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Reddit mentions of Solar Panel, Anker 21W 2-Port USB Portable Solar Charger with Foldable Panel, PowerPort Solar for iPhone 11/Xs/XS Max/XR/X/8/7, iPad Pro/Air/Mini, Galaxy S9/S8/S7/S6, and More

Sentiment score: 42
Reddit mentions: 96

We found 96 Reddit mentions of Solar Panel, Anker 21W 2-Port USB Portable Solar Charger with Foldable Panel, PowerPort Solar for iPhone 11/Xs/XS Max/XR/X/8/7, iPad Pro/Air/Mini, Galaxy S9/S8/S7/S6, and More. Here are the top ones.

Solar Panel, Anker 21W 2-Port USB Portable Solar Charger with Foldable Panel, PowerPort Solar for iPhone 11/Xs/XS Max/XR/X/8/7, iPad Pro/Air/Mini, Galaxy S9/S8/S7/S6, and More
Buying options
View on Amazon.com
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    Features:
  • The Anker Advantage: Join the 50 million+ powered by our leading technology
  • Fast Charging Technology: PowerIQ delivers the charging speed up to 2.4 amps per port or 3 amps overall under direct sunlight. 21 watt SunPower solar array is 21.5-23.5% efficient, providing enough power to charge two devices simultaneously
  • Incredibly Durable: Industrial-strength PET polymer faced solar panels sewn into a rugged polyester canvas offer weather-resistant outdoor durability
  • Highly Portable: Compact size (11.1 × 6.3in folded or 26.4 × 11.1in opened) and stainless-steel eye-holes on each corner allow easy attachment to backpacks, trees, or tents. Lightweight and ultra-thin design make it ideal for long treks
  • What You Get: Anker PowerPort Solar (21W 2-Port USB Solar Charger), 3ft Micro USB cable, welcome guide, our fan-favorite 18-month warranty and friendly customer service
Specs:
ColorBlack
Height6.3 Inches
Length11.1 Inches
Number of items1
Weight0.91932763254 Pounds
Width1.1 Inches

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Found 96 comments on Solar Panel, Anker 21W 2-Port USB Portable Solar Charger with Foldable Panel, PowerPort Solar for iPhone 11/Xs/XS Max/XR/X/8/7, iPad Pro/Air/Mini, Galaxy S9/S8/S7/S6, and More:

u/the_prepared · 45 pointsr/preppers

No. Many of the panels seem to come from the same Chinese factories, though, resulting in very trivial differences which may make some of them look like an Anker you have in mind.

We spoke with Anker directly, and they told us they don't sell solar panels in the US and that any Amazon listings (like this one) are fake or people reselling without permission — which may explain why that Amazon listing is ridiculously overpriced, as if someone is importing and adding a markup.

In the last few days we've kicked around the idea of doing a deeper blog post about these problems on Amazon (partly as a follow up to this thread in /preppers), because that specific link has the "Amazon's Choice" label on it, even though it's unsanctioned.

Edit: There's a full list of the competition in a spreadsheet in the article. As u/callsignraven pointed out, Anker stopped selling panels in the US due to the tariffs.

u/LEGITIMATE_SOURCE · 33 pointsr/gifs

Or buy a folding solar charger and a battery pack because they're more practical unless you live in the most cloudy of places.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B012YUJJM8/

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01422TC14/

u/c1e2477816dee6b5c882 · 29 pointsr/TropicalWeather

I'd generally recommend people put their cellphone on Airplane (and stop using it) as opposed to completely powering it off. I find that a modern smartphone can last days in airplane, and turning it on and off wastes a lot of battery power on startup/shutdown.

Having no network access means your phone can go into a deep powersaving sleep. If you have portable batteries, ensure they're charged and UNPLUGGED before the storm hits (due to surges, same goes for any other important electronics such as cells and laptops).

If you still have cell service and need to communicate, shut off your wifi and mobile data and go old school. Text messages require minimal power, and your phone should be able to stay like this for some time without losing too much charge. Using data, be it wifi or cellular, will deplete your cellphone battery in hours.

I'd also recommend having one of those foldable USB solar panels (https://www.amazon.com/Anker-Charger-PowerPort-iPhone-Galaxy/dp/B012YUJJM8/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1504892356&sr=8-4&keywords=usb+solar, they really work!!) as a way to recharge devices if the grid goes out for multiple days. Too late to buy one, but if you have one, dig it out.

u/King_Obvious_III · 25 pointsr/CampingGear

These things are a gimmick. Trust me, you'll have a decently hard time charging up 10000 mah with a 21watt anker folding solar panel, but these things dont do jack. Not only that, but lithium ion batteries are not build to withstand the heat that would be required in keeping that battery in direct sunlight for the extended amount of time it would require to actually charge it. I played this game already and learned the hard way. Get THIS and a multipurpose battery like THIS and save yourself the heartache.

u/macetheface · 12 pointsr/preppers

Wow so this is fake? Seems to have pretty good reviews and fakespot gives it a B. Interesting...

u/thirtynation · 11 pointsr/geek

https://amzn.com/B012YUJJM8

It's a powerful little array. Even at less than ideal angles I can get 1.5 amps out of it, which matches some (shitty) wall/car chargers.

For some anecdotal numbers: I had it zip tied to the roof of my car during a music festival and it could charge my 20k anker from zero to almost full over the course of the day. This was while keeping it in one "ideal" spot on the roof centered around noon, I did not keep adjusting it throughout the day.

u/dragonfalcon · 9 pointsr/bicycletouring

The Anker 21W solar charger trickle charging in to a battery works pretty well. Use the battery as your main source of power, and top it up with the solar if in the wilderness/as a backup. The battery will easily give you multiple phone charges, and the solar panel can top the battery up pretty well. I had no problems with the panel strapped across the top of my panniers and trickle charging the battery all day.

u/xgordogatox · 7 pointsr/Nexus6P

Honestly I wouldn't get a solar battery pack. They're too small and sometimes don't even charge past 50%. Look for a usb solar panel (Anker or Nektech) and add a good battery pack (again anker or ravpower) 20,000 mAh or more. Charge your phone and battery pack during the day. At night use the battery pack.

u/TheEyeofEOS · 7 pointsr/WildernessBackpacking

Solar doesn't work like how you think it works. Solar is like using a dripping faucet to fill a bucket. If you think you're going to charge a phone placing it in the sun for 5 mins you're in for a huge disappointment.

