New iPhone launch - how good are portable solar chargers?

Calm down dear - it's only the new iPhone!

Well be that as it may, I can't wait to get my hands on one and trying to be 'green' (and not wanting to run out of battery on a lonely moor), I thought it was an excellent time to look at a solar recharger for my gadgets and gizmo's.

Well that certainly opened a can of worms. The problem is two-fold.

Firstly, there's an awful lot of different solar charging products out there - from ones incorporating torches and radios to smaller panel 'sets' that open fan-like and plug or generate and store the energy for when you need to plug in and recharge.

Secondly, there are lots of reviews accompanying these various products and there's always a mixture - some good, some not so.

Complaints seem to range from "not compatible with my device" to "took so long to charge". Some which fit directly onto the phone like a kind of extended case warn you not to leave it in the sun (say on a windowsill) as the heat can damage your phone.

Sorry but I thought the whole point of a solar charger was to put it in the place where it will get the most sunlight?

So over to you - our gallant and intrepid readers. Have you any experience of solar charges for portable devices like phones and MP3 players? What worked and what didn't? What didn't live up to your expectations and what exceeded them? I need some help here folks.

photo credit: mackarus

All I want for Christmas is solar powered...

We've put together a cracking top 5 Christmas present list full of ideas that all utilise solar energy. Why not give a gift that's green this Christmas....

1) Solar charger for mobile phones.
A handy gadget to have if you're out and about - after all, not every tree has a mains socket does it? These handy devices store the suns energy and can then be used to charge up or power your mobile phone. There are quite a few different models to choose from now. Some are more powerful than others, some power more than just phones and can also power handheld game consoles. Check that the one you'e buying will actually fit your phone.

2) Solar Powered Garden Lights.
Hardly new but I was amazed at the range of different styles now available. Each light has a small solar panel built in that charges that individual light with enough juice to stay alight well into the early hours. Perfect for paths etc where it's difficult to lay a mains cable, patios and driveways, rockeries.

3) Solar inflated 'air ship'
An interesting concept in kite flying, a kind of flying sausage you fly like a kite on a string. Roll out the 'kite' and the material soaks up the sun, making it inflate. Once it inflates, it's size means it should just float upwards but it may need a helping hand to launch.

4) Solar Powered Torch.
I know what you're thinking - it's usually dark when you need a torch. That may be so but there's nothing to stop you charging one up in the daytime is there? Just think of all the money you'll save on torch batteries or arm ache from all that winding.

5) Solar Powered Battery Charger.
If you've got to use batteries and lets face it, everything from a computer mouse and wireless keyboard to toys and games do use them, then anything you can do to cut down the battery shopping bill does more than save money. It also saves precious resources and waste. Of course, you'll also save electricity normally spent re-charging batteries so that makes rechargeable batteries even better for the environment.

Bonus Idea: 6) Not strictly solar powered but we like this idea a lot. So much so that it's going on our Christmas list. Rechargeable AA batteries that fit inside a handy USB powered charger. If it only saves buying mouse batteries, then that's got to be good hasn't it?

Feel free to chip in with your own suggestions in the comments below.

photo credit: cordery