How to choose a solar charger for your mobile phone
An eco-popular way to keep your cell phone is charged a solar charger. Most of us are confused by the variety available these solar powered battery chargers, so what you need to know before you choose?
There a two important considerations
How powerful do solar charger should be?
Look at the nameplate on the original charger, one that came with the phone. Read Part states that the DC output voltage and milliamps, for example, it may have a 900mA DC output 5.0 volts. This tells us the charger supplies a voltage of 5 volts, so that the charger Solar should be able to provide output of 5 volts so. You can use a charger that puts a little more tension, for example 5.5 volts or 6 volts, but not less 5 volts. Why? ok here is a basic lesson in electricity: Volts is the pressure of electricity in the wire. Now compare electricity with water. Imagine that you have long garden hose and you try to fill a water tank on a hill above the water tap Now, if the pressure of the water system is too low you will not be able to fill the tank because the pressure of the water system is too weak to push water up the hill, it's the same thing with the electricity if the voltage (electrical pressure) is too low it used to flow through the circuit. Ampere is the current flow. To return to our garden hose, which can be compared to water flowing through the pipe, a flow of high water will fill the water tank earlier. Therefore, a higher amperage will recharge your battery sooner. A solar charger that supplies more amps is preferable to one that could provide the same voltage, but more low intensity.
A very high amperage can burn the electronics, but with solar cells that is not a problem because they are too small to provide a high current flow.
Ok, here's a quick lesson in photovoltaics: All cells solar supply about 0.5 volts, it is a matter of physics, to get 6 volts twelve cells are connected together like beads on a string. This string of cells can only supply 0.1 Amps (100mA) solar cells are glued to a support panel and there you have a solar panel. Power (Watts), the solar panel can be generated is calculated by multiplying the volts times the amps. So 0.1 x 6 = 0.6 watts (600mW)
Remember our garden hose? it's like the amount of water it can bring in some volume if the water pressure of water times the rate flow is equal to the amount of water in a given time and Volts x Amps = Watts, same thing! Simple Hey!
What type of cable and connectors you need
All solar chargers come with several adapters to fit different mobile phones and other popular personal electronics like iPods, iPhones and MP4. Look at the wide range of title = "Telephone advice mobile from Ecopia "> s leading solar charger adapter are available. The good news is the mobile phones are newer models normalization of their tips AC adapter, it will make your choice easier. The current trend toward micro-USB plugs like those used with the latest phones Nokia. But always check the compatibility of the tip of the adapter with your mobile phone because some boards appear identical but may have different pin configurations.
Ecopia Australia is a leading retailer of portable solar products.
About the Author
John McBride is a technical consultant with Ecopia, Australian retailer of portable solar products. He loves camping and hiking and chooses an eco friendly lifestyle.