If you plan to basecamp awhile you can get an Anker 21w panel system and a two 13,000mah battery packs.

How this works is... During the day when you're out hiking you position the solar panel in the sun at your base camp. It will roughly take a full day to fully charge a 13aH portable battery if the conditions are good. Now you have 13Ah of power or enough portable battery to charge your phone at least 3 times. You put that in your backpack.

While you're carrying one of those 13,000mah battery packs you put the other on the solar charger at camp so it's fully charged and ready to go when you get back in the evening. When the one you're carrying is dead, you swap it for the charged one.

You never actually plug a phone directly into a solar charger as that's insanely inefficient. Same as houses with solar power, they are not powered by the solar panels they're powered by battery banks that are recharged by the sun.

If you're going on a thru hike without a basecamp or stopping during the day? Solar is not for you. Carry some high capacity portable batteries and limit phone use.

u/Minimal__effort · 6 pointsr/Showerthoughts

You can charge your phone with a solar panel... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B012YUJJM8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_hywozbXGNDR1D) just wear it like a cape!

u/Namkcalb · 6 pointsr/WouldYouRather

I really regret not studying engineering now.

I know the principles, but not the practicality.

I have a tablet and an microSD card I could quite simply fill with a tonne of scientific ebooks.

I'll bring one of these

https://www.amazon.com/Anker-2-Port-Universal-PowerPort-Charger/dp/B012YUJJM8
and yes, I don't care about how ridiculous it'd look in my oversized pockets.

u/landmanpgh · 6 pointsr/preppers

This is one of my only prepping areas of expertise. Every time the power goes out, I learn about some new way that I could've been better prepared for the boredom. I've created separate categories.


No Power


If you're woefully unprepared or all of your power is completely gone, you still have a few options:


  • Playing Cards: I see these recommended all the time, and I'm sure everyone knows a few card games. But how many? 3 or 4? How many games can you almost remember, but not quite? That was an issue I realized I faced, so I bought a book of card game rules, like this one.


  • Board Games: For those who didn't know, there was a board game revolution of sorts that began in 1995 with Settlers of Catan. Since then, there have been some REALLY incredible games that have come out. I love board games so much, I go to monthly meet-ups with fellow enthusiasts to play new and different games. Once you play a gateway game like Ticket to Ride, you'll never look back.


    I now have a good 30 board games, and am always looking for more. A typical board game can last for over an hour including setup, so they're a great way to kill time and have fun if there's nothing else to do.


    Check out some of the recommendations over at the board games subreddit


  • Physical Books: Unfortunately, I don't have much of a physical library. But anyone who reads before bed knows how easy it is to get sucked into a good story and suddenly it's 3:00am.


    I like to have several books I love, some books of short stories, and stuff I'm kind of 50/50 on. I figure, if I try something out when there's no power and it can't hold my attention, then it really isn't a good book for me.


    Access to SOME Power


    If you're like me, you have a solar charger for electronics) coupled with a battery pack. With that, you should be able to stay at least sort of powered indefinitely. This setup increases your entertainment tremendously.


  • Kindle: Charge it once and the battery lasts forever. I have a ton of books I've been meaning to read and books I had to put down because life got in the way. They're all there, just waiting for the power to go out. Additionally, a lot of older classics are free to download. And...err...I hear you can find books for free if you are willing to compromise your morals a bit.


    I prefer the original Kindle or the Paperwhite, since I want it solely for books.


  • Tablet: Another prep I still need to make, but one I've researched a ton. Basically, you want some way of streaming movies, shows, and music. An old tablet+connected hard drive can potentially keep you entertained indefinitely, provided you can keep re-charging. And again, I hear there are places you can go to...find movies.


  • Phone: Of course, you should only use your phone if you can reliably keep it charged (and have a backup burner for 911 calls!). If you can do that, and you are still able to get 3G/4G, you should be more than entertained. And you can always download podcasts, movies, music, etc. to your phone in advance in case your cellular access is limited.


    Full Power


    There are only a few situations I can envision where you have access to uninterrupted power, but can't leave your house. If you have a generator, of course, or if you're in some type of Contagion situation. If that's the case...you really don't have an entertainment problem.
u/chrisallenlane · 6 pointsr/GNV

I own the 2014 equivalents of these products:

[Anker Battery Bank][1]
Anker Solar Charger

They work great together.

During a past hurricane, my mom lost power for like 10 days (she lives in the woods), so I left her both of these. She used the solar charger to charge the battery bank during the day, then used the battery bank to charge her phone at night.

At the end of the 10 days, the external battery bank was still nearly fully charged. I don't know if the solar charger was truly keeping up with her consumption, but if not, it was really close.

[1]: https://smile.amazon.com/Anker-PowerCore-13000-Portable-Charger/dp/B00Z9QVE4Q/ref=sr_1_5?crid=X71IPNXWH311&keywords=anker+battery&qid=1567034255&s=gateway&sprefix=anker+batter%2Caps%2C160&sr=8-5

u/MarcusBrody96 · 5 pointsr/roadtrip

I brought my phone and laptop. I only ended up using my phone.

I had some larger capacity extended batteries. Then I got one of these.

One thing I found though was that if you leave your phone in the sun it overheats (that probably should have been obvious to me). So I put the panel on top of the car but the phone in the shade under the car. So get a long cable to go with it.

u/ihadp_ · 5 pointsr/preppers

Unfortunately I don't believe there is any solar chargers which will work well in overcast conditions. The upside is even if it cannot provide a ton of power it should still be able to charge your batteries, it will just take longer than if in direct sunlight.

