7 Portable Solar Laptop Chargers Worth Considering
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California 
on 10.15.08
Portable solar laptops chargers have been around for a little while now, and they offer a great way to extend the battery life of your laptop using renewable, clean energy. While we typically can't run our laptops solely on a portable solar charger the way we can when we plug into a wall outlet, we can get our batteries to last quite a bit longer, or recharge our laptop batteries while turned off.
However, portable solar chargers are not yet perfect, and have always had some sort of issue that makes them undesirable.
There are three key elements to the ideal solar charger: power, portability and price.
The consumer wants something that is strong enough to run or at least trickle charge their laptop enough to work on it while out and about, with the charger not being impossible to carry around, and also not costing an arm, a leg, and a first born child.
The options are getting better, but that doesn’t mean choosing the right solar charger has gotten much easier. So we’ve scoured the market for the best choices in solar chargers, trying to make sure each option is reasonable regarding the three key elements, and put them here for you to make shopping around a little easier.
SolarRolls
This charger has proven itself a favorite among the outdoor types for backpacking and camping excursions.
Power: The SolarRoll comes in three sizes, depending on the output need. The roll that is powerful enough to charge a laptop has an output of 14 watts. It provides a trickle charge, or can provide a full charge in 5 to 10 hours, depending on the quality of sunlight. Multiple rolls can be linked together to get even more output.
Portability: SolarRolls, as the name says, rolls up, making it very easy to carry around. Also, its waterproof durability makes it safer to cart around and use on damp lawns, or café tables where drinks may be spilled. The large SolarRoll, which can suck up enough sunlight to power your laptop, is actually fairly large, measuring 12” wide by 57” long. So you need a pretty long surface area on which to unroll it in the sun. However, it only weighs 17 oz, and since it rolls up, it is easy to cart around.
Price: Ranges from $295 to $655 depending on the size. However, panel that is powerful enough to charge a laptop is the one priced at $655.
The Voltaic Generator
We've been eyeballing this handy solar bag for some time. It comes with battery packs to store energy, holding enough for a full laptop battery charge. It is also large enough to hold a 17” laptop inside.
Power: This is on the more powerful end, generating up to 15 watts. It takes about a day of charging, though.
Portability: The Generator is the essence of portability because it is, in fact, a bag. It is made of recycled PET, which makes it water resistant and light weight – though the bag still is 4.5 pounds. Add to that the weight of a laptop and that’s a fairly hefty load.
Price: A tag of $599 puts it on par with other solar chargers. Given that it is also a handy carrying case, the price tag looks a bit more attractive.
Sunshine Solar Briefcase Charger Amorphous 13 Watt
This charger offers a briefcase style, but doesn't double as a briefcase. We talked about it a few years ago, and the fact that it's still around says something for its functionality.
Power: Offering 13 watts, this isn’t the most powerful of options, though it is enough to extend the battery time of a laptop while in use.
Portability: While it is shaped like a briefcase, it doesn’t carry like one. Rather, it weighs a hefty 9.25 pounds, putting a damper on running around with one during the day. Yet, portability is relative – perhaps you’re looking for something to help you out while on a cruise or a remote area, and won’t need to be carrying it much. So, the compact size (20.5” x 13” x 1.5” is a nice, small size to cart around.
Price: This charger is surprisingly inexpensive, coming in at about $160, though it is on sale for $90 through October 27th. However, there’s a selection of accessories, like a charge regulator ($30), a four-panel connector cable ($18) and others that can bring up the total cost of the system. Still, it is relatively very cheap.
Next Page: Four More Great Choices for Solar Laptop Chargers
Follow @TreeHugger on Twitter & get our headlines with @TH_rss!
Thirsty for more? Check out these related articles:
- 7 Great Weekend Solar Power Projects
- 5 Reuses for Altoid Tins
- Obama's Posse Says: Paint Your Roof White
- How to Use a Solar Cooker: What Works and What Doesn't
- The Week's Best DIY Projects: Kid-Friendly Coloring Books, Energy-Saving Chargers, and Woven Coasters
- 6 Habits to Make Your Gadget Batteries Last Through Summer Trips
why not have something muscle powered? or is human power not enough for the task?
I think solar powered is definitely a great idea. I can see many sitting on on the lawns at campus with their laptops connected to the wifi out there and still being able to get power. Great product options!
These are funny... for less than $100 you could buy an extra laptop battery and power it from wind power on the grid for just $1.50 per 100kWh more. MUCH more portable, MUCH cheaper, almost as good.
My laptop, the EeePC 701 only takes 15 watts with WiFi on and playing video on a bright screen. Turn down everything and that's about 12 watts. I'm making my own battery pack with simple rechargeable AAs and an extra power cord. From renewable credits, it's just as sustainable as a personal solar panel.
