Solar Phone Charger: The Best Picks and How to Choose
Suppose you’re in the middle of a scenic hike, and your phone runs out of battery. Now, you can’t rely on GPS or access your trail map. That’s a challenging moment for you, and finding wall outlets or other means to power smartphones can be even more difficult. That’s where a solar phone charger comes in handy.
You don’t have to worry about enjoying outdoor adventures or handling emergency situations without a smartphone because Jackery solar generators make powering devices easy. The solar generator is source of renewable energy that makes powering devices easy.
Cell phones consume around 2-6 watts of power. The portable and cost-effective nature of solar power chargers allows you to charge mobile phones, laptops, etc., to make your trip memorable. A small solar power generator of 160 watts would be sufficient to power up small devices like cell phones, whereas you might need a large generator to charge devices like coffee makers, etc., during your trips.
This article will reveal everything from different types of portable solar chargers available on the market and what size you should purchase to ensure you always keep your phone charged.
What Is A Solar Phone Charger
Admit it or not, smartphones are the lifelines, especially when you are away from your house. Whether you’re enjoying a breathing camping view or facing a long-term power outage home, having your gear charged and working is essential.
A solar phone charger does the same for you when no electricity is available. It is one of the best methods to use clean and renewable energy and power your devices. However, checking the capacity of solar panels and the device power requirement is essential before finalizing any solar battery charger for a phone.
Solar Charger For Phone
Solar charger for phones uses solar panels to convert sun rays into electricity and store it in the battery. They are portable charging methods that allow you to charge smartphones anywhere and anytime. Whether planning camping, hiking, or other outdoor activities, you can take your solar charger to power devices.
The solar phone charger is an economical, environment-friendly, portable, and sustainable energy source available to charge small devices. It works by absorbing sunlight with the help of a solar panel or photovoltaic cells. Solar energy is stored in a lithium-ion battery, so you can power mobile phones at night or during cloudy days.
Types Of Solar Phone Chargers
Many types of solar-powered phone chargers with different capacities allow you to keep your gear charged during an emergency, camping trip, hiking, etc. Some of the most popular and common types of solar phone charges include:
Portable solar charger generator – allows you to charge your cell phones anytime. The solar generator’s lightweight nature and wireless charging option make it suitable for beach trips. Jackery offers multiple solar power generators that are portable and waterproof. In addition, numerous USB ports available will help you to charge devices at once.
Solar panels – enable you to charge cell phones directly with the sun. Instead of transferring electricity to the battery, the solar panels charge the smartphones with direct sunlight. Jackery 100-watt solar panel are an alternative choice to power bank for charging phones or other small appliances. The robust nature of solar panels is a renewable and clean energy source for everyone.
Heavy-duty solar panels – these large solar panels can charge everything from phones to laptops to mini-fridges. As these panels come with a charge controller, they transfer their charge to the power bank to charge all the devices.
Below are the best portable solar charger for phones available on the market.
Built-in Battery
Output Ports
BigBlue 28W Solar Charger
Hiluckey 25,000mAh Power Bank
Battery Capacity Of iPhone, Samsung, And
Solar chargers are built for outdoor usage, and they are powered with the help of sunlight. While choosing the best solar charger for your needs, analyzing the solar panel size, charging speed, battery size, and the number of ports is essential. Watt and watt-hour should be considered to narrow your research and purchase the best solar panels.
What Are Watt And Watt Hours?
A watt is a power unit that measures the energy transfer rate. In electrical terms, the watt is the rate of electrical work done by a device during appliance powering.
The simple formula of watt is equivalent to volt-ampere. Here is how to calculate it:
Power is the energy rate at which energy is consumed or generated; hence, it is measured in watts. Meanwhile, watt-hour is the rate at which one-watt power is consumed in one hour. Here is the formula to calculate the watt-hours of any device.
Watt-Hours = Total Number Of Watts Total Number Of Hours
Battery Capacity of Phones
Generally, a solar phone charger that can supply 10 watts is sufficient to charge a smartphone for one day. Many solar power panels have robust battery protection systems, so you can power all your devices safely.
For instance, if you know the battery capacity (mAh) and volt (V), you can easily calculate the watt-hour.
Formula is (mAh) (V) /1000 = Wh.
Suppose the battery capacity of the solar power charger is 300 mAh, and the volt is 5V. Here is how to measure watt-hours.
Watt-hour = 300 mAh 5V / 1000 = 1.5 Wh.
Here is the breakdown of the estimated solar power needed daily to charge different types of smartphones.
