The solar charger market has seen many entrants over the years as the advancement in technology and materials has allowed for many new form factors. A portable solar charger can proove to be a lifesaver when you are out and about, especially during hiking or camping when options for finding power outlets are limited. In past, many companies have mass produced low efficiency solar chargers that did not meet the expectations of the consumers. As a result, we are finallying seeing companies coming out with high-efficiency solar chargers that provide functionality and efficiency for on-the-go charging needs. One such charger is the SolarCru, which promises to offer a portable solar charger that is smaller and ligheter than other chargers on the market. Before we look at the SolarCru in detail, let’s first understand how the solar chargers work.
How Do Solar Chargers Work?
The portable solar chargers work using the same relatively simple concept as any other solar charger by converting light into electricity. The sun emmits energy in form of waves that range in legth from short ultraviolet waves through visible specturm to longer infrared waves. The active part of a solar cell is made of semiconductive material, typically silicon. A semiconductor is a type of material that normally doesn’t conduct electricity but it can be made more conductive under certain conditions. The semiconductor part of the solar cell has three layers, the thin top layer contains silicon and a very tiny amount of phosphorus that has more electrons than silicon, which provides the top layer an excess of electrons that are free to move. The top layer is also called negative type. The thin bottom layer contains both silicon and boron that has fewer electreons that silicon, which gives the bottom layer fewer electrons that are free to move. As the bottom layer prefers the collection and transport of positive charges, it is called the positive type. The thicker middle layer has slightly fewer electrons. The top layer also has thin middle lines made of silver and the bottom layer is in contact with aluminum plate.
When light waves in form of photons hit the top surface of the silicon solar cells, only light with wavelength with 350 – 1140 nm are absorbed in to the middle layer of the solar cell. This range of wavelength includes the visible specturm and ultraviolet wavelength stop at the surface and infrared wavelength pass right though or reflect back. The light wave knocks an electron off of the silicon atom, which leaves an area of positive charge. The lose electron reaches the top layer and positive charge moves towards the bottom layer. This process continues as long as the light hits the solar cells. Now that the electrons and the positive charges are separated, a wire can be connected to the top and bottom electrodes. The wire provdes a pathway for the elctrons to move, which is also known as electrical current. One solar cells produces several watts of power, which is sufficient to run a phone charger. In order to get more power, several solar cells are typically wired together to make a solar panel and several solar panels can be attached together to power bigger applicances.
What is SolarCru?
The SolarCru is a small, foldable, and portable solar charger that can power your devices when you are on the go. The SolarCru allows you to add additional panels to increase the output to 15 watts. The charger can also store upto 2000 mAh of charge using solar power or USB chargine, which allows it to act like a portable charger when it is not in direct sunlight.
The SolarCru is made up of mono-crystalline panels that are filmed with fluoropolymer, which provide highest grade silicon cells with greater efficiency as they are optimised for commercial use with longer lifespan. The SolarCru panels allow it to harvest, convert and store solar energy even when it is partly blocked on a cloudy day. The SolarCru also has a smart chip that identifies the device being charged to atomatically adjust the output to provide the right amount of power to prevent overcharge, over-current, or overload to maximize the battery life. SolarCru has a PET laminated scratch-resistant solar panels that are housed in dust and waster resistant fabric, which makes it ideal for outdoor use.
Technical Specifications
The SolarCru weighs in at about 0.52 lbs without battery and 0.7 lbs with battery. It has dimension of 9.6 x 1.2 x 2.9 inches when folded and 18 x 9.6 x 0.15 inches when unfolded. The folded SolarCru can fit into a bag or jacket pocket for easier transportation. The solar panels charging is done at 5V/1.2A and USB output provides 5V/2A. When equipped with a battery, you can have a capacity of 2000 mAh that is best suited for charging after sunset.
Pricing and Availability
The SolarCru is currently available through Kickstarter for $34 with a 2000 mAh battery. There was a $29 option which provided a regular SolarCru without the battery but that option is all gone right now. However, we feel that the $34 option is a better deal as it also provides the much needed battery for night time use.
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Source: Kickstarter, Goodenergy
I am officially a tech addict and enjoy providing my views on matters related to this industry. I am always interested in trying out new tech gadgets and I have owned multiple smartphones including the legendary HTC One, SGS2, Nexus 4, iPhone 4, 5S, 6S, XR, Note 9. You can ask me any tech related questions in the comment section or on twitter @hookedNav