Use the power of the sun while on your next camping trip with the Strong Volt 18W Solar Panel. . It is capable of charging all your USB-powered gadgets including (but not limited to) smartphones, tablets, GPS devices, and flashlights.
The Strong Volt consists of 3 firm metal backed panels set in a nylon folding housing that folds down to 1/3 of its opened size. The build quality seems quite sturdy and should be able to stand up to rugged camping. Small metal grommet holes are provided at one end of the panel, but are missing from the other end. I would have also preferred that the metal grommets be a bit larger in diameter to accommodate a wider variety of rope and carabineer sizes. When folded up, the Strong Volt is held closed by a Velcro strip that has been able to keep the panel from accidentally opening. There are also 2 built-in pockets: one for holding the battery and the other to hold the included wall charger, car charger, micro USB cable, and the direct solar to USB adapter (which allows you to charge your USB gadgets from the panel without the battery pack). I would have liked to see a few small holes in the sides of the fabric battery compartment to allow cables to connect to the battery so that it could stay fully secure in its pocket while being charged. As it stands now, the Power Bank battery pack must sit partially out of its protective sheath so that the solar panel charge cable is able to plug into it.
At the heart of the Strong Volt solar panel is its Power Bank Lithium-Polymer rechargeable battery pack. It has a capacity of 5,400mAh and 2 USB ports, which provide a combined 2,000mAh of current and is capable of charging an iPad and an iPhone simultaneously. It’s even enough to fully recharge a dead iPhone nearly 3 times before needing to be recharged. The battery has two input charging ports; one for connecting to the solar panel and the other is a mini USB port for charging from the wall or a car. The battery has multiple LED’s that indicate when charging from the solar panel or from the mini USB port. There is also a series of 6 LED’s to indicate the battery level. I did notice one little a problem with these LED’s however. They are way too dim to see in daylight without wrapping your hand around them in an attempt to provide sufficient shade so they are visible. This is certainly not a deal breaker, just a little inconvenient.
During my power output tests, I found the Strong Volt’s rating of 18W’s to be fairly accurate. I also found that the panel’s voltage output was between 6-10v with an average output of around 8 to 9 volts. (Just barely enough to charge up my Ham Radio’s 7.2v battery pack.) However, I wasn’t able to do this straight out of the box. I had to utilize a small adapter tip, which connected to the plug coming off of the solar panel. I have included photos of these tips in the slide show. They do not come with this panel, but it would be nice if something similar to these were packaged with the Strong Volt for those who would like to take full advantage of the solar panels’ potential. With further testing, I discovered that the battery could fully charge a dead iPhone in around 3 hours. The included battery pack can also be fully recharged from the Strong Volt solar panel in roughly 6 hours of direct sunlight.
In conclusion, I found that if the Strong Volt was kept in the sun all day, I could keep my iPhone charged up indefinitely provided there was a bright sunny day at least every three days. This makes it just perfect for those climates that get a lot of sun nearly year round. Not only is this gadget highly useful on camping trips and other off-the-grid adventures, it also makes a great addition to any emergency bag. I think this is a great product and recommend that anyone in the market for this class of panel take a close look at the 18W Strong Volt fold up solar panel and Power Bank battery pack.
Pros:
• Able to charge 2 USB devices simultaneously
• Compatible with smartphones & tablets
• Full battery can charge an iPhone nearly 3 times from 0-100% without any sun
• Solar panel creates enough power to charge an iPhone indefinitely when sunny
• Able to charge my 7.2v ham radio battery directly from the panel by using my own adapter tip that was not included with the solar panel
Cons:
• No built-in or included ability to prop panel directly toward the sun
• No holes through fabric to charge battery while in pouch
• LED battery level indicator is too dim to see in daylight or even shade
• No included adapters to charge non USB devices directly from solar panel
Price: $149.99
For more information, visit the following web-link: www.strongvolt.com