If your computer had a solid-state hard drive and a small screen but had the same power, you could likely get twice the battery life. My current 3 hour battery life meets all my needs, and just about covers anything except extended trips away from an outlet, which is extremely unlikely.
The most efficient way to actually run a laptop (meaning being able to plug your laptop in and start computing) is with a AC Inverter (will convert 12v power from solar to 120V ac household power) and a battery pack to store the power so you can run your laptop on rainy days and at night when there is no sun. The AC inverter allows you to plug right into the system just like into the wall at home with your regular 3 prong wall plug. Most of these foldable and flexible panels mentioned above will not work stand alone as matching the voltage from a laptop to a 12v solar panel is very tricky and can damage your equiptment plus finding the right adapter many times is impossible. I've tested many of these systems and the only plug n play guaranteed system that works are the Earthtech Products Solar Laptop Chargers
http://www.earthtechproducts.com/p2580.html which include the portable solar panel, inverter, and battery pack in one system so you will not have to worry about tricky voltage settings that can damage devices or simply wont charge and adapters that fit your stuff.
I would rather spend this on a few cases of moleskine notebooks that are far more portable. Who is using their laptop this much where the only source of power is solar? 95% of the people who buy this are going to use this "for show" to attract mates, look cool and have bragging rights. I especially love when the kids come on campus with these solar backpacks that their parents bought them, not realizing the energy on campus are all from renewable resources and the solar cell on their backpack was pry made in China and caused irreparable harm to the environment in its manufacture. Personal solar, until they can get the efficiency way up is a dangerous fad. They are never used enough to justify the energy put in to their manufacture.
I'm with the above commentors. Solar recharging for laptops makes the most sense when a nearby wall-plug is not an option (ex: when camping or hiking). On those occasions, though, it is pretty seriously cool ! Otherwise, recharging from an ever-greening public electric grid uses far less energy at a much better cost, and with much less manufactured material than solar gadgets.
Ok, let's get a couple things straight here: portable solar is popular because it frees people from being dependent on the grid. I think it's great that companies like Voltaic are making bags that enable us to lead fun-filled outdoor lives. How can you say that manufacturing solar panels does irreparable damage on the environment when those factories would be manufacturing something else that has no renewable purpose if the demand to make the solar wasn't there?
There are much bigger environmental problems to deal with right now than the manufacturing of solar panels. Please save this argument for when we've figured out how to live without oil.
You didn't mention the Solar Laptop Charger from EarthtechProducts.com personally I think it one of the few that actually work.. I have tried (and spent alot of money doing so) alot of the ones mentioned and the only one that really worked well was the one from Earthtech Products.. it can be used for more than just laptops too.. you can actually plug other 110v devices into the power pack...although it is a little bigger than the solar laptop chargers mentioned above..the difference is that this one wont fry your laptop.. I have done a lot of research and highly recommend the solar laptop charger kits from earthtech products.. either the 300 watt one or the 200 watt one.. ones just a little less inexpensive than the other.. 2 thumbs up though..
Frank-
Actually getting an inverter is the least efficient way to run a laptop. Laptops run on DC directly from their DC batteries (all batteries are DC) and have to convert AC power into DC power in order to use it. The solar chargers actually charge the battery, allowing the laptop to skip the conversion process.
Even the most efficient inverter is only 96% efficient and I imagine the small ones designed for portable devices are a lot less efficient. So you have DC from solar panels going through a, lets say 90% efficient, inverter to switch it to AC so it can go to your laptop so your laptop can switch it from AC to DC (another conversion loss). These chargers are the best way to go for DC devices like a laptop.
Frank-
Actually getting an inverter is the least efficient way to run a laptop. Laptops run on DC directly from their DC batteries (all batteries are DC) and have to convert AC power into DC power in order to use it. The solar chargers actually charge the battery, allowing the laptop to skip the conversion process.
Even the most efficient inverter is only 96% efficient and I imagine the small ones designed for portable devices are a lot less efficient. So you have DC from solar panels going through a, lets say 90% efficient, inverter to switch it to AC so it can go to your laptop so your laptop can switch it from AC to DC (another conversion loss). These chargers are the best way to go for DC devices like a laptop.
I found the SolarGorilla Solar Laptop and Solar Battery Charger and PowerGorilla Laptop Charger at Earthtech Products today. They are finally in stock (I called them to confirm). I like this solar battery charger system the best so far. You can get either the Solar Gorilla itself which is just the solar panel or the Power Gorilla itself which is a back up battery and you can combine the both together to have the solar panel charge the battery. This thing is so cool. I hope someone will buy it for me for a Christmas gift :)
OMG, that's a nice one :)
I want that. Seriously, wind and solar power is the future of humanity.