Personally I carry one of these - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B012YUJJM8/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I charge a power brick with it and then charge my devices off the power brick. Many devices (phones, etc.) need X power before they will allow charge, but most power bricks will charge under most any circumstances in my experience.

u/CJOttawa · 5 pointsr/camping

GoalZero gear is astronomically overpriced and tends to employ older technology.

For portable USB charging, this is the current king of the hill, a 21-Watt folding system by Anker, using the latest Maxeon solar cells:

http://www.amazon.com/Anker-2-Port-Charger-PowerPort-iPhone/dp/B012YUJJM8

GoalZero and others use less efficient cells so you need a larger, heavier panel to do the same work.

Disclosure: I bought one.

Use it to charge a powerbank while you're on the go, then use the powerbank to charge whatever devices require power. (or charge both at once)

If you want to step up to something that charges DSLR batteries, you're going to need a panel that will output >12-volts; those are larger panels. Example:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MTGQ59S/

(click on the 40Watt version; the 65Watt is much less portable)

The Fenix CL25R is an excellent USB chargeable, 18650 powered lantern. On moonlight mode, it runs for 600-hours.

u/juaquin · 5 pointsr/flashlight

I'm not sure disposable helps you any more than having a stockpile of rechargeable batteries, unless you're counting on some sort of resupply of disposables. I would rather get a solar panel and solar-compatible charger. Keep in mind lithium-ion can support higher output and has 3x the energy density.

As for the light, I think reliability would be the main concern and you would want a moderate beam pattern (not too floody, not too throwy) with decent lumens. There are a lot of lights that match that criteria. I would start with Armytek and Zebralight since they make very high quality lights. The Dobermann in Warm might be a good fit.

u/anothergaijin · 4 pointsr/EDC

Personally I use a regular battery pack, and a foldout solar panel (http://www.goalzero.com/p/11/nomad-7-solar-panel)

You can find cheaper panels around, and they have a new panel (Nomad 7 Plus) that's apparently better. Just remember you need direct sunlight for about a day to charge a 3000mAh battery pack with a small 7W panel like the one I linked. A bigger 20W panel like this should be able to charge around 8000mAh in a day with good sunlight.

You are much better off buying your battery pack and panels separately - charge the battery pack during the day, and use the battery power overnight.

u/Logi_Ca1 · 4 pointsr/Android

Sorry to burst your bubble but...

I have one of this:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B012YUJJM8/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1467877538&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=Anker+solar&dpPl=1&dpID=41r2DN9dfdL&ref=plSrch

This thing is way bigger and using the top of the line Sunpower panels with 23% conversion. With all these going for it, it can charge my phone at 10W-ish speeds under full direct tropical sun.

With that in mind, I doubt a tiny panel like that would do much to charge the phone, if at all.

u/Gawd129 · 4 pointsr/PuertoRico

I'm talking about small, low cost options like this just to get people access to the very basics that they wouldn't otherwise have access to.

I'm not talking about powering houses and washing machines, but charging phones, flashlights and other things we wayyy take for granted.

u/Nigel_Yearning · 4 pointsr/flashlight

ThruNite TC12 V2 NW, runs off of 18650 batteries and maxes out at 1,100 lumens. Has around five modes, waterproof up to two meters, and drop resistant up to one meter. You should get an Anker Solar Charger as an added bonus for emergency use if you're going for USB.

u/salty-maven · 4 pointsr/bicycletouring

I use an Anker solar charger and battery.

u/Lysdexics_Untie · 4 pointsr/shittykickstarters

Try this one from Anker. It's a dual USB, 21W charger, and seems to have pretty good reviews. I own one, but haven't had the opportunity to field test it just yet. I might put in for some time off and take it camping soon to see how it performs.

u/Watada · 4 pointsr/solar

If you only need power for a day or two you would probably be better off with a USB charger for those batteries and a huge battery bank. Something like this would charge each of your devices up to three times.

Assuming you need to charge each one a full time every day with a solar panel you would need something like this and it would require between 3 hours and 9 hours in direct sunlight to provide enough power. The panel needs a clear day, to be pointing at the sun, and to be kept cool to provide enough power in 3 hours.

u/HackerBeeDrone · 3 pointsr/prepping

You're going to have a hard time getting smaller. If your radio has a battery that can be used to charge your phone in an emergency, it could take a week or more to charge that battery with the tiny solar panel, and hours of cranking. Those radios can run on very low current. Your cell phone takes a ton of current.

Something like this solar charger that folds flat is about the best you can do to get small and actually charge devices. You can get one that's lighter with fewer panels, but it'll increase charge time by a factor of the area lost.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B012YUJJM8

That said, if you're willing to let the solar panel charge all day in direct sunlight, something like this battery pack could charge your phone, probably around 2/3 full during a full sunny day. The battery is huge, and can charge your phone 3x or so, so it is a decent option if you're planning on charging from mains power every few days, but want a backup in an emergency.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077BQQX3L

That pack is similar in size to many phones (and thicker), but you can absolutely get smaller packs, usually without the solar panels. I prefer packs without tiny solar panels that I view as gimmicky (I'd rather have high quality panels and high quality batteries that I can mix and match) but if you're looking to reduce volume and weight, they might suit you.

I recommend Anker brand. They're not remotely the only good brand out there, but I've bought around a dozen of their products and used some of them to failure, and I've never once seen signs of cheap design like I often find when (for example) other products just fall apart after a few weeks of heavy use.

Anker costs more, but a few years ago, I got tired of replacing broken stuff, and only look elsewhere when Anker doesn't make exactly what I'm looking for.

u/omegis983 · 3 pointsr/iphone

I've got a Mophie case that works fine that was gifted to me but, if you're not dead set on a battery case, I'd recommend a portable battery pack instead. You'll get better value for your money than using a case.

