you can completely remove yourself from the power grid, while
helping to reduce your carbon footprint, as well as your electric
bills.
Solar Cell Options for
Recharging Batteries
Charging larger batteries,
such as laptop or cell phone batteries, obviously requires a much
larger input of energy. Therefore, the chargers also require a larger
solar cell. However, this doesn’t mean that you need to
pack large
solar panels around with you to utilize the sun’s energy to recharge
your devices. There have been many new developments in solar cell
technology which will allow you to easily take your solar battery
chargers with you wherever you go. For charging larger devices, consider using a portable solar power generator.
When most people think of
solar cells, they usually imagine the large solar cells which are
typically used to power homes and other buildings. Rest assured, these
are far from the only type of solar cell available on the market today.
You can now purchase rolls
of solar cells which are perfect for
charging devices such as cell phones, mp3 players, and laptops,
provided you have the right type of output cable for each
battery.
These solar cells come in
large rolls that can be unrolled wherever the sun is shining. They are
incredibly lightweight, which makes them very portable and easy to
set-up whenever you need to recharge your batteries.
The rolls come in a
variety of sizes which makes them ideal for charging a number of
different sized batteries. Of course the charging time will vary from
battery to battery depending on the size of the solar cell roll you
choose.
Another solar battery
charger option is foldable
solar cells. These solar cells are larger
panels that can be folded up to create a small, easy to carry pack when
it’s time to move. To use these foldable solar cells, all you need to
do is simply unfold the cell wherever the sun is shining, and your
batteries will instantly start to be charged using only the power of
the sun.
There are many smaller
solar battery chargers available. Most of these products have a small
solar cell, which means that they will charge your batteries at a
slower rate than chargers with larger, foldable or rolled solar cells.
The main advantage of these small chargers is the fact that the solar
cell can often be attached to your person, meaning that you can charge
your batteries while you
are moving. If you are hiking in the middle of
the wilderness, you can feel comfortable knowing that as long as the
sun is shining, your batteries are charging. These chargers eliminate
the need to stop and set up a larger solar panel, so they are perfect
for people on the move.
Many of the chargers can
also be installed on the dashboard
of your car, so you can charge your
mp3 player or cell phone without the need to run down your vehicle’s
battery. The options for solar battery chargers are ever-evolving, and
each year the technology gets better and better at effectively
harnessing the power of the sun for all of your electronic needs.
Back
to Solar Energy
Home
|
