Gizmodo: solar charger

Charge Your Phone with the Power of the Sun and Hello Kitty

Adam Frucci — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:20:00 EDT

This Hello Kitty solar charger strap provides the dual benefits of juicing up your phone and also making you look like a 13-year-old girl. It's a win-win! [Rakuten via TokyoMango]

How to Make Your Own Solar iPhone/iPod Charger

Andi Wang — Wed, 06 May 2009 21:30:00 EDT

Like a deluxe version of the DIY MintyBoost AA charger, here's a DIY that explains how to assemble a USB charger that is not only rechargeable—with a Lithium Polymer battery—but also solar powered.

For this DIY, you will need an Altoids tin, a $20 MintyBoost kit, lithium polymer battery chargery, solar cell, velcro, tape, scissors, pliers, metal shears and a soldering iron among other similar tools. Although putting this charger together sounds quite difficult, the outcome is pretty cool and it'll save you a few bucks on your electric bill as it gives your phone a minty-fresh boost. [Instructables via Lifehacker]

SOLiCharger Powers iPhones Through Every Means Under the Sun

Mark Wilson — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 10:20:00 EST

The SOLiCharger is solar-chargeable lithium ion pack for your iPhone that can fill to capacity in four hours of sunlight.

Priced at $40 and available now, the SOLiCharger battery pack (left) is compatible with all of your standard iPhone charging options (AC, USB and car), but its big claim to fame is the ability to recharge itself via bundled solar panel (right).

The only catch is that the SOLiCharger contains only half the battery capacity of the iPhone, meaning that a theoretical 8 hours of sunlight would be needed to fill the iPhone entirely. But if you're stuck in the desert, your leg trapped under a rock, and just want to browse the NYTimes in your remaining time on earth, it seems like a feasible, decently-priced solution pending your blood loss is not too rapid. [SOLiCharger via Crave]

Energizer Solar Recharger Will Juice Up Your Batteries, USB Gadgets

John Herrman — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 05:40:10 EST

Energizer's Solar Recharger looks, at first glance, like a confused device. Is it an iPod battery extender? AA charger? Solar adapter? Well, it's all of these things, which is why it's awesome.

The heart of the gadget is a simple battery charger, intended for regular rechargeable AA and AAA batteries and primarily powered by an AC jack and assisted by a flip-out solar panel. A USB port is capable of providing power to a connected gadget, which allows the Solar Charger to also act as a sort of extended battery for virtually any USB-powered device, iPods included.

By choosing cheap semi-disposable rechargeable batteries as the guts of the device, Energizer will reportedly be able to keep the price down at a reasonable $50, 2 AAs included. Considering additional features like weatherproofing and a rotating solar panel, the Solar Charger could turn out to be a cheap, viable alternative to the endless droves of device-specific battery extenders and pricey solar chargers that are floating around for the time being. The official announcement is expected at CES 2009. [GoodCleanTech via CleanTechnica]

Photosynthesis Solar Tree Concept Is the World's Best Looking Solar Gadget Charger

John Mahoney — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 12:50:00 EDT

Great concept from designer Vivien Muller for a modular, Lego-like little bonsai tree with 54 mini photovoltaic panels as leaves to soak up juice from the sun and charge your gadgets. Adapters get tucked away beneath a nice little tray, and your gadgets lay on top, basking in the shade. Vivien can you make this, please? I can't keep a real plant alive worth a damn, but this I think could place in the windowsill and be just fine with. More shots of the detachable pieces follow.

[Vivien Muller Portfolio via Behance Network]

Brando's Jaw-Tastic Solar Charger Will Power All Your Gizmos

Kit Eaton — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 06:30:34 EDT

This mashup from Brando takes some of Thanko's electric vampire universal charger idea and the "survival" solar charger and mixes them into one multi-purpose device. Its adjustable contact teeth mean its jaw can grab onto and charge a wide range of batteries, it's got a set of adaptors to suit different cellphones and has a USB output for your iPod and the like. Better yet, you can charge up its 1,350 mAh internal battery up by sunlight, USB or AC adapter. Basically you'll never be without a source of power for your gadgets. And it's got an LED torch. Is there a better power gizmo out there? [Brando]

Solar Powered Music, Fake Detection and Flashlight in One

Kit Eaton — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 07:09:37 EDT

I love this weird combo, multi-tool gadget: it's a mashup between the Solar Phone Charger and the great 5-in-1 Pen. It's got a solar cell to top up your gadgets with juice (USB connector, or cellphone adaptors), a UV note-checker, LED flashlight and, best of all, an FM radio. Why not an MP3 player? Where's the tool for getting stones out of a horse's hoof? Nope, just an FM radio. At least we have this reassurance "Security guarantee: There is not any danger to use." Yours for $45.99. [GizFever via RedFerret]

Japan Only: Solar Charger Cellphone Charm

Haroon Malik — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 05:25:00 EST

Strap-Ya has accomplished what we thought was impossible; they've created a useful cellphone charm: a small solar cell that retains energy for when your handset is out of juice. Simply clip it in, and it will give you the vital power boost in your second of need. If the sun is playing away from home, the solar charger even comes with an AC adapter that allows it to be charged up and used as a spare battery. Alas, it is merely a concept for us. The charger works with just a handful of Japanese handsets. [Product Page (Japanese) via Tokyomango]

Sanyo Rolls Out Eneloop Solar Charger, Rechargeable Heater

Charlie White — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 15:21:32 EST

At the same time Sanyo trotted out little Eneloopy, the battery tester doggie, it also introduced two other products associated with its Eneloop rechargeable batteries introduced last year.

The Eneloop solar charger recharges four AA-sized batteries, and the kicker is there's a USB port on the back that will also let you charge up your iPod, cellphone or PDA at the same time. Whoa! Great idea.

Sanyo also rolled out Eneloop Kairo, a rechargeable heater that uses the Eneloop technology. The palm-sized device might be just about right for keeping those hands toasty warm during the upcoming winter months. More pics of both products, after the jump.

Sanyo Eneloop solar charger [Akhihabara News]
Eneloop Kairo, the Sanyo hi-tech heater [Akhihabara News]