Solar Style SC002
The Solar Style charger has an internal battery that can hold power for a while, and can be charged using the solar panels or a wall plug.
The Solar Style charger has an impressive list of supported devices, and connectors to match.
Solio S19 Universal
The charger is hybrid because it can use the sun, a computer's USB plug, or the wall plug to recharge the internal battery.
Solio has multiple connectors - to enable you to charge most devices.
Outdoor Operation
Being sensitive to rain and humidity is a serious flaw in a solar charger design, but some would argue that you need to treat it like you'd treat your PDA and not leave it outside in the rain at all.
While this makes some sense with your PDA and other gadgets, this isn't the case with a solar charger. These chargers may spend a lot of time outside, even in cloudy days, and should get what sun they can to store electricity in their internal battery.
Apart from this, some Solar style users also commented that the charger is not as sturdy as they would expect. Being sturdy is desirable with outdoor equipment, as it rolls a lot in your backpack or other cramped places. Finding a broken charger is a very unpleasant surprise for any hiker.
Some users had bad experience in heavy rain, which renders the device useless. This is expected from any electrical device, and the level of waterproofing provided by the S19 is adequate for most uses.
The temperature range for using the Solio S19 is -4F to 131F (-20C to 55C) which is sufficient for almost any outdoor activities.
Charging Efficiency
It is important to ensure before buying that the charger you get has the right plugs for your gadgets, because the charger doesn't support a wall-plug connector. (That means - you can't plug your normal chargers into it).
The Solar Style charger takes some hours to charge fully in direct sun. It takes even longer if you put it behind glass (like on the car's dashboard) because most windscreens manufactured today have some UV filter in them.
If you're looking at a solar charger that will let you charge your cell phone for those short calls, the Solar Style will be alright. However, for the more power-hungry devices, the output it provides is just not enough.
The Solar panels work well in most weather conditions, even when it's overcast. However, rain will render it useless.
It is important to ensure before buying that the charger you get has the right plugs for your gadgets, because the charger doesn't support a wall-plug connector. (That means - you can't plug your normal chargers into it).
The charger takes a long time to charge fully in direct sun. It takes even longer behind glass (like on the car's dashboard) because most windscreens manufactured today have some UV filter in them.
If you only need to charge your phone a little bit for an important call, 30 minutes of good sun will be enough - however for anything more than that you'll need longer sun-time for the Solio.
The S19 Universal Charger works well for most people under most conditions, even when it is overcast. You can usually use it to charge your iPod or other MP3 players at the beach while you're listening, and a light drizzle will not automatically ruin it.
Some hikers even went to the trouble of taking it with them mountain climbing and reported that the charger works better in higher altitudes.
Compactness
This is 10.7 x 2.3 x 7.2 cm, and 131g. The size and weight of this device make it very portable.
This is 12 x 6.3 x 3.3 cm and 156g, and these dimesnsions make it very compact and easy to carry around.
Connectors Number
The tips you get out of the box with the Solar Style include Nokia, Samsung, Motorola and Sony Ericsson phones, as well as an iPod, Gameboy and mini-USB connectors.
Additional connectors are sold separately.
The connectors sold with the charger include the female-USB, Motorola Razor, LG Chocolate, Nokia, Samsung and Blackberry.
Other connectors are available for separate purchase. These include iPhone 3G, Palm Treo, HTC, Sony Ericsson, PSP etc.
Low Cost
However, the charger's internal battery is not replaceable, and the charger will stop functioning after about 400 full cycles of the battery (that is - going from empty to full and empty again).
This makes the product unsuitable for ongoing everyday use, but it will still work well and for a long time for outdoor holidays.
In a sense, this makes the Solar Style less green - as you need to replace the whole unit every 400 cycles. If you plan to use your solar charger a lot, this is definitely a concern.
While prices vary from shop to shop, the S19 is usually at least twice as expensive as the competition.
Short Initial Charge Time
Using the solar panels for the initial charge will take some time - depending on the amount of sun the panels receive. Most users reported that a full day in the sun is usually enough, while a few had not been able to fully charge the battery in a whole week.
Life Expectancy
While the solar panels may continue to work and produce charge after those 400 full cycles, the battery itself will no longer charge, rendering the device useless - as the battery is not replaceable.
Add to that the fact that the Solar Style is not waterproof, and you find that the charger has a relatively short life expectancy compared to some of its competition.
While it is not completely waterproof, it does offer some water resistance, and will not become completely useless after a light rain.
Unlike other models, the internal rechargeable battery is not limited in the number of full usage cycles, and with proper care the charger can stay with you for quite a long time.
Solar Style SC002
Solio S19 Universal
Solar Style SC002
based on 13 customer reviews
Feel factor: 3
Terrible product
(Score 1/5)
Save your money. Although the Solar Style website sells a connector for the iPod video, It doesn't work. This product won't charge any of the iPods I use. It did charge my old second generation iPod, which I only use as a backup, since it's almost five years old and the battery doesn't stay charged. It's pretty worthless.
Posted on: 2009-01-20
By P. J. Evans
Don't expect the world with this
(Score 3/5)
I have the product charging my phone as I write this.
