Hybrid Solar Chargers - What They are and How They Work
A hybrid solar charger can collect power from the sun, or from an ordinary wall socket.
Its battery can then be used to charge your electronic devices and equipment.
Its battery can then be used to charge your electronic devices and equipment.
What is a Hybrid Solar Charger?
A hybrid solar charger is essentially a battery pack which is rechargeable by solar panels or by some other source of electricity.
A solar charger can be considered a hybrid when it is rechargeable by two or more energy sources.
A solar charger can be considered a hybrid when it is rechargeable by two or more energy sources.
How Does a Hybrid Solar Charger Work?
In its simplicity, a hybrid solar charger is just a set of rechargeable batteries connected with a battery recharger. The solar panels are connected to the charger's power terminals, the panels are placed in the sun, and the solar energy is collected and turned into electricity. The electricity generated is then used to recharge the batteries.
In order to make a solar charger set-up into a "hybrid solar charger," all we have to do is to add the capability of charging the batteries from a different energy source (such as a regular wall outlet.) That's all there is to it.
In order to make a solar charger set-up into a "hybrid solar charger," all we have to do is to add the capability of charging the batteries from a different energy source (such as a regular wall outlet.) That's all there is to it.
The Components of a Hybrid Solar Charger
The following are the basic components which a hybrid solar charger is made up of:
- A Rechargeable Battery Pack - You will need this to store the solar energy which is converted into electricity by the solar panels, or which is collected with some other method.
- Solar Panels - These are used to collect energy from the sun and to convert sunlight into electricity. The electricity so generated can then be stored in the rechargeable batteries.
- Charge Controller - This is an electrical device that prevents the batteries from being overcharged. It also stops electricity from running back from the batteries into the solar panels. When this component is not installed, your batteries and solar panels are at risk of being damaged.
- Transformer - A transformer is needed in order to recharge the batteries from a wall outlet or other source (such as the cigarette lighter socket in a vehicle).
- Connections to Other Power Sources - If you want to the draw power from a wall socket, for example, you will need a cable and a regular wall plug. A cigarette lighter socket in a vehicle, on the other hand, would require a different type of connector.
With the above components, you could throw your own basic hybrid solar charger together.
But if you don't want to go to the trouble of making your own, there are several hybrid solar chargers available on the market today.
A good example of hybrid solar charger is the Solio Solar Charger. Solio carries several types of hybrid solar chargers, some of which you can see here:
But if you don't want to go to the trouble of making your own, there are several hybrid solar chargers available on the market today.
A good example of hybrid solar charger is the Solio Solar Charger. Solio carries several types of hybrid solar chargers, some of which you can see here:
A Solio Hybrid is a small device with internal batteries that can be recharged in a variety of ways. There are different types available, which can receive electricity from different sources. These sources include solar energy, a standard wall socket, the cigarette-lighter socket in a car, and in some cases, even a USB connnection to a computer.
Be sure to read the specifications of the Solio Charger you are buying, so that you can make sure it's the right model to suit your circumstances. They don't all receive power from the exact same sources.
The Solio Hybrid is a relatively small solar charger, and is thus easy to carry around while still being powerful enough to recharge or run small electronic equipment. Examples of items that may be charged by a Solio include cell phones, MP3 players, iPods, digital cameras, and GPS device. But again, be sure to check the specifications of the model you choose. Check how many watts it provides, and check how many watts your equipment requires.
Be sure to read the specifications of the Solio Charger you are buying, so that you can make sure it's the right model to suit your circumstances. They don't all receive power from the exact same sources.
The Solio Hybrid is a relatively small solar charger, and is thus easy to carry around while still being powerful enough to recharge or run small electronic equipment. Examples of items that may be charged by a Solio include cell phones, MP3 players, iPods, digital cameras, and GPS device. But again, be sure to check the specifications of the model you choose. Check how many watts it provides, and check how many watts your equipment requires.
The Brunton Solo Battery Charger
Brunton also carries a hybrid solar battery which can be used either alone or in conjunction with Brunton foldable solar panels. This device is the Brunton Solo Power 3.4 Battery.
This battery can be charged by household AC (a wall socket), vehicle DC (a cigarette-lighter socket), USB connection, or by Brunton's flexible solar panels. It can charge equipment such as GPS devices, cameras, cell phones, and iPods. It comes with its own AC adaptor, DC adaptor, and output tips for different types of mobile phones.
Here you can see the Brunton Solo Power Battery, as well as the folding Brunton Solar Panels that it can be used with:
This battery can be charged by household AC (a wall socket), vehicle DC (a cigarette-lighter socket), USB connection, or by Brunton's flexible solar panels. It can charge equipment such as GPS devices, cameras, cell phones, and iPods. It comes with its own AC adaptor, DC adaptor, and output tips for different types of mobile phones.
Here you can see the Brunton Solo Power Battery, as well as the folding Brunton Solar Panels that it can be used with:
The Brunton Solo 15-Watt Power Plant
In November 2008, Brunton is scheduled to release its new Solo 15 Watt Portable Power Plant (an amazingly powerful rechargeable battery) that will be capable of recharging or running a laptop for several hours. This hybrid solar charger will be much more powerful than the Solio Hybrid, or the current Brunton Solo Battery, and will be able to charge larger equipment. It has been designed to be rechargeable either by wall socket, vehicle cigarette-lighter, or by the Brunton Solarol Foldable Solar Panels.
The Solo 15 Watt Portable Power Plant, combined with a foldable solar panel array, will pack some serious power, and will guarantee a steady supply of energy in even the most remote locations. This is definitely something to look into for the serious adventurer with power needs, as well as being a worthy addition to any emergency preparedness kit or wilderness survival kit.
Click here
to see if the Brunton Solo 15-Watt Power Plant is available by the time you read this.
The Solo 15 Watt Portable Power Plant, combined with a foldable solar panel array, will pack some serious power, and will guarantee a steady supply of energy in even the most remote locations. This is definitely something to look into for the serious adventurer with power needs, as well as being a worthy addition to any emergency preparedness kit or wilderness survival kit.
Click here
to see if the Brunton Solo 15-Watt Power Plant is available by the time you read this. Solar Power
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- teenmaterial teenmaterial Sep 6, 2008 @ 12:13 pm
- cool, very helpful, i did not know where to by my solar charger, this isd now solved!
thanks
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Thanks to Uncleweed for giving permission to use his photos with the Creative Commons License.
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