Review Anker Solar Charger for charging iPad, iPhone and Android with the sun
Anker Solar Charger, the solar panel to recharge the infinite journey that all devices connected via the USB port at no cost, as long as they do not require more than 2A for charging.
With summer and the holidays upon us, what they definitely need our devices is a large amount of energy to be reloaded in time of need: the solution to this is to adopt emergency batteries to recharge more useful and repeatedly iPhone, iPod, iPad, Android smartphones and tablets, and Windows Phone, not to mention an MP3 player, GPS navigation and more.
All this results in too many accessories when we stay away from home several days, especially if passed in the open air without the possibility of having access to a power outlet.
The solution that we tested Anker resides in four solar panels that, under the right conditions, they can also charge two devices at once: everything for weeks, months, or years, no longer need to acquire several batteries of emergency, everything always at your backpack.
For our tests, we relied USB digital ammeter that for some time we use in testing of different devices, so you always know exactly how it behaves accessory in all weather conditions and light.
Anker Solar Charger as it did
Inside the usual fully recyclable cardboard box that distinguishes all products of the company in question, we find the solar panel and the instruction manual. Closed, the accessory measures 27.5 x 17 x 2 inches and weighs about 700 grams of fabric is characterized by excellent workmanship and the four rings at the edge necessary to allow hook with ropes or hooks (not included in the package) to one backpack or any other flat surface also securely, perhaps above the canopy of an automobile or by the pickets next to a tent.
A Velcro closure keeps it securely closed when not in use. The opening length is quintuple (27.5 x 89 x 2 cm) because we have the four ” pages ” that can accommodate four additional solar panels and one with Velcro closure that holds the two USB ports and allows, if necessary, stuffing them with cords of the devices for easy transport.
AnkerSolar Charger how it works
The operation, as you can well imagine, it’s really simple: just open fully all the accessory, spread in such a way that the rays of the sun can reach the solar panels and connect the devices to be recharged.
We can re load up to two at the same time, taking into account the fact that, overall. The accessory is capable of delivering up to a maximum of 2A, or at least this is what the company says, and that in part has been confirmed by our tests, which will be discussed on the next page.
Anker Solar Charger – Field tests
The tests were carried out an iPhone user for 8 months, an iPad 2 in use for 29 months and an Android smartphone in use for six months, with all the ensuing cycles of charging for each battery.
It important to note that the amount of amps delivered from the accessory varies greatly depending on the amount of available light, is also to take into account that the tests were carried out in the city, where the transparency of the air is not the same that can be found in the mountains or at high altitude, it is also important to remember that the zenith, the point above the observer’s head and the time to maximum yield of the accessory, is June 21, about a month after the tests.
Test the Sun, no clouds, 9:30 am – in this case, we tested the iPhone at 52% charge and the iPad at 16% charge, then the former should absorb less energy than the latter. By connecting only the iPhone, the amperage provided by the panel is around 0.70 A, while that of the iPad is only 0.90 A: together, the door of the iPhone showed 0.35 A while the iPad 0:40 A. In conclusion, then In the morning when the sun is not perpendicular to the accessory, the total paid is about 1 A.
Test the Sun, no clouds, 12:30 am – very different results at the specified time, when the Sun begins to be almost perpendicular to the Solar Charger. Here, we tested the iPhone accessory with 23% charge, the iPad at 10% charge and Android smartphone at 90% charge: first, by itself, was charged with 0.85 A, the tablet 1:30 A and the Android smartphone to 0.35 A: combining the iPhone and iPad, the first absorbed at 0:40 while the iPad 0.80 A, while the Android smartphone, and in one case or another, kept his 0.35 A absorption.
But low energy supplied to Android, lower than that of the iPhone, probably depends on the fact that the panel we tested was optimized for iOS and still no PowerIQ, technology that lets you read correctly connected devices. Technology now available
Test with cloudy sky, 17:00 pm – the same day we were lucky enough to witness a significant climate change, going from clear sky that covered by gray clouds. In this case, the iPhone alone, 12% of charge, absorbed 12:48 A, while the iPad charging 0.62 to 5% A: together, the first and the second A 0:27 0:34 A.
The result is that the device under these conditions does not warrant that much, with a total of about 0.60 A, which recharges very slowly both iPhone and iPad. In practice, this condition can be useful to charge an iPhone and provide an extension of battery life of an iPad, but not to charge the iPad because it would be painfully slow.
Testing indoors, at home, at 21:00 pm – At home we ventured a test to see if the power of a 150W lamp is capable of powering solar panels. Well, on this occasion, the Solar iPhone Charger has returned an error message informing us ” this accessory may not be supported, ” but in spite of all the charging symbol remained fixed on the status bar of the device: nothing could be more wrong, as in this particular condition does not happen no charge, reporting a 0.0 A fixed.
Anker Solar Charger – Conclusions
The Anker Solar Charger is a special accessory, which actually does its work only with the clear sky, giving the best of themselves during the hottest hours of the day with the sun perpendicular to it.
It thus proves useful to charge devices outdoors, away from a power outlet, or also to recharge batteries for emergency use in the evening, but becomes almost useless when the climatic conditions are not favorable, especially if more consecutive days.
Our Opinion
PROS : Powerful, also charging the iPad; Portable form factor.
CONS :It needs a bright light to be useful with all devices.
- Design
- Quality
- Easy to use
- Value of money
