Are Solar Power Banks useful: 10 Best Solar Power Banks
Solar power banks are like regular power banks that store electricity like a battery and charge electronic devices like mobile phones, laptops, torches, bulbs, other power banks, etc.
But instead of being charged by electricity, it is charged by the Sun. Unlike the normal power banks, one can recharge these power banks whenever needed under the Sun. So, these power banks are more convenient for trekking, camping, and other outdoor activities.
Even with a very tiny amount of sunlight, these power banks can absorb the energy and continue recharging the battery. Then it can be used with all the other necessary electronic gadgets, especially when sunlight is not there. Solar power with other vital features makes it very handy for emergency use.
How do Solar Power Banks work?
As the name suggests, solar power banks use solar energy to generate electricity and recharge other electronic gadgets. A solar power bank has a photovoltaic cell and a lithium-ion battery.
The photovoltaic cell is kept between a material made up of semiconductor silicon. One end of the material is added with phosphorous, which creates negative charges, and another end is added with boron which creates positive charges.
These opposite charges create an electric field, causing electrons in the cell to lose their position. Now, the photons fall on the cell and kick the electrons out; the semiconductor captures those loose electrons to create electricity and recharge. Lithium batteries are prone to loose electrons, making it easier to charge devices considerably.
The solar power bank uses a battery charge controller that controls the charging of the batteries and prevents over-charging. Two or more batteries are connected in a series or parallel manner. Then an inverter is used to convert the solar energy to electricity.
So, as it is clear that the photons play a vital role in charging the battery, it is not true that only direct sunlight is needed to charge the cell. On a cloudy day, under a shade where there is even a minimal possibility of the existence of photons, the cell can still be charged.
Obviously, the charging process becomes very slow and almost 10-25% of the actual power generation, but it always works until it is a total absence of sunlight.
Why should we use Solar Power Banks?
1. Eco-friendly:
Solar energy is always a great source of power without any substance harmful to the environment.
Additionally, when not using the electricity from the charging portals, the carbon footprints are not being generated. This is a great way to reduce pollution and help our mother earth.
2. Travel friendly:
If one carries a regular power bank in the wild far away from any charging point for a long time, the power bank itself loses its charge; leave the other gadgets alone.
But when solar panels augment the regular ones, the user does not need to care about the charging points. The solar power banks can charge themselves with solar energy, which is available everywhere. So, these cute little friends come in very handy for trekking, camping, and hiking.
3. Money-saver:
Since one uses the charging portals less frequently to charge the power bank or the other gadgets, this helps reduce the electricity bills and saves money in the long run.
Best Solar Power Banks
In this age of electronics, lack of electricity can be a real pain, especially when on tour. From finding places in Google Maps, using cashless payments to making calls, or even posting your statuses on social media, electronic gadgets are pivotal in every aspect, with which one cannot compromise.
So, here we provide some of the top reviewed solar power banks of 2022. This is not a rank-wise listing.
1. Blavor Solar Power Bank:
Like the other products of Blavor, this product also provides a top-notch performance to the customers. An output of 18 watts (highest among all in the list) gives you an excellent charging speed, and even the wireless charger provides a decent 10 watts of output.
The battery is made up of lithium-ion polymer. Though the battery capacity is a little less (10000 mAh), it has to offer everything like dual USB, flashlight, compass, and wireless charger. It also comes with a warranty period of 1 year.
2. Russell 20000 mAh Solar Power Bank:
This is another one of the best solar power banks using efficient solar panels. It uses dual USB ports to collect more energy and enable fast charging.
It can charge two devices simultaneously, and the battery capacitance is 20000 mAh. A built-in intelligent charging identification system automatically identifies the charging device.
The power bank also uses a 5V/1.6A adaptor to get charged. It takes almost 3-7 days to get fully charged using solar energy and 10 hours using the adaptor.
If one is in darkness, this power bank features two LED lights to find out your way out, even with a compass if you lose the direction. Like previously, this also comes with one year warranty.
3. Durecapow Solar Power Bank 20000 mAh:
This solar power bank uses silicone that makes it sturdy, durable, waterproof, dustproof, and shock absorbent. It features two USB ports with 2.1A and 1A outputs.
Apart from charging it using sunlight, one can use a given outlet for charging. For camping in a dark forest or at night, one can use 2 flashlights that it has to offer.
There are also 5 indicator lights to depict the battery status. As before, it also has a warranty period of 1 year.
4. Yelomin Solar Power Bank 20000 mAh:
If someone wants a budget solar power bank, this one is a perfect option for them. With the cheapest and lower price tag, it can give up to 10 watts output, and it can work for both 2A and 1A charging devices.
It features dual USB ports, an inbuilt LED light, and a compass. All these features make this solar power bank a fantastic option for camping. However, the battery capacity is 20000 mAh.