Here's my recommendation:
Anker Astro E5 16000mAh Compact Portable Charger

That should provide you with roughly 4 full recharges on your 6 Plus. I've got a few products from Anker and between their warranty and prices, I'd highly recommend their battery pack. They also sell a portable solar panel kit as well that I've used while camping.

u/zachpenty · 3 pointsr/Canadian_ecigarette

Little tip, these can be found at Princess Auto (not name brand) for MUCH cheaper. I have a few small hand-cases that I got for around $25.00.

On a side note, I got a solar panel for camping which I use to charge my battery packs, which then go on and charge my 18650's. Its super handy to not have to worry about running out of battery life while your out in the boonies!

u/SpikedJester · 3 pointsr/CampingGear

I bought the Anker 21W Solar Charger and I have a 26000mAh EasyAcc battery. On a full sunny day I can charge the battery about 75%.

That being said, you are probably going to be just fine bringing a fully charged battery.

u/PM_me_your_kitty_pix · 3 pointsr/PacificCrestTrail

Is this the solar you mentioned? Anker 21W 2-Port USB Universal PowerPort Solar Charger https://www.amazon.com/dp/B012YUJJM8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_FwSMybN50D141

u/Peoples_Bropublic · 3 pointsr/flashlight

I might almost prefer a flashlight that runs on standard AA/AAA batteries in that situation. OP sounds like he's pretty remote, and I'm not sure he could reliably source CR123s without paying an arm and a dick for shipping, and I'd feel kind of sketchy about relying on rechargeables in an area with regular power failures, unless I have a generator or a solar panel.

Actually, one of these Anker solar chargers would probably be an excellent investment in OP's case.

u/tehokosong · 3 pointsr/singapore

Don't let your dreams be dreams. DO IT

u/pbewig · 3 pointsr/vandwellers

Both of the products that you mentioned look over-priced and over-specified.

If you limit yourself to 5V USB I recommend a 75 watt-hour battery ($37) for its dual inputs; it charges twice as fast as a normal battery. That should be sufficient to charge two cell phones, a small lamp ($4) and a fan ($17). You can charge the battery from a wall outlet, with a cigarette lighter USB adapter ($10), or with a small solar panel ($100).

You might prefer a Luci light ($15) to the lamp mentioned above; it charges itself from the sun and won't consume any of your battery capacity.

If you need 12 volts, I recommend a 185 watt-hour battery ($130), which will also charge a laptop computer. It recharges from a wall outlet, or you can use a 150 watt inverter ($24) from your cigarette lighter.

u/oatscoop · 3 pointsr/Futurology

http://www.amazon.com/Anker-2-Port-Charger-PowerPort-iPhone/dp/B012YUJJM8/

Edit: Yeah -- nobody is going to be able to reproduce any of the technology involved. I'd just use it to impress important people.

"I'm from the future: look at this. I purchased this, and wouldn't be able to create it myself even in the time I'm from. Like how your sword and armor were made for you, but this is far more intricate, complicated, and requires many materials from all around the world.

I do, however, know some things that would help your kingdom that we can make out of stuff available to us. On this device, I have a compendium of knowledge called Wikipedia. I can teach you to make black powder, high explosives, military tactics, metal working, agriculture, building construction, etc. We can predict and avert famines from pests and drought, and treat many diseases and injuries."

Suck up to the king, keep a password lock on the phone.

u/PettaFile · 2 pointsr/preppers

Yea the Kindle has a rather tough screen and with tons of capacity. Coupled with the insane battery life and ease of charging it's really a no brainer. On sale they can go for like 50 bucks and everyone in the family gets books they like along with the essentials young ones won't really care about....but redundancy...

On the subject we have an Anker PowerPort 21w Solar Charger and Anker PowerCore 20100. These two items will charge the Kindle (paper white and fire variety), Nintendo DS, Galaxy 7 Edge, tablets etc. The PowerCore will charge the Galaxy 7 almost 6 times before needing recharged.

u/krytos6996 · 2 pointsr/TropicalWeather

Can't agree more. Headlamps are invaluable, I got a lot of use out of mine during Irma.

I would skip the 5W Panel and jump straight to something like this which would charge your phone and power bank a lot quicker.

u/LotsoWatts · 2 pointsr/BasicIncome

Anker 21w used to be $60, now $69, dam, they know what they have. Mine have lasted a year now, even through some rain. Responsible for >100 charges.

u/CarbonUnit8472 · 2 pointsr/bicycletouring

Exactly. That way, when you make a stop, stuff will still be charging.

Edit: something like this comes to mind. Anker 21W 2-Port USB Universal PowerPort Solar Charger https://www.amazon.com/dp/B012YUJJM8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_eH5lybZA0M8G2

u/tornadoRadar · 2 pointsr/networking

buy a buncha these and bring them. your local contacts/ people you find along the way will appreciate it.
https://www.amazon.com/Anker-Charger-PowerPort-iPhone-Galaxy/dp/B012YUJJM8

u/halloweenjack · 2 pointsr/army

This is probably what I'd get if I were in the market for one right now.

u/nyc4life · 2 pointsr/solar

22w folding panel should be enough for daily phone charging and occasional camera & tablet charging.

#1 seller on amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Anker-2-Port-Universal-PowerPort-Charger/dp/B012YUJJM8

large battery pack with an lcd display and pass-through charging:
https://www.amazon.com/Intocircuit-26800mAh-Portable-Charger-External/dp/B01ASWX5PG/

in order to charge your chromebook and a more serious tablet you'll need a bigger solar panel and a bigger battery. /u/dij-8al's solution would be a better fit.

u/Half-of-Tuesday · 2 pointsr/electronic_cigarette

The Anker 21w solar charger gets good reviews. I bought one for a family member and from what I hear they get good use from it but they live in Arizona.

u/rbandit · 2 pointsr/vandwellers

Looks like a sweet project! I bet you know all about tnttt.com. I've spent dozens of hours in awe at the builds on that site.

If you're only planning to run a few LED lights and charge our phone, might I suggest using a couple portable Li ion battteries. They're cheap, have plenty of juice, and require no fancy installation or wiring. They're chargeable at home, in a coffee shop, from your cigarette lighter, or from a small portable solar panel.

