waterproof n hard outdoor trecking SOLARCHARGER

http://www.treehugger.com/solar-technology/waterproof-solar-charger-claims-keep-charging-even-worst-possible-conditions.html

Solar USB chargers have come a long way in recent years, and new models are increasingly lightweight, weatherproofed, and durable, with faster charging times and a smaller physical size for better portability. Two years ago, Brown Dog Gadgets launched its folding 5W solar charger via Kickstarter, to great success, and now the company is back with another solar gadget, and its Badger solar panel promises to be a rough and ready solar companion that can go wherever you do.

Water and electricity aren't a good mix, and most of our favorite gadgets are prone to being a bit on the sensitive side, at least when it comes to getting knocked around or getting wet, so any good portable solar charger needs to be able to stand up to a bit of roughhousing and moisture, which is a big selling point of the Badger.

According to the Brown Dog Gadgets website, the Badger was designed to handle "any amount of abuse," and to put that to the test, the company left it in a fish tank for two days, fired at it with a shotgun, and dropped a bowling ball on it (not all at the same time), and the device was still able to generate a charge.

To keep water from damaging the charger or devices attached to it, the company internally waterproofed the electronics, added a rubber cap to the USB port, and integrated a water-resistant pouch to protect gadgets while charging. The Badger earned an IP65 rating for its dust- and waterproofing features, and while you probably aren't going to be doing any charging underwater or in a dust storm, the rating is a great indication of how durable the device should be in most real-world conditions.

Another feature that is included in the Badger chargers (which will be available in 8W, 12W, and 16W versions) is a removable USB Watt meter, allowing users to see, in real-time, how much power the units are generating, which is something that most other solar chargers don't include in their designs. The Badger is also said to have an auto restart feature, which means that if/when a shadow or cloud blocks the sun from reaching the unit and it stops charging a device, the unit will automatically begin charging again once the sun hits the solar cells, without having to unplug and replug the charger from the gadget (which is often the case with portable solar chargers).

The company is also offering two different power banks (battery packs) to accompany the Badger solar charger through the crowdfunding campaign, with one being a 6,000mAh version that doubles as a flashlight, and the other being a waterproof and shockproof 15,000mAh version that is said to be "built like a brick."

Find out more at Brown Dog Gadgets or the Badger waterproof solar charger campaign page.

GO on the web site source for the links http://www.treehugger.com/solar-technology/waterproof-solar-charger-claims-keep-charging-even-worst-possible-conditions.html

http://www.treehugger.com/gadgets/thin-film-solar-charger-offers-high-performance-lightweight-package-review.html

When trying to choose a portable solar charger for your gadgets, it's not enough to simply pick the one with the highest output (or quickest charge times for a specific device), because the question of how and when you plan to use it will play a big part in whether or not it will actually work well for you. Are you going to set it up during the day and charge gadgets directly, or are you going to want to set it up during the day to charge a power bank, and then charge your gadgets from the power bank after dark?

For some situations, such as camping or backpacking or traveling, where a small solar charger can be mounted onto a backpack to harvest sunlight while you're out and about, it's not necessary to carry a power bank or backup battery with you (although it can certainly make the system more useful if you do). That can help make for a lighter bag, especially if you choose an ultra-lightweight portable charger, such as the Apollo 6 USB Solar Charger, from Endless Sun Solar.

This solar charger, rated at 6W, is quite a bit different than most of the other solar gadgets I've reviewed before, because it's made with CIGS (copper indium gallium selenide) solar cells, which is a flexible thin film solar product well-suited to personal devices because of its light weight. Because CIGS cells are capable of harvesting the sun's energy over a wider range of wavelengths than conventional solar cells, as well as performing better in low light and shaded conditions, these 15% efficient solar cells are said to produce "on average, 20% more energy in total each day" than conventional crystalline solar cells.

By far, this portable solar charger is the lightest and most flexible model I've ever used, and despite a few weak points, which every gadget has, I really like it and think it could make a great addition to any traveler's pack for generating juice on the go.

Here's my review of the Apollo 6 solar charger:

http://www.treehugger.com/gadgets/thin-film-solar-charger-offers-high-performance-lightweight-package-review.html