OT: Solar powered cell phone chargers

[Chin Diesel]

I'm looking at investing in a decent solar-powered cell phone charger. I'm thinking no more than $100.

Golf GPS apps have become good enough to make stand alone golf GPS devices obsolete. Problem is that a 4-5 hr round of golf hammers the battery life.

All I need is something that can slow the rate of charge. I don't want to spend too much - just in case there's an on course accident. If the charger can help charge a phone or ipod while I'm on a boat in the summer, even better.

 

[CTMike]

What about just an external battery pack with a USB port? Or one of those Mophie Juice cases? Just throwing it out there.

 

[Fishy]

Yep, get a Mophie or a Lenmar or whatever. (I don't recommend it or not recommend it, but I have a Lenmar battery case - it essentially doubles the life of my iPhone battery. I rarely have to use it, but when I do, it works. (Rumor has it that they are not terribly durable.))

 

[Chin Diesel]

Thanks. That's what I'm looking for. Off to Amazon to search.

 

[IMind]

I've used the solar while camping and had nothing else. In full sunlight it would take a few hours to charge up my iPhone 4. It would maintain the charge if I wasn't using it heavily. It's good if you don't expect the world... but it wouldn't work for what you're talking about. The external battery is definitely the way to go.

 

[Chin Diesel]

I went basic to start. $30 Anker mini charger. 6000mAh, 2A output. One USB and one of the smaller USB ports. I have a Motorola and the wife has Samsung.

Should work for both. Or so I hope. I bought one for her a a stocking stuffer. Also, it's to keep her from borrowing mine.

 

[RedSoloCup]

I had a mophie for 18 months for my iPhone 4… while it more than doubled the phone weight, it did pretty well as a case. The charging port did gets beating and the trim broke… but otherwise did very well.

It ended up dying in a splashdown, taking one for the team… my phone survived but the mophie never took and held a charge after the swim.

 

[Samoo]

If you're looking for a quality charger (built to stand the rigors of African village life), or other solar items, check out Burro. They're a social/commercial enterprise started by the guy who invented the game Cranium. Their stuff is field tested far beyond what you will find on amazon. The light/phone charger is about $45. The prices on the website are in Ghana cedi and the rate is about 2.15 ghc = $1

http://www.burrobrand.biz/

 

[bobbyinaz]

I went basic to start. $30 Anker mini charger. 6000mAh, 2A output. One USB and one of the smaller USB ports. I have a Motorola and the wife has Samsung.

Should work for both. Or so I hope. I bought one for her a a stocking stuffer. Also, it's to keep her from borrowing mine.

I second an Anker. I travel 3 weeks a month and not having to search around in airports for a place to plug in my phone, ipad, Bluetooth headsets, etc is so nice. I have the 8400 which lets you plug in 2 devices. Bought it on amazon for $39