- External battery pack recharges up to 1,000 times from Solar or USB power - PLEASE NOTE: On first use, charge it up 100% by USB, then drain fully so that the Lithium-polymer battery chemicals can be exercised and broken in.
- SOLAR CHARGING TIME: 13 hours in direct sunlight - high-efficiency 300mA ; USB CHARGING TIME: 4 - 6 hours
- 4000mAh battery is ideal for giving mulitple charges to virtually all smartphones and most MP3 players and E-readers. It also gives partial charges to tablets such as iPad, e-readers, and other USB charging devices ; The XL pack charges your device at a MAX rate of 2.1 amps
- Package includes USB charging cable for Solar Restore XL, window suction mounts, metal carabiner, and a solar panel extender (for future upgrade); Additional features include a 36-hour on-board LED light with FLASHLIGHT and EMERGENCY settings and a LED capacity indicator
- 3 YEAR WARRANTY - Quality Guaranteed ; Dimensions - 6.7 x 3.6 x 0.8 inches ; Weight - 8 ounces
At 50% solar charged, it will only provide about 25% battery recharge to the tablet and approx 60% to my phone. So, granted it does work. But its unacceptable for a solar charger to not be able to charge 100% within 20 hrs of direct sun exposure.
I followed the instructions as stated by charging 100% via USB first and that provided 100% battery to my EVO and about 25% to the tablet. I'm torn on whether or not I keep this.I picked this up to use while hiking and camping, and so far it's been great. It works well with my Samsung galaxy s3, and the light is a cool and useful addition. I just throw this guy on my backpack while we're out hiking or lay it out at the campsite for a few hours. Highly recommended!I picked this up after spending an entire afternoon, from like 11:30 until a 7:30 game, at Lambeau Field for Family Day, tailgating. I had my son with me, we both had our iPhones and iPads. I didn't mind if his things got low on battery, but I wanted to make sure my phone stayed working so I had it available during the game. So every once in a while I'd plug it into the cigarette charger, and start the car and let it run for a bit, getting it back up to 80 or 85%. I realized I needed something to help me charge stuff up away from home.
So I did some digging and found this unit, and figured it was worth a shot. I liked that it wasn't strictly a solar charger, that you could charge it up via USB or wall outlet as well. On the down side you can't "charge and play", but for me that was less of a requirement.
I ordered this, and two extra solar panels. I fully charged the unit via the wall outlet, then turned an ipad onto one of my clock programs that keeps the screen lit without sleeping, and let it run down, then plugged it into this and let it run this down as well overnight while I had the LED light turned on. I then set it out on my patio table and let it charge itself back up. I had it sitting out all day, but I did not angle it to keep it tracking the sun directly (was busy doing other things). And about four oclock the sun's shadow is hitting the table anyway. It did not get fully charged during that stretch (was only about 6 or 7 hours in direct sunlight but not perpendicular to it at all times) but I didn't expect it to from what they said. The following day I did manage to get it topped off.
I bought two extra panels for it as well, and it definitely charges MUCH faster now, although I'm usually just using it via usb or wall outlet since I haven't been in a position to need to do it strictly via solar since purchase. But at least I know when I do, it'll be working well.
I, as another reviewer, had worried at first after peeling off the protective cover, since like his, mine was tucked under very well. I, too, wondered if I just did a boneheaded thing... But a tweezers got that last little corner out from under the plastic and it works like a champ.
If you get the add on panels, there is a button on the piece that bridges them to the XL (it came with one, and the panels came with one, so I actually have two adapters now in case one breaks or something) and when you push the button in sunlight, each panel has an LED that lights up to show it's completed the circuit and is charging the battery. Nice touch since otherwise there's no way to know for sure. Only complaint is the panels are kind of cheaply made, and one of mine came broken where the spring clip from the other inserts to hold it together. Fortunately I was able to use that on the outside, so there was nothing to hook there, and I can use it anyway.
The carabiner works for the unit alone, but there's no way I'd use it when I have the panels attached -as noted, they're poorly constructed where they hook to each other and those corners break easily. And I'm not sure I'd want to have this hanging from the suction cups either. They're double sided suction cups, like an hourglass, and not only would I not want this coming off the window at the wrong time while driving, they'd also impair the solar collection both cups on at the same time detracts from a large percentage of the solar panel area. But with my panels they'd not be very useful anyway.
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