Keep us updated!

u/gumert · 2 pointsr/flashlight

Good work. I didn't have the opportunity to comment back to anyone in my original post, and I have some comments on the wiki. I'm still up in the air about what I want to do.


  • In addition to talking about mass and dollars, it's also useful to talk about size. A good solar panel will be rated for around 15 watts/sq ft. This means that they need to be fairly large in order to throw out big numbers
  • A good measure of how much energy you can expect out of a panel on a given day can be determined by finding the amount of solar radiation in your area. Here is a where you can find this information for every month. Where I live stays above 5 all summer, which means that I can expect (around) 75 watt hours of energy from a 15 watt panel per day in the conditions I camp in. This would allow me to charge six 3400 mAh batteries. On the other hand, my winter output would be horrible
  • In order for solar to do you any good, you need to actively swap batteries or store it in some kind of buffer
  • There are higher output/lower cost solar panels than the Nomad 7 Plus. Anker's "21 watt" panel is $60 and RAVPower's 16 watt panel is $45
  • Solar can charge things other than flashlights (ie cellphones, etc). This is useful if you don't already have a USB based power bank (~$30 for one that can charge your phone over 5 days)
  • I do not understand why batteries are counted as part of the cost of solar kit
  • Where can I get 3400 mAh 18650s for $5.50? I am interested in acquiring some
u/greggorievich · 2 pointsr/preppers

You said in a comment that you just want to keep a cell phone charged for a week, and instead ended up dreaming about what you could run off of a generator and got off track. If that's the case, for just a cell phone:

A big cell phone battery is ~3500 mAh.

This bad boy is about 20,000 mAh. That's about five and a half full charges. Buy two, total cost so far is $100 CAD. This gets you 11 full phone charges, which should be plenty for a full week of moderate use.

If you want more, keep one of those packs attached to this guy during any sunny time, and you should be able to keep both of them topped up indefinitely. (Or if your phone happens to need to charge while it's sunny, attach the phone to it directly and don't use power from a battery bank in the first place.) total cost is now $180 CAD for effectively infinite power at the cell-phone-charging scale. Heck with the solar panel you could most likely get away with just one of the above power banks.

The Wirecutter has reviews of battery packs and solar chargers. While Anker isn't always the top notch option, they're reliable and I've never had an issue with any of their products (to date, six battery banks, two plug-in chargers, and probably 20 USB cables).

​

If you want to scale up a little bit more, I have experience making really big USB chargers and also solar power packs and could elaborate on that if you'd like.

It'll be hard to run a fridge without house-scale solar or running a generator, but I could probably size a system for hanging solar panels out the window and keeping a couple of LED lights going and your phone charged. Biolite (that company known mostly for the weird-but-awesome USB charging wood burning stoves) has a solution for this as well. That's $150 US.

u/TheTimDavis · 2 pointsr/outdoorgear

Here is the panels I use. It has 2 usb ports so it can charge a phone in real-time and a separate battery. And with long enough cabels you can leave the phone and battery safely in the shade. I also got this for writing a review, I reviewed it very well.

Anker 21W Dual USB Solar Charger https://www.amazon.com/dp/B012YUJJM8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_-r8wzb1KXZYBK

u/kuenx · 2 pointsr/bicycletouring

I have a Plug III and a Supernova dynamo hub.

From my experience it only works in flat terrain where you can ride at a decent speed for a longer period of time. If you're riding in mountainy terrain you're going to be too slow on the climbs to charge anything, and while on the descent you are easily fast enough, you won't be descending for long enough to charge your stuff.

Also, The Plug delivers only 500mA at 5V and it does not increase with more speed. So if you want to fully charge a 10.000mAh power bank that will take 20 hours (of riding) in the best case (at 0% efficiency loss). Or 3.62 hours for an iPhone 6 (1.810mAh). But you're going to have at least 20% efficiency loss.

I would recommend using The Plug to power just one device and have it just constantly plugged in. Like this the device's battery will more or less stay at the same level or drain much, much slower.

If you have an Android phone you can turn on battery saving mode which saves a lot of battery. But the phone automatically turns off battery saving mode when it's charging. So you can't have it plugged in to The Plug and use battery saving mode at the same time. For the phone I recommend fully charging it from a power bank and then turning on battery saving mode.

Get a solar panel

They make The Plug sound like the ultimate solution to your electricity needs. But in reality it's more like a nasal cannula for your electronics.
A solar panel will deliver much, much more power than The Plug. I recently bought an Anker PowerPort 21W (non-affiliate Amazon link) and it works really well even in moderate sunlight. It has two ports that can each deliver up to 2.4Ah (almost 5 times as much as The Plug). So in comparison to the above examples that's only 4.16 hours for a 10.000mAh power bank (and you don't even have to pedal) and 0.75 hours for an iPhone 6.
The Anker PowerPort is also really cheap now at $60. It's 40% off on Amazon and even at the full price it would still be rather cheap compared to a similar Goal Zero panel, for example.

Use the solar panel in the morning when you make coffee and breakfast, or over lunch, where you have time to constantly adjust it to the angle to the sun. That's when it will charge most efficiently. If you can, keep it strapped on the bike during the day. It won't be as efficient at imperfect angles but still deliver more power than The Plug.

Bring power banks that are big enough. I would recommend to get somewhere between 10k and 30k mAh total capacity. Get batteries with no moving parts and no integrated flashlights that can accidentally turn on in your panniers and drain it.

u/Robinhood256 · 2 pointsr/AskElectronics

120mm fans are suposed to run on 12v, it should run on 5v but pretty slowly. And there are solar panels with a USB output. Should find them pretty easy. They are used a lot to power celphones and powerbanks when camping and such.

https://www.amazon.com/Anker-Charger-PowerPort-iPhone-Galaxy/dp/B012YUJJM8
You can find cheaper ones for sure, just an example.
1 120mm on 5v won't need a lot of power.