@ John Haley:
I can't help but notice that your comments seem to be more focused on plugging and linking to Earthtech Products than on promoting the discussion.
That being said, I think solar laptop chargers are a great option especially when you have to be away from an electric source for prolonged periods. It's great to know that these chargers are becoming increasingly more portable (and hopefully efficient)!
@ JohnGalt
Not at all John. I just like to post helpful comments with professional links so readers can get there easily.. the discussions seemed to be going way off track and I was just showing people an easy to use solution instead of getting into too much complexity. This thing looks like a great solution instead of getting into inverters and other components. I actually really like Earthtech Products aswell because I've had great experiences with them in the past when I purchased some stuff.. I dont mind giving them a well deserved shout out anyway but the point was to point out the Solar and Power Gorilla.
rakista, i hate to tell you, but moleskines are made in china like the solar backpacks you claim are. and they are covered in pvc, filled with normal paper. a case of moleskines is not exactly eco-friendly, and one could charge moleskine users with wanting to attract mates also.
i don't mean to be rude.
I used that solar Laptop Charger, it really works, i bought it two months ago, its good when there is short of electricity. I recommended this product.
What if it weighed 5lbs./kw and cost $1/watt (same price per kwh as coal) would you be interested then?
Because that's what 3 pv companies are working on right now. One is really close.
do your own research.
Some commentators have questioned the need for a solar chargers...
I live 2 miles from the grid. I heat and cook on waste wood, and use sun jars and solar LEDs for light.
I've considered installing wind or water generation - but the only pieces of kit I have that require electricity are the laptop and phone - so these chargers would be ideal, reducing my need to hike downhill to the nearest wall-plug!
Sorry, every one of these products are way way overpriced. Solar panels should be saling at $5 or less a watt, you do the math. Especially, the thin film panels should cost $3 or least and their are sell at $20 a watt, a total ripeooff.
it is nice to see solar charger this days, especially for laptops and mobile, mobile phones has millions of users, the solar powered charger is the way to go green
I don't see mention of a product called "Sun Catcher Expedition". I bought this 25.1 W solar charger in 2002 and have used it extensively for my notebook computer as well as on my car dash when I am going out of town for extended time. I don't know if it is still available but a quick search found it offered here: http://www.globalcomsatphone.com/satellite/phones/solar_charger_expedition.html. This product is made up of higher efficiency single crystalline cells and it folds in half to a manageable size.
good product, it works great, I bought it 3 months ago.
I am working in a company which makes website for health, fitness, mini roulette, IT, shopping etc and I was in a great need of buying a laptop. So I finally bought a Dell Latitude D530, laptop last week.
Most of the people adviced me that it would not be a good deal to buy a laptop, instead they advised me to buy a desktop. I don't know why people have so much misconception regarding buying a laptop.
I am preparing for a solo cross country bicycle trip beginning June 1. The route will follow the Lewis and Clark Trail from Astoria , Oregon to Council Bluffs, Iowa where I will join the Ragbrai (10,000 bikers crossing Iowa). From there the route will continue East , with Washington, Dc the final destination. The plan is to camp about 50% of the time and stay at overnight lodging the rest of the time.
I will be using my Blackberry as a GPS . I also want to use a helmet cam to record a good deal of the trip as well. In addition I will taking a laptop. There are many stretches where it will be inconvenient and/or impossible to recharge batteries in a conventional manner.
I am asking your advice and suggestions to seek solutions using solar power to keep the batteries on these devices adequately powered. Is it possible to mount a solar device on my rig so that recharging can take place as I am riding?
My rig consists of a Stratus XP long wheel base recumbent bike (with a wind screen) pulling a B.O.B. trailer. This presents a larger than usual surface area to attach a solar panel system , either on the bike (wind screen or behind the seat) or possibly modifying the B.O.B. for the same purpose.
Any assistance you can provide will be greatly appreciated.
i recently went on a trip to north carolina and i brought my laptop with me. i did buy a converter for the car outlet that had 2 regular plugs. so i plug my laptop into it and it works great! until my dad hits the breaks then there is a loud sparking sound and i have to un plug it. so what would be nice is if i had something i could stick on my window and plug my laptop into for a constant power suply. but i have a hp pavilion and it has a 19 inch widescreen so few solar chargers that are in my price range work for me. any segustions?
p.s. i also left my solar powered watch in north carolina it was a g-shock atomic waterproof watch and i highly recomend it to anyone looking for a cool digital watch. (the maker of the watch is casio but you can find it at www.amazon.com for a reasonable price.
If you are based in the UK or Europe check out Solar Gadget Store for all kind of energy saving devices.