Solio Universal Hybrid Solar Charger

by Solio

• Universal "hybrid" solar battery charger with internal battery for charging portable electronics
• Internal battery absorbs energy from 4 hours in the wall socket or 8 to 10 hours of direct sunlight
• Charges iPods, cell phones, MP3 players, PDAs, game players, GPS units, or digital cameras
• 3 blades spread out to absorb maximum sunlight; stores power for more than 1 year
• Includes global wall charger; measures 2.5 x 1.3 x 4.7 inches (W x H x D); 1-year warranty

Product Description

Amazon.com

The Solio universal "hybrid" solar charger is powerful enough to charge all of your handheld electronic products whether you're at home or on the move. The Solio works by absorbing power from either the wall socket or direct sunlight, and then storing the energy within its internal battery. Once the Solio's battery is full, you can use the charger to power your cell phone, smart phone, iPod, MP3 player, PDA, Bluetooth headset, game player, GPS, fish finder, or digital camera, making it a powerful all-in-one battery charger. The universal charger is also cost-effective, as the sun-based energy is completely free and creates no harmful impacts. And the design couldn't be simpler, with a fan-blade outlay that achieves maximum solar area when in use. Just spread out the blades, expose them to direct sunlight either outdoors or affixed to a window, and get ready to take your power on the road.

The black Solio charges your electronics at the same rate as a conventional charger, and stores enough juice to fully charge an average cell phone at least twice or provide more than 20 hours of iPod tunes. In addition, the Solio can charge your electronics directly rather than relying on the built-in battery. An hour of sun, for instance, will deliver enough power for about 50 minutes of MP3 playing time or 10 minutes of cell phone talk time. Finally, the energy in the Solio's built-in battery doesn't need to be redeemed immediately, as it stores the juice for more than a year. The Solio, which measures 2.5 by 1.3 by 4.7 inches (W x H x D), is backed by a one-year warranty.

The Solio hybrid solar charger can power your cell phone, iPod, GPS, and almost any other small device.

Specifications:

• Nominal DC output: 3V, 2A
• Maximum wattage: 6 watts
• Battery: Rechargeable lithium-ion 3.7V, 1.65A cell
• DC input: 5-6V 0.44 Ah
• Dimensions: 4.72 by 1.34 by 2.56 inches (W x H x D)
• Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Temperature range: -4 to 131 degrees F

About Solio
The sun's energy has always been recognized as powerful. How powerful? The amount of energy that falls on the Earth in one hour is the same amount used by the world's population in one year. With these types of details in mind, Better Energy Systems created the Solio--a hybrid solar charger for small, portable, electronic gadgets. It was introduced at San Francisco's MacWorld in 2005, where it won Best of Show. The Solio quickly caught the consumer's imagination and interest, because it combined convenient, easy-to-use renewable energy with cutting-edge, award-winning design and engineering. With this combined value and appeal, the company continues to receive prestigious awards and acknowledgements for its family of four Solio models, and has now sold more solar systems than any other company in the world.

Product Description

Better Energy Systems Solio Universal Hybrid Solar Charger S121-G07A 1034

Product Details

• Item Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000YWC3Q8
• Item model number: G07A
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (49 customer reviews)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

143 of 145 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Wow I wanted this to work August 31, 2007

By M. D. Sullivan

Color Name:Black- old|Amazon Verified Purchase

I reluctantly returned this product after a few weeks. It just does not charge in sunlight the way I expected it to.
Even the manual say it takes two days of sun to fully charge the battery. I placed it in a West facing window for a week and it never fully charged. The company said the usual stuff. Window coating can diminish results, clouds, haze, etc. Plus the instructions say it has to be pointed right at the sun to charge correctly. So if you are driving West with the device on the front windshield it still won't charge correctly. You have to point it RIGHT at the sun.
I laid it on my deck. It was drenched in sun and still didn't get a good charge.
If you plug it into a wall outlet overnight then it will do a good job as a backup battery. But that isn't why I bought it.
Plus it doesn't work quite right with iPods. When you plug the iPod in and hit the start button on the Solio, the Solio will charge the iPod. But after a few hours it will quit charging and the iPod will run off the internal battery until you hit start on the Solio again.
Solio tech support said this is a known issue.
I guess I will try again in a few years.
Great idea, just not ready for prime time.

55 of 57 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Great idea still needs a little improvement January 9, 2007

By Jacqueline K. Pon

Color Name:Silver- old

I got the charger for my boyfriend for Christmas and he loved the idea immediately; however, the plugs that it comes with don't work with most of his little gadgets and the extras that I purchased didn't work with his Samsung phone and DS lite. He does love using this for his ipod and I can use it for my Nokia phone. Call customer service to discuss the extra plugs before purchasing so that you know exactly what you're getting. Good luck!

39 of 41 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Its Green but its sooo slow... March 14, 2007

By D. Miao

Color Name:White- Old|Amazon Verified Purchase

The Solio works great as an extra battery while traveling with the wall charger. But it takes forever to charge from the sun. If you leave it in the window for about a week you might get half a charge. This will charge your phone at least once. Which was the reason i got it. Im sure it will be better in the summer when I bring it to the park or the beach and use it at the same time as im using my Ipod.

The connectors that it comes with are great! and the design is really nice.

p.s after impulse buying this I researched and found possibly better alternatives like solar rolls from brunton. Looks like you can get more for your buck.