So sounds good as long as you get the right solar panel and don't mind your fan running very slowly.
Otherwise you should look for a small 12v panel with another connector.

u/gamefreak027 · 2 pointsr/ElectricForest

Ok this has been discussed a few times already but it's reasonable.

I personally have this Anker Battery. It can charge a phone from dead to full about 6 times.

Since I share it with my girlfriend we usually go through it + have other people camped with us so we received an Anker Solar Charger for Christmas. It works slowly but gets the job done.

There are also locker rentals available inside the forest. In addition to a place to store things in the festival grounds (Things can be left overnight) They give you a little battery and a charger dongle. When it is dead you bring it back and they give you a new one all weekend. Locker rentals are $50.

The cheapest way however is to charge it in your car XD

u/DeterminedToOffend · 2 pointsr/Canadian_ecigarette

Someone linked this in the last camping thread that came up. Looks like it would be the best option. You won't be able to run the 12V external charger but it will charge your mod/phone no issues.

Alternatively, if you're just going for a few days - you could just bring a bunch of already charged batteries. Can probably get about 8 of them for the price of that solar charger.

u/justanothercap · 2 pointsr/UpliftingNews

I wish I were getting kickbacks on doing advertising :P

https://www.amazon.com/Anker-2-Port-Universal-PowerPort-Charger/dp/B012YUJJM8

There's a slightly less powerful, cheaper version - but I don't know if it would do a simultaneous charge of two devices (I'm guessing this one will). You'd have to really get into the nitty-gritty of how much power is needed, and what the typical output is. AZ is full sun, though - which is nice.

u/MyFreakyThrowaway · 1 pointr/preppers

Lots of good suggestions here. Thanks a lot! I do plan on posting again once I've had a chance to make some improvements/additions to the bag.

As for the rechargeable solar bank, I do have an anker 21 watt solar kit ( https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B012YUJJM8 ) in the car that would fit in the bag and those items could charge directly from that if the power bank fails. I just don't regularly keep the panels in the bag for fear of them getting unnecessarily damaged.

I also have this shovel in the car as part of my regular auto gear. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0017UVEW0

u/tardhat · 1 pointr/BurningMan

late response, but maybe it's still useful to you:
I've used mine at local events (Utah) and it works pretty fantastically. Don't waste your packing space with portable battery packs if you can avoid it. I spent about $50 on this little solar panel to run the fans
( https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B012YUJJM8 ) and it makes it so the fans turn on when the sun's up and off when it goes down.

I've been able to sleep in until 4 in the afternoon without the fans. With the fans, the interior basically cannot get above ambient temp. It is quite dark inside as the only light coming through is from the couple inches of gap at the bottom where the fly floats just above the ground. The vestibules are huge too. Cooler doesn't have to come inside the sleeping area of the tent and doesn't soak heat from the ground since the ground is never getting any sun.

u/MacintoshEddie · 1 pointr/IWantToLearn

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B012YUJJM8/

www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00X5RV14Y/


I can recommend this solar panel and power bank. I have them and they work fairly well for a decent price. It should work fine to charge a kindle, or phone, or other USB powered electronics. The only real potential drawback is the amount of time it takes to charge the power bank from the sun, which means in some cases you have to leave it somewhere visible where it might get stolen.

I broke my kindle, and these days I mostly just use the Kindle app on my phone, but it's a pretty impressive device. You can easily fit hundreds of books into a large pocket and the battery lasts for days at a time.

u/druidjaidan · 1 pointr/flying

A non shit solar one will do much better, but won't be quite as cheap.

Something like this would do a great job on a clear day:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B012YUJJM8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

u/BoondockAnon · 1 pointr/camping

Ohhh. Just been made aware of another option to look into, no personal experience with these products- folding portable solar panels with built in usb for phone charging.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B012YUJJM8/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1484778551&sr=8-2&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=portable+solar&dpPl=1&dpID=41VtclVfSnL&ref=plSrch

Perhaps a better option for small dwelling and camping.

u/tony_sama · 1 pointr/INEEEEDIT

Anker - once I saw that name I knew this would be good.


Their cables are the fucking best. I lost my original micro usb cable for my 10in Surface 3 (non-pro) and none of the shitty usbs I had delivered enough power over distance to actually charge the device. Their cable is so damn burly even the 10ft works just fine

the 6ft even came with a nice holder that looks like a sunglasses case

https://www.amazon.com/Anker-PowerLine-Premium-Motorola-Smartphones/dp/B019Q6F9F4

https://www.amazon.com/Anker-PowerLine-Durability-Samsung-MacBook/dp/B01LNAAEJ2/ref=sr_1_3?s=wireless&ie=UTF8&qid=1527562038&sr=1-3&keywords=anker+powerline%2B+type+c

https://www.anker.com/products/variant/PowerLine%2B-10ft-Micro-USB-/A81440A1

https://www.anker.com/products/110/163/usb-type-c-cables


https://www.amazon.com/Anker-Charger-PowerPort-iPhone-Galaxy/dp/B012YUJJM8/ref=sr_1_3?s=wireless&ie=UTF8&qid=1527562104&sr=1-3&keywords=anker+solar+charger

https://www.anker.com/products/108/206/solar-chargers

edits

we all know the importance of these life giving umbilical cords we rely on


these cables are so fucking good ive become a fanboy repping some company online when I see their name


they are that good

u/stverhae · 1 pointr/SolarDIY

Argh, no clue how i managed to mess up theblinks there, I’m sorry.
Inremember the expensive ine : https://www.amazon.com/Anker-Charger-PowerPort-iPhone-Galaxy/dp/B012YUJJM8/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?crid=2B1BSRO8HYJYC&keywords=anker+portable+solar+charger&qid=1556487644&s=gateway&sprefix=anker+portable+solar&sr=8-3

Not sure if ghe cost is worth it but it can serve as a benchmark

Just rey and get the most wattage you can confortably fit on your backpack and definiately condider the dual usb charger power banks, they seem really ideal in combo with most of ghe solar chargers out there

The one you linked has usb-c built in which could be really interesting for powering your cam directly. This would be more efficient than going trough power banks, so definiately check that out. Dont be afraid go use your 30 day return policy to test stuff out.