Phone Types
Battery (Watt-hours)
How Many Charges Daily
Estimated Solar Power Needed Daily (Watt-hours)
iPhone 14 Plus/ iPhone 14 Pro Max
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G
Most solar generators can charge your phone several times. That said, you don’t have to worry about recharging and charging your solar power.
Portable Solar Charger For Phone
If you are looking to choose the best solar panel charger for a cell phone, you can never go wrong with Jackery solar generator. It combines a portable power station and SolarSaga panels that capture the sun’s rays and convert them into electricity.
Compared to traditional generators, solar panel generators are portable. Not only does it allow you to charge cell phones, but it can also power other small electrical appliances depending on the power they consume.
Jackery solar generators are available in different sizes. This solar generator is suitable for campers, emergency backups, and RVs. The best part about all the solar chargers for a phone is their foldable design and less weight. It makes it easy to carry wherever you go.
Customer Reviews
I bought this for dry camping in my RV. I wanted an easy way to recharge my multiple Ipads, iPhones, and computers. I just returned from an 18-day trip, and the Jackery 500 with the 100-watt solar panel performed flawlessly. Recharging it was the easiest system I have ever worked with. In sunny AZ, the system went from 83% to 100% in 2 hours. If it was cloudy, I plugged into my 12-volt plug while driving and generally went from the low 80s to 100% within a 3-hour drive. I have not used the 120-volt charger yet as it was not needed. In total, I recharged 2 Ipads, 2 phones, 1 computer, and 1 jet pack overnight. The battery would be in the low 80% by morning, sometimes 75% by evening back to 100%. I highly recommend this system. Addendum photos first photo 11:48 am, 2nd 12:42 pm, 3rd 1:48 pm, 4th 3:02 pm, 5th 3:55 precharge in Tucson, AZ. May 23, 2021 Went from 100% to 81% after charging 2 Iphones, 2 Ipads, and 1 jetpack. 1 iPad in use for a couple of hours while being charged-Susan
Jackery 500 gave me a lot of power for 7 days of camping. It powered my Alpicool ref, USB lights, cell phone, etc. The lowest power I had overnight was 87% until I could charge my solar panel the next day. I highly recommend this. I will use my CPAP on my next trip and trust it will give me power all night. I used Goal Zero before. I was not impressed, and Jackery’s price is more reasonable. Buying expensive things like goal zero does not prove great performance but is overrated as a waste of money. Go for Jackery. It is also lightweight.Maria
As you can see, Jackery products are loved by the customers. They are durable, cost-efficient, and powerful solar generators that ensure you never run out of power. Here are the top Jackery power stations you can purchase to charge your cell phone.
Portable Power Station Capacity
Phone Capacity
Supported Charges
(When the portable power station is fully charged)
Jackery SolarSaga 100W Solar Panel (This solar panel has a USB output and can charge the phone under the sun directly)
Depends on the weather condition
Jackery Solar Generator 240 (Explorer 240 SolarSaga 100W)
- USB-A Output: 5V, 2.4A
- USB-C Output: 5V, 3A
- AC Output: 110V, 60Hz, 200W (400W Surge Peak)
- Car Output: 12V, 10A
- DC Input: 12V. 30V (65W Max)
Jackery Solar Generator 300 (Explorer 300 SolarSaga 100W)
- USB-A Output: 5V, 2.4A
- USB-C PD Output: 5V, 9V, 15V, 20V, 3A
- DC Input: 12V. 30V (90W Max)
- Quick Charge 3.0 Output: 5V, 2.4A
- AC Output: 110V, 60Hz, 300W (500W Surge)
Jackery Solar Generator 500 (Explorer 500 SolarSaga 100W)
- USB-A Output: 5V, 2.4A
- Car Port: 12V, 10V
- DC Output: 12V, 7A
- AC Output: 110VAC, 60Hz, 500W (1000W Surge)
- DC Input: 12V. 30V (100W Max)
Even if the portable power station is out of capacity, you don’t have to worry about charging your appliances. The pass-through charging capability lets you recharge the device and solar generator at the same time. In addition, the input and output ports on the portable solar generator protect your device from overcharging.
What Size Solar Charger For a Phone Do I Need?
Solar cell phone chargers come in different sizes, shapes, and types. The simple rule to purchasing a solar panel is understanding its compatibility with your device.
Calculate the size of the solar charger for a phone with this formula:
Working time = Watt-hour of the solar power station 0.85 / operating wattage of your device.
For instance, if we assume that the cell phone consumes 10 watts and the watt-hour of the solar power station is 167Wh, the working time will be 167 Wh 0.85 / 10 = 14.2 hours.
