Power banks, I like the TOMO V8 - 4 18650 Battery Charger.
I thought I was the only person who has learned from Martin Lorton.Does anyone have any experience with the new RavPower 16W solar charger? Martin Lorton reviewed the older 15W one which was really good (apart from the weight) and I was wondering how well the new version performs.
After doing a bit of research Choetech 19W charger seems to tick the most boxes for me but I would like to know how the new RavPower compares. I have a feeling they both use similar or even the same panels but because the RavPower is a newer product I thought that maybe they improved something.
Thanks for your input.
I thought I was the only person who has learned from Martin Lorton.
I expect advances in portable solar panels to increase each year, but from what I know now what is most important is not how many watts, but is what is the efficiency of the solar panels. Some internal panels are arranged in series where just a bit of shade reduces current to the entire circuit.
I totally agree.For me this is the best source of practical, hands-on information regarding solar panels on the web. Plus it's great that the web site is being updated with new chargers every now and then. It would be great if there were also reviews of the latest chargers with more efficient panels such as the RavPower I mentioned earlier or the EasyAcc 15W charger (which is probably 10W max by the looks of it) but they will be probably included at some point. Anyway, these videos and the web site are great as they are.
Better efficiency is great but it's always good to know what is the actual power output of a solar charger and that's one of the reasons these reviews are great. There a are plenty solar charger videos and reviews on the web but most of them are sponsored and none are as comprehensive as this one.
One thing to keep in mind is that the capacity as stated by the supplier is usually not the capacity one can get out the door, so to speak. The example I am most familiar with is the Anker 15w portable solar panel. Yes, the cells may have a maximum output of 15w, so one would expect 3A USB output, but by the time it goes through whatever circuitry to convert the panel voltage to USB output, the available power is 10.5w (2.1A total output between both jacks). I don't have any experience with the solar panel/charge combos but would expect the same type of thing happening. Chris, you may be better able to address that issue.
+1The guys above were talking about this guy's site and his solar panel reviews:
http://www.mjlorton.com/portable-folding-solar-panel-chargers-tested-the-results/
If you look at the specs that he measures, they're not all that close to rated numbers, but they are what they are and when you're without power, anything's better than nothing.
Remember, a lot of panels are manufacturer tested in labs and under ideal lighting conditions and not all light is the same, so we shouldn't expect perfection.
The two Ankers (14w/15w) hit about 50% of their stated output. Of all the ones tested, the Sunkingdom put out the most actual watts, (12+ watts,) but it's supposedly a 39w panel. The two Goal Zeros had the highest price per 'actual' watt, so none of them are perfect.
Much like fish tanks, buy the biggest one you can afford.
Chris
Anyone using any of the PowerFilm brand of solar chargers? Opinions? No mjlorton quality reviews found. Just a few poor to ok reviews and PowerFilm product YT videos. Made in the USA (Iowa), bit on the pricey side per lableled watt and larger in unfolded/unrolled size relative to most other panels of = labeled wattage. 15.4V output. Sized from 5watt(0.3A)to 120(7.2A)watt. Can be daisy chained together. Plug is a female car port charger. Their male car port to USB adapter output is labeled at 12V/1A, but description notes delivers 500mA of current (confused?). Using a Xtar VP2 and VC2 charger. VP2 12V/2.1A input, VC2 5V/1A input.
Have inquire out to PowerFilm support regarding their USB converter and use on hardware with the VP2 and VC2 specs.