Do report back on your findings and give a shout when you’re heading off! Gl out there!

u/YouOdysseyMe · 1 pointr/smartwatch

AFAIK the Garmin doesn't receive GPS data from a phone, nor does it send that info back out.

If you're already tracking the hike with your phone, and are somehow keeping that charged you could get by for quite a while with spot checks on the Garmin. I use my old Fenix 1 for a week or two without charging, only having the GPS on for 10 minutes to an hour here and there. Compass, barometer, altimeter, temperature and clock work without the GPS on.

I also highly recommend a solar panel charger, and a USB battery pack. I have this one:https://www.amazon.ca/Anker-PowerPort-Dual-Port-Charger-iPhone/dp/B012YUJJM8 which goes on sale for $80 CAD every now and then. It can charge 2 things directly (has 2 USB plugs), but I use it to charge a battery, and then use the battery to charge my other kit at night while I sleep. It is able to charge a 13000 mah battery in about 4 to 7 hours in direct sunlight.

u/coinpile · 1 pointr/news

Combine this with a portable battery pack and you'll never be without phone power again.

You know, for next time.

u/avatarKLM · 1 pointr/flashlight

Can you recommend a good charger?

I was looking at the 21W from Anker.

u/Arrokoth · 1 pointr/gadgets

There will be some conversion losses, but with solar it might be less of a concern.

Something like this might work;
https://www.amazon.com/Anker-Charger-PowerPort-iPhone-Galaxy/dp/B012YUJJM8

u/_olopops_ · 1 pointr/CampingGear

I bought an Anker 14W Solar Charger earlier this year for emergency backup to charge my external battery (updated version here). It works great. But I end up just using my KMASHI 15000 mAh external battery and leave my solar panels at home when camping/hiking. I get about 5 full battery charges on my Nexus 5 with the 15000mAh battery. More than enough for my uses.

u/asimovwasright · 1 pointr/EDC

Anker 20000

Anker 21W solar panel

$95 for top products with insane specs.




u/mgn5 · 1 pointr/Ultralight

I have never been to Patagonia, but here in Austria I regularly have the challenge that mountain huts have only one or very few outlets (if the have electricity), so this could be an issue. Information is key here, so I would try to ask a tourist info or similar possible source of information for such an inquiry.
I agree, 26800 mAh is the biggest I can find. Here's an alternative, from the company where I bought my external battery pack. Probably quite similar.
Are you happy with that solar charger? I've heard good things about suntactics.
what you could also consider is getting a solar charger with a higher voltage (although I have to say that I don't have any experience with it. i am just considering myself to get one like this)

also: maybe a lighter option could be something like that?

One thing that you could also consider is that your phone may last significantly longer if you put it in airplane mode.

u/darkhorse85 · 1 pointr/motocamping

ive had good charge rate with anker 21W 2x usb port solar charger. the panels arent rigid. so, it feels reliable.
i seem to get better efficiency charging to a lithium battery then using the battery to charge my devices.
https://www.amazon.com/Anker-2-Port-Universal-PowerPort-Charger/dp/B012YUJJM8

took it on a 7day hiking trip and my phone & camera never died.
i wouldnt attach it to my bike though.
This is what i use on my speed triple. 2.1A: https://www.3brpowersports.com/products.php

u/sasunnach · 1 pointr/CampingGear

The best bang for you buck:

Anker PowerPort Solar (21W Dual-Port USB Solar Charger) for iPhone 7 / 6s / 6 / Plus, iPad Air 2 / mini 3, Galaxy S6 / Edge / Plus and More https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B012YUJJM8/ref=cm_sw_r_apa_.lEJzb0EJVEEZ

High wattage, durable and a good price.

Edit: I didn't realize you were into options other than a solar panel. I personally have an Anker 10,000 mAH and an Aukey 10,500 mAH power banks and they're both awesome. I prefer the power banks over the solar charger.

u/1Davide · 1 pointr/AskElectronics

Why?

If you want to use the sun to charge your phone, then buy a solar USB charger and use a USB cable to charge your phone.

u/FightinABeaver · 1 pointr/solarpanels

So just to add to my question and explain some of my assumptions (which may be incorrect):

I don't know that much about the conversions between voltages work. Any info I can get in that regard is going to help me out a lot.

My understanding is that going from 5V to 7.6V is fairly inefficient (I will lose some power) but that going from 12V to 7.6V is much less inefficient ^sorry ^for ^the ^double ^negative (I will lose much less power).

If these are correct assumptions, I'm better off getting something that can output 7.6+V e.g. this.

Based on research so far, the panel I think I want is here but it outputs at 5V. I don't know if that matters. Is that going to reduce my efficiency?

Because the panel outputs at 5V am I best off also getting a powerbank that outputs at 5V and just doing the conversion at the charger?

It seems like I have decent options. At this point just trying to figure out which one of them wastes the smallest amount of power.

u/rossmoney · 1 pointr/djimavic

i've been looking into this solution as well...

one solution that could work, but may not be practical either is this combo:

https://www.amazon.com/Anker-Charger-PowerPort-iPhone-Galaxy/dp/B012YUJJM8/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1492456180&sr=1-3&keywords=usb+solar

plus

https://www.amazon.com/Omnicharge-Portable-Charger-Fast-Charging-Adjustable/dp/B01NBJX99D/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1492456200&sr=1-1&keywords=omnicharge

i'm still looking into this to see if it will even be helpful (the omnicharge charges one full battery with 30% remaining)

u/hans_shu_east_gluff · 1 pointr/vandwellers

So you isolate your battery and run the original van stuff from solar? I was looking at one of those small [Anker] (https://www.amazon.ca/Anker-PowerPort-Dual-Port-Charger-iPhone/dp/B012YUJJM8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1501005266&sr=8-1&keywords=anker+solar) solar panels just to top up my power bank. I don't need much power but I still find this stuff pretty interesting.

