Everything you need to know about mobile solar charging

With the proliferation of mobile devices comes the need to keep them powered. While charging at home is typically straightforward, it can be vital to have a back-up charging method for when you are out and about or there is a power cut. A great solution is mobile solar power, to let you keep your phone and devices charged with the power of the sun.

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So, whether you are travelling, hunting, camping, hiking, spending a day at the beach, or want to be prepared for an emergency, then mobile solar power is a must.

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The aim of this guide to help you understand the importance of mobile solar charging and what you need to consider when investing in a mobile solar charger.

Why you need mobile solar power

Mobile solar power is a cool and convenient way to charge your USB powered devices and can be used every day. Particularly, it is invaluable when out and about or as a back-up at home, because when things go wrong, your phone becomes an essential emergency tool for these key reasons:

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Communication: So that you can call emergency services and keep in contact with loved ones.

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Emergency Alerts: During an emergency your phone is a way to receive civil defence alerts so that you can keep up to date.

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Flashlight: Many phones include a built-in torch which is vital during a blackout to ensure you don’t get lost in the dark.

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Internet: Accessing the internet on your phone is a crucial way to access first aid and other emergency procedure info, as well as keep entertained.

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Camera: When things go wrong it can be very important to document events for insurance and storytelling purposes.

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Navigation: Did you know that GPS on most phones does not require internet connection, making it invaluable for knowing where you are.

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So, with all these functions it is obvious that a phone is a necessity to have as a back-up, and it is just as important to have a way to power the phone.

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💡 Tip Top Tip: As an extra back-up, it is beneficial to have an additional sim card that uses a different network. Because when a network is down, another one may still be working. Even better, being with a network provider that uses satellite can add extra resilience.

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As well as your phone, mobile solar chargers can power most other USB devices. Such as torches, portable speakers, tablets, e-readers, some medical devices, and almost anything else with a USB input, making them the ultimate travel buddy and emergency back-up.

Mobile Solar Chargers – To Generate Power

A mobile solar charger is a very simple piece of kit, it is a small, lightweight solar panel with a USB connection on the back. It is the same concept as solar power on a houses roof, just on a much smaller scale for mobile devices.

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Using a mobile solar charger:

To charge your device from a mobile solar charger you will need to plug in a USB cable to the USB output of the solar charger and into the USB input of the mobile device. When the solar panels are exposed to natural light, power will be produced, and the device will automatically begin to charge. Please note, that some mobile devices will require more sunshine than others to begin the charging process, depending on the power rating of the mobile solar charger.

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Mobile solar chargers need natural UV light to produce power, so will even work through windows. However, mobile solar chargers work best when outside and angle directly at the sun. It is best to place the device you are charging in some shade, such as beneath the panel, to help protect the internal battery of the device from heat. For best results, to reposition the panels throughout the day so that the panels are always directly facing the sun.

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The speed of solar charging is dependent on many factors, including time of year, time of day, weather conditions, mobile solar charger power rating and sunlight angle.

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Minimum Charging Current (MCC)

Every mobile device has a different minimum charging current (MCC) which is the minimum amount of power required to start the charging process for that device. Devices such as tablets and most smartphones have a high MCC, whereas power banks typically have a very low MCC.

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The current output of a mobile solar charger is variable based on its power rating and the amount of sun. For example, a small mobile solar charger will need to be in direct, strong sunlight to start charging a smartphone, however, would be able to charge a power bank even in low light conditions.

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Therefore, it is most efficient to use a power bank as an intermediary between the mobile solar charger and your phone or tablet. Leave the mobile solar charger plugged into the power bank all day to store up power and when ready, the power bank can fast charge your phone any time.

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Also, most phones and tablets prefer a constant amperage. Because the amperage from a mobile solar charger output is variable, this is another good reason to use a power bank as an intermediary. Most power banks will provide phones with an optimal, stable, and safe charge rate.

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For instance, SunSaver power banks are designed with a very low MCC, so that even on cloudy days, or at dawn or dusk, they can still accept power from a mobile solar charger.

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What size mobile solar charger do I need?

Selecting the best size mobile solar charger is a trade-off between power rating and size. The higher the power rating, the heavier and bulkier the mobile solar charger will be.

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For example, if it is for hiking, then generally a small charger is best because it is lightweight and compact and not much power is needed when enjoying the great outdoors. However, for a family camping trip, then the bigger the better because there will be more gadgets to power.

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Mobile solar charger power is measured in Watts. Most commonly, mobile solar chargers range between 10-Watts to 40-Watts. What defines a mobile solar charger is the ability for it to fold up and fit in a backpack.

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10-Watt mobile solar charger:

This size is compact and lightweight, ideal for attaching to the back of a backpack to charge on the go. It is generally the lowest amount of power for a single person to keep their phone charged off the grid. Being a low power rating, it needs to be in direct, strong sunlight to recharge a phone directly from solar so works best plugged into a power bank to store power.

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On a sunny clear day in the summer, it can generate enough power to recharge an average smartphone multiple time. However, during cloudy days and in the winter, it may only generate enough power for a partial recharge for a smartphone, so on these days, phone use would need to be rationed.

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For more details, check out the SunSaver Power-Boost 10-Watt solar charger.

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40-Watt mobile solar charger:

This size weighs more than a kilogram however still folds down to fit in a backpack or suitcase. Being a higher power rating means that it can much easier achieve the MCC for most devices and phones. The 40-Watt power rating allows a charging current of up to 3-Amp on a sunny day, which is the fastest charging speed for many devices. Therefore, it can recharge a lot of devices while the devices would take to charge from the power outlet at home.