Purchasing a solar power station with a 167 Wh battery capacity can charge a phone at 13 Wh capacity 11 times. You can calculate the number of charges a solar panel supports with a simple formula:
The number of charges supported = 0.85 Power station capacity/phone capacity.
Depending on the requirements and phone capacity, you can determine the size of solar panels you’ll need.
FAQs About Solar Phone Chargers
Solar phone chargers come in many variants with different designs, functions, sizes, etc. Checking on the tech specs and understanding the power requirements are the two most important aspects you’ll need to consider before choosing the best solar power generator. Here are a few common questions that people often ask before buying a solar power generator.
What is the best solar phone charger?
Jackery is the best solar phone charger amongst all the other power generators available on the market. The combination of the portable power station and SolarSaga solar panels charges all your small appliances, including cell phones, multiple times after full charge. Some unique features that make Jackery military-grade solar phone charger the best choice include:
- Lightweight and compact in nature that makes it easy to carry around wherever you go.
- As it receives power through the sun and no other forms of fuel are required, it is clean, quiet, and renewable.
- Multifunctional outputs like USB-A, USB-C, Car Port, etc., ensure that you can charge multiple devices simultaneously and save time for charging.
- High conversion efficiency solar generator ensures that you use maximum sun’s energy and store it to power devices.
The input and output USB ports available on the solar phone charger make it easy to use. You can power your cell phone by plugging the USB cable from the charger into the smartphone. Jackery solar generators have a device protection system, so you don’t have to stress about overcharging the appliance. Another feature of the solar phone charger is another USB input port that allows you to recharge the solar generator even if you are powering the devices.
Where to buy a solar phone charger?
You can purchase the best solar phone charger from the solar power generator collection of Jackery. They have a wide range of solar generators that last decades and power all your devices without hassle.
How does a solar phone charger work?
As the name suggests, the solar-powered phone charger absorbs and transfers sunlight. Here’s how it works in simple steps: photons carry the sun’s energy to create an electric field. This sunlight powers the photovoltaic cells or solar panels, transferring the power to cell phones. Most solar panels come with a battery to store the power. This means you can charge your phone even when there is dark or no solar energy available.
Conclusion
So, if you have ever put off your camping and hiking idea thinking about how you’ll charge your cell phone, consider purchasing a solar phone charger. You can use the solar phone charger to power all the small appliances that consume less power, including smartphones, and stay connected.
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E15 Solar Panel Charger Highlights.
-IP67 waterproof and rugged materials make the solar panel work under unexpected weather and last longer than other solar panels.
What Can Charge and Charge Time.
Effortless charging via the integrated USB port under sunlight or pair with a power bank, the 15W solar charger can charge the following devices:
What Can Charge and Charge Time.
Effortless charging via the integrated USB port under sunlight or pair with a power bank, the 15W solar charger can charge the following devices:
Q: Does the solar panel store power? A: No, there is no built-in battery in this solar panel. But it supports all the power banks charging, so that you can collect solar power and store it for using. Or just plug and charge your USB device.
Q: If my USB device needs an input current of 1A, will the 3A output of the solar panel damage it? A: No. This solar panel has intelligent charging, automatically detecting the needs of your device, and delivering exactly what it needs. If your phone accepts 1A, the charger will deliver 1A to your phone.
Q: How to clean the surface of solar panels? A: Please use a dampened soft cloth to wipe the surface of the solar module, and remove all dust or other adhesives as soon as possible to avoid performance degradation.
Q: Does it keep work when gets wet? A: Yes, the durable and self-cleaning material provides lasting durability to protect against unpredictable weather conditions, and can easily withstand high temperatures, and are water-resistant, dust-proof and feature an IP67 rated junction box.
Q: Does it come with charging cables? A: No, to make the solar panel more eco-friendly and affordable, it doesn’t include a cable. You can use your USB or Type-C cord to connect the solar pnale to charge.
Solar EV Charging for Commercial Industrial Buildings
Commercial Solar solutions have proved to boost the net operating income and cap rate for many commercial and industrial buildings – EV Charging Stations (EVCS) add even more value by adding amenities to the property or even cash generated through an EVCS revenue share program as users can pay to charge.
Creation of the “Smart Building”
Attractive features for prospective tenants, commercial solar, energy storage systems and EV chargers can all synergize together to drastically reduce electricity bills and significantly increase cash flow. Utilizing rooftops and other available space, many agricultural, commercial and industrial businesses harness the sun to offset electricity costs through sustainability.
When used in tandem with commercial solar, which generates the free electricity used in the chargers, EV charging stations add another layer of “Smart” features to buildings looking to modernize and show their commitment to sustainability.