u/vintagestyles · 1 pointr/canada

Jet boil


tarps



Maybe a battery and a small solar panel if he likes to bring a few small electronics along.



https://www.amazon.ca/EasyAcc-Waterproof-Dustproof-Shockproof-Flashlight/dp/B01B73I5ZU



https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B012YUJJM8/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=ZAXYCXXGUMB4&coliid=I9ZFVGI889KEO



As well as standard tools, Hatchet, Axe, Quality knife, Multi tools, Good rope, tent and backpacks/camping packs.




these are the things i take with me camping every time. mainly because i like to chill and drink beer and listen to music after canoeing to islands out on lakes up around the Canadian shield.





u/BitcoinFan7 · 1 pointr/Bitcoin

From their site;

> Can I use this with a phone / tablet?
Yes! Because Opendime emulates a tiny USB flash drive, most devices can read it already. Inside, you'll find text files with the payment address, and if unsealed, the private key in WIF format. We also provide a QR image that is easily scanned. You can also use a USB phone charger, or USB power pack, to check if it's unsealed: plug it into any USB port, and the lights flash in a pattern that indicate it's status.

There are simple foldable solar arrays that can power a phone during a grid outage.

u/SegFaultX · 1 pointr/solar

I have these they both work great. Eceen works better in low light, while anker works better with bright direct sunlight. I have tested anker to give the output of 1.3A which was the max my phone could take in before in the afternoon. However I've never actually used them much since I bought them more so for emergency since I don't camp or anything.

https://www.amazon.com/ECEEN-Charger-Samsung-Android-Smartphones/dp/B01BBCVIBK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1542221224&sr=8-1&keywords=eceen+solar+10w

https://www.amazon.com/Anker-Charger-PowerPort-iPhone-Galaxy/dp/B012YUJJM8/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1542221172&sr=8-3&keywords=anker+solar

u/otisramflow · 1 pointr/electricians

Are you going south to north? If so, you could look into some of the bigger solar panels, Amazon has a 21 watt model by "anker" that I've been looking at recently.

You can hang them over your backpack and be charging all day.

Anker 21W 2-Port USB Universal PowerPort Solar Charger https://www.amazon.com/dp/B012YUJJM8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_IvxOybPRQZES0

u/welcome2urff · 1 pointr/gifs

How many places in the world are you likely to get wind but not also sun? This is $62

u/pyromaster114 · 1 pointr/SolarDIY

Define, 'cheap'. :P

Solar cells aren't exactly the cheapest thing in the world. :(

But, if you have about ~$60 (USD, no idea where you are, sorry.), you can get a pretty decent panel for what you want to do.

My brother who does a lot of outdoors-ish stuff said that this particular product has served him well, and been pretty durable:

https://www.amazon.com/Anker-Charger-PowerPort-iPhone-Galaxy/dp/B012YUJJM8/

u/Padankadank · 1 pointr/Damnthatsinteresting

Anker 21W 2-Port USB Solar Charger PowerPort Solar for iPhone 6/6 Plus, iPad Air 2/mini 3, Galaxy S6/S6 Edge and More https://www.amazon.com/dp/B012YUJJM8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_aCG4xbB3Z821Z

21 watts is more than a phone can handle. Solar chargers are great now.

u/C0ckPitt · 1 pointr/raspberry_pi

I agree with your comment. In order to get an acceptable amount of energy out of a 12V solar panel you'll need a solar charge controller and therefore a lead-acid battery too. It doesn't work to just hook up the step-down converter to the panel (I tried it). If you do that you waste a lot of energy. And here is why: At these photos http://imgur.com/a/oEj2y you can see the open circuit voltage. It's 19.64V (it's actually 22V but when I took the pic, it was cloudy. Also look at the switch on the left). The panel is attached to a step down converter. If I now connect a load to it the solar panel voltage is not dropping. That's pretty bad because the power coming into the battery is 1.3 watts. That's ridiculous! Remember it's a 10 watt solar panel and an income of 7-8 watts would've been no problem. To understand this result we have to look at the IV-curve of a solar panel (http://www.re-innovation.co.uk/web12/images/stories/reimages/projects/PVIVtracer/IVcurve.gif). The point marked on the curve is the mpp (maximum power point). If the voltage is 21V, like in our example, the current is very low. This shows that step down regulators are a pretty bad choice for 12V solar panels. It would be much easier to just use a solar charge controller and a lead-acid battery or buying a solar panel usb charger like this one (http://www.amazon.com/Anker-2-Port-Charger-PowerPort-iPhone/dp/B012YUJJM8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1464612681&sr=8-1&keywords=solar+panel+usb). These are pretty expensive though.

u/Modernormal · 1 pointr/pokemongo

I opted for this solar panel that I clipped to my pack
Anker 21W 2-Port USB Solar Charger PowerPort Solar https://www.amazon.com/dp/B012YUJJM8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_pQqpxb8KC7RYY

u/Intermitten · 1 pointr/pokemongo

Something like this

u/poppupwriter · 1 pointr/FireflyFestival

This is what I used last year: http://www.amazon.com/Portable-Charger-Vinsic%C2%AE-20000mAh-External/dp/B00NGG9IDU

I consistently get 6-7 full charges on Android devices on it, so it was enough for me and my friends for 2 days. I paired it with this whenever were at the campsite: http://www.amazon.com/Anker-2-Port-Charger-PowerPort-iPhone/dp/B012YUJJM8?ie=UTF8&keywords=solar%20charger&psc=1&qid=1465314019&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1-spons

It kept it going all weekend long, it's flat and not too heavy, so easy to carry in the Camelback we bring in with us.

u/HonestHooligan · 1 pointr/Coachella

Ive seen the GZ kits on amazon and yes they are definitely the apple of solar gear LOL.
I'm definitely looking for a different application, but in respect to your comment i've also been looking a this solar charger similar to yours which may be great as well for my device charging needs.