Freeloader solar power unit

[BigonaBianchi]

I was just trying to reduce weight in the panniers and thought long and hard about the freeloader solar charger and the solar panel it has. I'm not convinced the thing will charge up my htc phone TBH. Cant really test it in this weather either...so given that I have a car cigarette lighter >usb>phone connection to charge from a friendly car somewhere and a power cable for motels...I'm starting to think I wont take the free loader on the transam...I'll take a seperate el cheapo mobile with a USA sim and a fully charged battery for 911 use only and keep it in the bottom of a pannier somewhere just in case my phone does run out of juice at the crucial time.

Has anyone had any success with such gadgets?

 

[oldfatfool]

I have a cheapo solar panel http://www.amazon.co.uk/NEON-YG-020-Portable-Solar-Charger/dp/B0050O95EI/ref=pd_sim_sbs_ce_5
Plugged directly into the sat nav it keeps it fully charged whilst running with the back-light on even in overcast conditions, HOWEVER even in sunny conditions it takes forever to actually charge the sat nav battery.

Pleasantly surprised as it is perfect for fastening to the top of my roll with a wire along the top tube.

 

[BigonaBianchi]

..well well well...I was scrolling through appstore on my phone and found a free solar power charger app...claims that all i have to do is leave phone screen in the sun and it will charge my phone!! It's dark so i cant test it yet but if it works then it's job done!

 

[Aushiker]

..well well well...I was scrolling through appstore on my phone and found a free solar power charger app...claims that all i have to do is leave phone screen in the sun and it will charge my phone!! It's dark so i cant test it yet but if it works then it's job done!

Well it is free so nothing lost I guess, but if a bigger solar screen does not do a good job of charging I wouldn't expect a small one to do so. I think your idea of a cheap backup phone is a good one unless you want to go the down the path of a decent sized solar panel.

Good luck on the ride too

Regards
Andrew

 

[BigonaBianchi]

Well it is free so nothing lost I guess, but if a bigger solar screen does not do a good job of charging I wouldn't expect a small one to do so. I think your idea of a cheap backup phone is a good one unless you want to go the down the path of a decent sized solar panel.

Good luck on the ride too

Regards
Andrew

You are probably right...I think that i'll be fine though with a power lead/cigarette car charger/back up phone in pannier, and then if all that fails I have the solar app and a day waiting for it to charge enough to call 911....

 

[bluemint]

I have the Freeloader Pro (it comes with a camera battery charger too) but I've just got myself a Powerbee charger. It's lighter and higher power capacity than anything freeloader have (Powerbee's exec model has an even higher capacity)

I didn't like the freeloader pro that much, it was quite heavy, awkward to use and not the best power capacity but the powerbee seems much better at less than £20.

The solar power app sounds more like a novelty than an actual charger.

 

[ufkacbln]

These are fine - if you have sun!


I have used the PowerMonkey Solar to keep both our phones charged over a week of normal use, but that was in the summer.

 

[HovR]

..well well well...I was scrolling through appstore on my phone and found a free solar power charger app...claims that all i have to do is leave phone screen in the sun and it will charge my phone!! It's dark so i cant test it yet but if it works then it's job done!

Not going to work. Sorry, but it is not possible to turn an LCD screen in to a solar panel with an app.

HTC's are pretty good smart phones, but they're not that smart!

 

[MrJamie]

Not going to work. Sorry, but it is not possible to turn an LCD screen in to a solar panel with an app.

HTC's are pretty good smart phones, but they're not that smart!

I saw those apps on android market, seems they were put up around the 1st of April

 

[BigonaBianchi]

Not going to work. Sorry, but it is not possible to turn an LCD screen in to a solar panel with an app

ok...but why not?

 

[Yellow7]

ok...but why not?

An LC Display operates with a very small current (nano-amps) applied to the pixels, where-as a a solar cell produces current, they couldn't be more different.

On my bike I use a front hub dynamo and made a charger to supply 300mA USB feed (for my MP3 player) and also incorporates holders for charging AA cells) (I’m an electronics Eng. by trade) That way there’s power what-ever the weather, just as long as I’m moving!!

Mark.

 

[vernon]

..well well well...I was scrolling through appstore on my phone and found a free solar power charger app...claims that all i have to do is leave phone screen in the sun and it will charge my phone!! It's dark so i cant test it yet but if it works then it's job done!

Was the release date the first of April by any chance?

 

[BigonaBianchi]

ok ok lol!

 

[middleagecyclist]

Tried a Freeloader in the UK - not very good at all. Now rely on a Dynohub and Pedalpower SIC charging unit for my gizmos - brilliant!

 

[lulubel]

Tried a Freeloader in the UK - not very good at all. Now rely on a Dynohub and Pedalpower SIC charging unit for my gizmos - brilliant!

What kind of "gizmos" do you charge with the hub?