Surge Hybrid Solar Charger for iPhone 3G, 3G S (Black)

by Novothink, Inc.

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 1.5 x 5.1 x 7.2 inches ; 6.2 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B002S53F8E
• Item model number: NT01-BLK
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #82,944 in Cell Phones & Accessories (See Top 100 in Cell Phones & Accessories)

Product Description

SURGE is a sleek, smartly designed hybrid solar charger for iPhone 3G and 3GS that lets you power up directly from the sun.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great, but..., March 31, 2010

By 

Holly (Indiana USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Surge Hybrid Solar Charger for iPhone 3G, 3G S (Black) (Wireless Phone Accessory)

We will hiking for a month and have been looking for ways to charge our iPhones on the trail.

After waiting for months, my white/orange surge finally arrived! It's beautiful and about the same size as a Mophie Juice Pack (charging case), and the same price.

After using it for about a month, here's my review.

1) as a plug in/extra battery charger case, it rocks. I wear it with a carabiner on my belt loop while its recharging my phone (about 1-2 hours). It's easy to use and after an initial problem getting my phone to sit correctly, it now slides in easily and firmly.

2) as a purely solar charger, it is disappointing. I've tried leaving the charger sit in the direct and indirect sun that hits my porch for three days, and it was still barely charged. I've tried sitting it on my dashboard (to absorb sunlight through the windshield), and it gets hardly any juice. As a purely solar charger, I'm not going to get enough power for my daily email needs on the hike.

Having said that, I would still recommend the Surge. It is the same size as a Juice Pack and functions exactly the same (plug into my computer to charge the case, carry it around in my purse till I need it) and works very well. As solely a solar charger, it is lacking. But who cares? If I can get a little juice from the sun and consume a little less from the grid, then its a good thing. The cost is the same as other charging cases, and the Surges are very cute! Maybe those living closer to the equator get better sun power.

Note; When the Surge battery is almost empty, it is best to disconnect the iPhone and let the Surge charge up on solar power alone. Why? As the Surge battery gets empty, the phone flips back to using its own battery, then when the Surge has collected a tiny bit of power from the sun, it flips back to charging mode. I was serenaded by beeping every 20-30 seconds until I realized this was happening. Unplug the phone, let the Surge charge up again on its on from the sun, then plug it back in if you need more power.

Solar power from such a tiny panel is, well, tiny. But I love the case and would recommend it for anyone considering a powered case.

(We ended up also buying a HyperShop HyperDrive MBP-60 ($200) to carry backpacking - It weighs one pound and will charge our phones 14 times! Worth it!)

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Solar Charger for i-phone, May 4, 2010

By 

Garry Eubanks - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Surge Hybrid Solar Charger for iPhone 3G, 3G S (Black) (Wireless Phone Accessory)

Purchased a i-phone solar charger made by Novothink, Inc and sold by A.P.D in Brooklyn, NY. Product would not charge phone, even after leaving it on dashboard for hours. Called APD and they told me to call MFG and gave phone number of Novothink....who did give me RMA to return for a differnt unit. However, new unit also would not charge phone, again after leaving it in sun for hours. Product will not work and A.P.D refuses to take it back, claiming it is beyond their 14 day return policy. Made no difference that I initially called them within 14 days. Pruduct does not work as advertised! APD acting like another Brooklyn 'gotcha' company. Still trying to resolve this with Novothink?

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Good Idea, flaky implementation, April 15, 2010

By 

James Allan Martens (Calgary AB, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Surge Hybrid Solar Charger for iPhone 3G, 3G S (Black) (Wireless Phone Accessory)

I got this unit a few days ago. It does more or less what it says, but I think there is a flaw in it's design. Apparently it's supposed to shut off if it gets too hot. This would seem prudent, except for the fact that mine shuts off when you put it in direct sunlight. Ergo it does not charge. (Ok - I can't say for a fact that it shuts off, but there is no noticeable change in the charge level after 3 hours in the sun, and the red LED light shuts off as soon as it gets a full blast of sunlight)

The only way I have been able to get it to charge via solar is expose it to *indirect* or reflected sunlight, or to partially obscure the Solar cell with a bit of paper. I am at a loss to explain why a charger that is meant to utilize the sun shuts off when exposed to it. I should also point out that I am in Calgary, and it's about 15 celcius - which is just pleasantly cool. Certainly not hot enough to fry a Li-polymer battery cell.

So it's kind of a waste of money in my opinion. If novothink provides a means to update the firmware of replace a defective one with a working one, this product would get a 5 and I'd buy one for my family members who use an iPhone.