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The advantage of the larger mobile solar charger is that it can keep more people, and more devices powered. Moreover, it gives more reliability on cloudy days and in the winter.

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For more details, check out the SunSaver Ultra-Flex 40-Watt solar charger.

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Mobile solar chargers also come in a range of other sizes and power ratings than the small and large ones described above. For instance, 20-Watt chargers are very popular with couples, such as the SunSaver Super-Flex 20-Watt solar charger.

Power Banks – To Store Power

Because mobile solar chargers only work in the daytime, a power bank is an invaluable addition to store power for anytime, anywhere. Moreover, a power bank will help you get through days of little or no sun.

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A power bank has the same type of battery that is in your phone. However, the battery capacity in a power bank is typically much higher than that of a phone so that a power bank can recharge a phone multiple times from a single charge of its battery.

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Charging your phone from a power bank:

To charge from the power bank, connect a USB charging cable into the USB output of the power bank and into the USB input of your phone. Your phones normal USB cable will work.

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Most power banks will automatically turn on and begin charging when everything is connected correctly. Some power banks may have a power button that needs to be pressed.

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Charging a power bank from a mobile solar charger:

Simply plug a USB charging cable from the output of the mobile solar charger into input of the power bank and expose the solar panels to natural light. Most power banks work extremely well with mobile solar chargers because they only require a small amount of power to start storing charge, they even work through glass and cloudy days.

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💡 Tip Top Tip: Every time you get access to a power source, plug in the power bank to give it a quick top up to help you keep going for longer.

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What size power bank do I need?

Power bank size / capacity is measured in mAh (milli-Amp hours) which is the amount of energy that the internal battery stores. The bigger the capacity, the more times you will be able to recharge your phone from a charge of the power bank. However, the bigger the power bank, the heavier it is to carry.

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The most popular size power bank is 16,000mAh (see the SunSaver Classic power bank) as this will provide 2.5 to 5 full charges for a smartphone and is not too heavy. If you have multiple devices to keep powered on the go, then a 24,000mAh power bank is a better choice.

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Please note, if you are travelling on a plane, then there are size requirements to what power banks you can take, find out more here: Flying with a power bank: The ultimate guide for happy travels

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a solar power bank do everything I need?

Unfortunately, not. A solar power bank will normally only have a solar panel with a power rating between 1-Watt to 2-Watt, because of the small available surface area on the front of the power bank. This very low amount of power is only a trickle charge and will not generate enough power for a daily phone charge. It can take a week for a solar power bank to generate enough power to fully recharge a smartphone. Therefore, it is best to have a mobile solar charger to go with it.

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A solar power bank does have its advantages, however. For example, a power bank without a solar panel will never produce any charge by itself outside, whereas a solar power bank does get something, if only a little bit. This little bit can make all the different in an emergency.

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To conclude, a solar power bank can generate a bit of extra free power, just not enough to rely on, so it is best to have both a power bank and a mobile solar charger.

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How long will it take for a mobile solar charger to recharge my phone?

There are multiple factors to consider for this question, such as size of the phone battery, power rating of the solar charger, and sunlight conditions. A small 10-Watt solar charger will take longer to charge your phone compared to charging at home, because it can only achieve a maximum charge rate of just over an Amp in direct, full sun. Whereas a larger 20-Watt or 40-Watt charger can achieve a charge rate of up to 3-Amp meaning that on a clear, sunny day, they can recharge your phone in a time similar to charging at home.

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Nevertheless, the most efficient way is to store power into a power bank from the mobile solar charger, because the power bank can fast charge your phone anytime, anywhere.

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Can I just have a mobile solar charger without a power bank?

Yes, but it is not recommended. The key reason is that a mobile solar charger does not work at night or on rainy days, so it is best to have a power bank for when the sun is not out. For best results, keep the mobile solar charger plugged into the power bank throughout the entire day capturing all possible solar energy and at the end of the day there will be plenty of power in the power bank to charge your phone anytime anywhere.

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Moreover, as discussed earlier in the article, smartphones typically have a much higher minimum charging current required to start the charging process compared to power bank. So, for a mobile solar charger to directly charge smartphone, it will need to be a clear, sunny conditions, whereas it can charge a power bank even if cloudy or through a window. Therefore, the power bank will receive charge from the mobile solar charger in a wider range of conditions, allowing you to store up the most possible power.

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Can a mobile solar charger or power bank overheat?

Yes, both can. However, you must be much more careful about a power bank or other mobile devices in the heat because of its internal battery. All batteries are sensitive to heat and can be damaged when exposed to extreme heat. Most mobile solar chargers do not have an internal battery so can withstand higher temperatures than power banks. Nevertheless, in extreme temperatures, such as on the dashboard of a vehicle in the summer, they can get to hot and stop working.

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Therefore, for safest mobile solar charging, place the mobile solar charger outside propped up facing the sun. Then plug in the power bank or mobile device and place it in some shade, such as beneath the mobile solar charger.

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Can a mobile solar charger charge multiple devices at the same time?

Yes, some mobile solar chargers have multiple USB outputs. However, to charge multiple devices simultaneously from these outputs, there must be enough sunlight and power to achieve enough current in each output to begin the charging process for each device.

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For instance, some 10-Watt solar chargers may include two USB outputs, which are limited due to each output will have a low power and will likely not produce enough current to charge both devices at once. Whereas a 40-Watt solar charger is much more effective at charging through multiple outputs.