The charger is charging in direct sunlight while charging the phone.
The power rating for this product is low, and it can't charge my PDA with it. (it needs 500 ma, and the charger is drained very quickly when connected). I was hoping that it can do more, but I was disappointed.
At least it can charge my phone to the point where I can make a call, but not completely :)
Posted on: 2009-01-16
By P. Ho
Horrible.
(Score 1/5)
I don't recommend this product to anyone. It didn't charge my Shuffle, or iPod, or iPhone, or Samsung phone. It charged a friend's Mini at a scout camp (we were staff,) for which he was eternally grateful. My shuffle didn't last, since I couldn't charge it. It does charge my eneloops, through the USB adapter, so all is not lost, but still... not as powerful as I was hoping. Don't buy it. Get something better.
Posted on: 2009-01-03
By Ryan Sandberg
Totally Awesome!
(Score 5/5)
This thing is amazing and totally cool. I use it to charge my Nokia phone and always keep it nearby for backup power. The flashlight is very nifty, helped me find something I dropped under the drivers seat in my car one night. I recently updated my phone and getting a new connector (Nokia "thin pin") was very easy.
I would not suggest disconnecting your electric service and planning to use this to charge your phone forever, but you better believe its handy when the power goes out, or hiking, and did I mention how cool it is???
So bottom line, it's a very cool gadget, it works, and its fun to use. I'm thinking about getting a bunch this year as gifts for friends.
Hey Solar Style! Thanks for putting solar power in my pocket, I always thought it was only for NASA.
Posted on: 2008-09-24
By RexMark
Helpful index: 0%
What a disappointment
(Score 1/5)
Although the concept sounds great - this is a piece of junk! I ordered mine straight from the manufacturer, and right out of the box the battery would not accept a charge from the sun or wall charger. The LED flashlight would only work when the unit was plugged into the wall charger. Unfortunately there was nothing stored to transfer to my iPhone!
I am still waiting for a response from Solar Style's customer service. Given the previous reviews, I am sorry I wasted my money on this charger. I plan to do some more research and maybe try another one.
Posted on: 2008-09-20
By Mike
Solio S19 Universal
based on 58 customer reviews
Feel factor: 2
forget it!
(Score 1/5)
Worse than useless. We were relying on this during a recent trip, but it simply doesn't work. It seemed to be charged after a full day in the sun, but then would not give any charge to my iphone or my wife's motorola mobile. Next time: plain old batteries.
Posted on: 2010-07-27
By Francis J. Mcmahon
It doesn't work
(Score 1/5)
It's a nicely designed item, but it doesn't work and the manufacturer's customer service is mediocre. I fully charged the Solio and then took it on a trip, hoping to use it to recharge my iPhone when I couldn't plug it into a wall. When I plugged the Solio into the phone, it would start transferring its charge to the phone, but when the phone then went to sleep (after a minute or two), the Solio would stop transferring the charge. Desperate at one point to charge my phone, I kept it awake while the Solio was plugged in, and got some charge. But this was a real bother -- and because I was using battery power while simultaneously trying to charge the battery, it was pretty ineffective, too.
I emailed the company when I returned home -- and got a response, and one from a person, I think, too. But an exchange of several emails wasn't helpful. They asked if I'd charged the Solio. (I had.) They asked if I was using the right tip. (I was.) That sort of thing. Once customer service had run out of routine (and obvious) suggestions, they stopped responding to my emails.
The Solio isn't a portable charger if it can't successfully transfer a charge to your phone or other device, and it can't.
Posted on: 2010-06-11
By W. Bradley M. Kemp
Helpful index: 100%
Terrible Customer Service
(Score 1/5)
I tried calling them with a pre-sales question. They jerk you around through their terrible voicemail system until you hang up.
I won't buy from them - ever.
Posted on: 2010-06-07
By Denver Guy
Helpful index: 100%
Works for me
(Score 5/5)
Left it on the window sill for a few days until I needed it and it worked perfectly. A little slower to charge up the Kindle than if I had plugged the Kindle into the wall but the Solio will be great while traveling, during a power outage, or when I'm camping in the woods. Funny little instruction sheet with almost no writing and lots of pictures. Once I mastered the art of deciphering the pictures, it worked well for powering my original Kindle. FYI, I had to purchase a special connector tip for the Kindle 1; I believe that one of the tips that came with the Solio would have worked for the Kindle 2. No matter because Solio has ba-jillions of tips on their website for almost every phone and device.
Posted on: 2010-05-28
By J. Seidel
Helpful index: 100%
Works Great and as expected!
(Score 5/5)
I got this little gadget in the mail on Friday. We charged it initially from the wall until it was fully charged. This took about 8-9 hours. The next day we completely killed it charging my ipod, blackberry, and camera(s). On Sunday we put it out in the sun in the morning (probably around 8) and took it in at around 6. We didn't touch it all day. We just left it in the same spot. It didn't charge all the way up, but was probably at about an 80% charge. Had we moved it with the sun (it was partially obscured for part of the day), it probably would have gotten a full charge. All in all, I really like this little gadget! I think the real key is to charge it from a wall outlet initially.
Posted on: 2010-05-11
By MelMel
Helpful index: 100%
