Freeloader Solar Charger
Freeloader Solar Charger
Find out more about the Freeloader solar charger for mobile phones, iPods, PDAs, and GPS
solar | shopping | general
There are now many
solar chargers on the market which can be used to provide power on the move for mobile phones, iPods, PDAs, GPS units, and other electronic devices. The
Freeloader is the best selling
solar charger in the UK, and also one of the cheapest commercially available units.
NEW The new
Freeloader Pro is now also available. Click here for more information on the
Freeloader Pro.
Freeloader Solar Charger
Pictured above, the
Freeloader Solar Charger weighs in at just 185g and is just 12.3 x 6.2 x 1.7cm. A small crystalline
PV solar panel is used to charge an onboard
lithium ion battery. The Freeloader has a strong aluminium body.
The power stored in the battery can be used to recharge a wide-range of hand held devices via one of the twelve supplied
adapters. These include Motorola, Nokia, Samsung, and Sony Ericsson mobile phone, USB, mini-USB, and 4mm straight jack adapters. Other adapters for less common phones, Game Boys etc, are available for around £5 each.
The lithium ion (Li-ion) battery fitted into the Freeloader will hold charge for up to
three months. The average lifetime of the battery is two years with replacements available for just over £10.
In full sunlight, the
5.5V, 120 mA solar panel can fully charge the
3.7V, 1000 mAh battery in around 5-6 hours. Alternatively, the battery can be charged directly using the included USB cable (connected to a computer) in just three hours.
Freeloader User Manual
The
Freeloader User Manual (PDF) can be downloaded here. It is also supplied in printed form with the Freeloader.
NEW Freeloader Globetrotter
The
Freeloader is now available in a
Globetrotter pack (pictured above) which includes a 1.5 Watt crystalline PV solar panel called the
Supercharger. The Supercharger is 210mm x 159mm x 6mm, weighs in at 200g, and will charge the batteries from flat in just
4 hours of direct sunshine. It's main advantage is that it is fully
weather resistant and fitted with a couple of velcro straps so it can be fixed to a rucksack or bicycle panniers. In this way, the Freeloader can be charged throughout the day without having to get it out of your bag.
Buy a Freeloader Solar Charger
If you would like to
buy a Freeloader Solar Charger for
£24.95, click here.
Alternatively, click here to
buy a Freeloader Globetrotter for
£49.95.
NEW The Freeloader Solar Charger can now be used to charge two AA or AAA
rechargeable batteries using the new
Freeloader AA/AAA Battery Charger.
Alternatives to the Freeloader
If you require a larger
battery capacity and more powerful
solar panel consider instead the
PowerMonkey Explorer (3.6V 2,200mAh battery, 5V 200mA solar panel) or the
Solio Solar Charger (3.6V 1,600mAh battery, 6V 165mA solar panel) both of which are available in the UK for around
£50.
Alternatively you can make your own
solar battery charger very easily.
Article Last Modified: 12:01, 25th Jun 2009Comment on this Article
If you have any comments on this article, please email them to
neil@reuk.co.uk.
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