The warranty period is only 3 months, significantly less than any other power bank on the list.
5. Addtoop Solar charger 25000 mAh portable Solar Power Bank:
This is a little smaller compared to the other brands. Still, with the battery capacity of 25000 mAh and output of 10.5 watts, this can be an excellent option. It offers dual USB output options,
which are pretty decent, though it does not offer wireless charging. Likewise, the other better options come with a 1 year warranty period.
6. Riapow wireless Solar Charger 26800 mAh Portable charger:
Riapow comes with this solar power bank with good features and is reasonably priced. With high battery capacity, this power bank offers a maximum output of 15.5 watts in the higher range.
But, the output is low for wireless charging. Some features make it unique from the other models. It has 4 output ports which are high compared to others. Despite having a low price tag, it is reliable as it offers a warranty period of 1.5 years which is more significant than most other power banks.
7. Aonidi 26800 mAh Solar Power Bank:
Like Yelomin, this brand is also a smaller one but still offers a solar power bank that fits in with other top power banks. It has a battery capacity of 26800 mAh.
One can get power up to 8 days after a single recharge, making it convenient for outdoor usage. This power bank consists of 3 ports, including 2 USBs and 1 type-C.
The maximum output can get up to 15 watts maximum. It also has an auto-detect feature that detects the fast charging of any device.
The material used to make this makes the model waterproof, dustproof, shock-proof, and fireproof. The only problem with it is it is a bit heavy compared to other models.
8. Hilucky Solar Power Bank 26800 mAh and Solar Charger:
Another excellent option for the buyers in the market is this power bank with high performance manufactured by Hilucky.
The maximum output of this power bank can be up to 15 watts with a battery capacity of 26800 mAh. Like the ones manufactured by Riapow, it also offers 4 output ports.
To make it more convenient with camping or hiking. It also supports a warranty period of 1.5 years.
9. Qi Solar Charger 35800 mAh:
This is another option available in the market if anyone wants a durable solar power bank. The outer shell is made of ABS plastic which makes it waterproof, dustproof, and shock-absorbant.
One can charge smartphone 5 times a day. It comes with 3 ports with maximum outputs of 2A, 3.1A, and 1.5A, respectively.
One unique feature is that it can automatically adjust the output power to avoid overcharging. The lightweight makes it very useful for outdoor adventures. Additionally, it has a 280 lumens flashlight with 3.3 watts output.
10. QiSa Solar Charger 35800 mAh Solar Power Bank:
This might not be very popular, but still, it makes a great option regarding longevity. The battery capacity is 35800 mAh which is the highest on this list.
However, the maximum output is not the highest but in the high range up to 15.5 watts. Its waterproof feature makes it usable in the rainy season. But, the warranty period is limited to only months.
Advantages of Using Solar Power Bank
The reasons we use solar power banks are themselves the advantages. Solar energy is the most eco-friendly and readily available power source for generating electricity.
On the other hand, the high battery capacity makes it very useful for a long outdoor journey. The lightweight makes it portable anywhere, anytime – one can simply hang one of these with their rucksack.
The other additional features like the LED lights, the flashlights, and even the compass make it nothing but more suitable as a camping attribute. Compared to regular power banks, these are more appropriate for easy usage. One cannot charge the regular power bank itself without a
charging point that might not be available everywhere.
In contrast, the charging source of a solar power bank is the Sun itself – always available during the daytime.
Disadvantages of Solar Powered Bank
Overall the only disadvantage of a solar power bank is that the battery charges very slowly. While using adopter, the battery gets fully charged within 5 to 6 hours; it takes a minimum of 3 to 4 days while being charged using solar energy. Each model comes with its different disadvantages as well.
5 Factors to Consider Before Buying Solar Power Bank
One needs to consider several things before purchasing a solar power bank.
- The first and foremost things to check are the battery capacity and the output watts. The more the capacity, the less quickly the power bank gets discharged.
- The next thing is to check the output voltage and amperage. The output voltage must match the voltage of the device’s charger you want to charge. The more amperage, the more quickly device will get charged.
- You also have to think about the size and weight according to your convenience.
- If you are taking it for camping or trekking, there is a huge chance that you might drop it. So the power bak must be durable enough.
- Last but not least is the number of connections.
Conclusion
There is no doubt that the benefits of using solar power banks are several. If one is a travel enthusiast, these power banks are a must for them.
But, the charging process is relatively slow. So, these can only be used during an emergency, and other charging points are not available.
When you are going out, it is advisable to make everything fully charged using adopter and charging points for at least 6 hours of backup. But yes, you can use your solar power bank only when your devices are about to die.
It would be best to always research with great details before buying any of them according to their requirements. And last but not least, solar power banks are, indeed, very useful.