How it Works
Public or private, an EVCS could bring extra traffic to a property by public users paying to charge their electric vehicle, or a private business could provide employees with the benefit of free charging.
With no maintenance required, commercial and industrial property owners will find adding this new facility feature is a great way to help meet environmental goals and show their core values while providing a valuable service to help meet rapidly rising EV charging demand.
EVCS Incentives Available
Similar to how so many businesses have capitalized on commercial solar, in California, there are incentives available for installing EVCS – dependent on location. Lucrative incentives that can reduce equipment, installation and project costs are available depending on the utility, for example here is what’s offered from LADWP, PGE, SCE and the California Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Project.
Just like solar, more savings on this investment can be found through bonus federal and state depreciation. Unfortunately there is no federal incentive equivalent to the Solar Investment Tax Credit anymore as it expired as of the end of 2021.
Sustainable Future-proofing
As EV adoption grows, join the increasing number of office buildings, retail spaces, hotels, fleet and public parking that are benefiting from commercial charging stations in their parking lots. EV charging stations are more than just convenient, they improve property value while boosting employee, customer and visitor satisfaction. A popular feature for tenants, can either be offered as a free amenity or monetized to generate income, Electric Vehicle Charging Stations are a great addition to commercial and industrial buildings.
Paired with the proven bill savings of commercial solar, Revel Energy is focused on helping commercial and industrial businesses increase their cash flow by adding features of the future like Solar and EV charging stations to your property. Contact us today to start the process of understanding what solution is the best fit for your business.
Solar Charging Stations
The portable or permanently installed solar charging pole provides access to power anywhere.
Old Town Bench Solar Charging Station
The stylish bench and charging station allows active individuals to stay connected.
Canopy Bench Solar Charging Station
This utility bench and solar charging station, provides seating and a charge for park attendees.
Uptown Charging Bench
Sun Charge Systems’ 2-in-1 Uptown Charging Bench is an innovative way to introduce solar functionality to your facility.
Modern. Mobile Life at Play
As technology advances, many people find themselves dependent on a myriad of electronic communication devices for both work and social purposes. Lives constantly on the go make it hard to keep mobile devices charged up. Rarely can smartphones or tablets make it through a day of constant use without needing to be recharged.
Finding access to an electrical outlet available for public use can be difficult, especially outside or in areas where there are no power lines. Although portable solar charging panels are commercially available, they are not widely available to the general public.
Many parks and recreation areas do not have charging facilities, so visitors will often choose to leave the park or shorten their intended stay in order to find some way to charge their phone or tablet. General Recreation and Sun Charge Systems can provide solar powered charging stations in areas where electrical access does not meet the demands of modern, mobile life.
The Age Of Constant Connectivity
Green. Convenient, Durable Technology
Sun Charge Systems’ solar charging stations provide the convenience of clean energy. Stations convert free solar energy to electricity in areas where electrical outlets are unavailable.
Placing these benches and poles in city parks, playgrounds, campgrounds, public beaches, outside businesses or restaurants, university campuses, little league parks, outside sports stadiums, or in any other outdoor public area will provide a convenient means of charging cell phones, tablets, and laptops, without having to be tethered to the wall outlet indoors. In just minutes anyone can plug in, charge up, and stay connected.
The solar charging stations convert clean solar energy to electricity. They contain five outlets so that USB chargers or 12-volt car-style chargers can be used to power devices. The stations are water resistant, theft-resistant and adjustable to follow the sun. LED lighting, as well as Wi-Fi hotspot upgrades are available. Most models are available in a stainless steel version too.
Solar Charging Pole Specifications:
Solar Charging Pole (Patent Pending) Featrures:
Sun Charge Systems’ solar charging station pole is adjustable for easy orientation of the solar panel towards the sun. Charge up to eight mobile devices at once.
- Carbon or Stainless Steel construction
- Multi-layer, powder coated finish with choice of colors
- Raised, adjustable, 60-Watt poly-crystalline solar panel
- 4 stage battery management system
- 36-Amp Gel Cell Deep Cycle Battery
- 4 Dual USB 3.0 Rapid Charge ports
- Capable of charging 8 devices simultaneously
- Dedicated handicap access port under table
- Reflective lettering for nighttime visibility
- Uses intelligent device recognition
- Wet and over-temperature protection
- Water resistant enclosure
- Designed to function year round
- Theft-resistant mounting with steel security screws
- Pre-drilled 12″ base for installation with 1/2″ anchor bolts
- Optional 36″ in-ground extension option
- Parks and Rec departments
- Sports facilities
- College campuses
- Shopping centers
- Outdoor entertainment venues
- Municipalities
For additional information, visit Sun Charge Systems.