Product Description: Award-winning, compact and versatile, Solio stores power from the sun or socket, freeing you to recharge your mobile phone, iPod and other handheld devices anywhere, anytime. A fully charged Solio will recharge the average phone up to two times or give you up to 15 hours of MP3 music. Solio's intelligent internal circuitry and Adapter Tip System let you charge devices at about the same rate as a wall charger. Solio generates free and clean energy immediately. Plug more devices into your Solio with our range of adapter tips. With universal connectors like the USB Cable, Mini-USB tip, and 12V Universal Adapter, Solio powers even more gadgets. With wall adapters for US, Europe, UK and Australia-New Zealand, leave all those heavy chargers behind and let Solio be your indispensable travel companion. Rated output - 4-12V, 0-1A Solar panel output - 155mA at 6V Internal battery - rechargeable 3.6V, 1600mAh Lithium Ion Dimensions - Length 4.7 x Height 1.3 x Width 2.5 (11.94x3.30x6.35cm) Weight - 5.6 ounces (156 grams)
Amazon.com Product Description: The Solio universal "hybrid" solar charger is powerful enough to charge all of your handheld electronic products at home or on the move. The Solio works by absorbing power from either four hours in the wall socket or 8 to 10 hours of direct sunlight, and then storing the energy within its internal battery. Once the Solio's battery is full, you can use the unit to charge your cell phone, iPod, MP3 player, PDA, game player, GPS, fish finder, or digital camera, making it a powerful all-in-one battery charger. The universal charger is also environmentally friendly and 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 silver 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 once or an iPod nano at least two times. 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 an hour of iPod playing time, 10 minutes of cell phone talk time, or four hours of cell phone standby 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.
To make the Solio easier to use, the device comes with a series of interchangeable tip system connectors, including connectors for Nokia, Motorola, and Samsung cell phones, along with a mini-USB tip and an interchangeable tip system cable. And travelers will love the included global wall charger, with adapters for the U.S., U.K., Europe, and Australia/New Zealand. 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.
What's in the Box Solio battery charger, Nokia tip, Motorola tip, Samsung tip, mini-USB tip, interchangeable tip system cable, USB cable, 12-volt universal adapter, global travel charger with adapters, window suction cup, user's manual.
Fun, but anemic I've had varying success with my Solio. Took me awhile to get a hang of the device's fickleness, but I'm able to successfully (albeit partially) charge my iPhone (which needs charging at least every other day).
The trick is that it really takes me two full days of leaving the Solio out in the sun to get a full charge. Their site claims "Charging Solio's internal battery takes 8-10 hours of direct sunlight." I haven't found that to be the case. I really need TWO days to fully charge the device. Of course, if I didn't have a life, I could change the placement of the charger throughout the day to point directly at the sun as it moves through the sky, and this would probably get close to a full charge in a normal day.
When the Solio DOES fully charge, I only get about 1/2 to 3/4 charge to my iPhone, and not more. So two days of work for maybe a work's day of usage for the iPhone. Better than nothing, but not something I'd depend my life on...
In short, I'd describe the Solio as "fun, but anemic". The device actually works and charges devices, but I probably save more money and benefit the environment more by hanging my clothes out to dry (instead of using the dryer) then getting 1/2 charge for my iPhone every couple of days.
Little panels. Moving target. Nothing ever charges as fast as we want it to. The Solio is no different. Point it at the sun and the little red LED on the back comes on to led you know that you're in a good position and that it is charging.
The caveat is that you're aiming at a moving target. If you're not pointing directly at the sun you're still charging, just not nearly as well.
The first night I had it I charged the Solio from a wall outlet then used it to top off my blackberry that night. It charged it with no issue and drained the Solio to about 40% (2 blinks - 20% per blink). Ever since I've been trying to position it in my parked car to fully charge, but have yet to fully charge it through pure solar use. That being said, I've been setting it on the dash of my car and leaving it there. It's charging. It would charge even faster if I always had it outside facing the sun without uv filtering glass in the way, but it IS working.
If I spent a lot of time outdoors, the Solio would be IDEAL. As it is, I find it would be more of use (for me personally) in an emergency kit.
It DOES work though. If you want faster charging, get something with more solar cell area.
I smell something burning... Both my boyfriend and I got the solio as gifts, the solio he got burned his cell phone and the solio I got burned my mp3 player. Two completely different units and both fried our devices. Although Solio refunded my boyfriend for his cell phone they did nothing with mine...so unless you want a burned device go for it, otherwise be smart and don't let you devices get fried up inside.
Sounds cool but a big waste of time Here's the thing: it's not like you magically hook up your device to this and it charges from the sun. You use the solar panels to charge a battery which then charges your device. So you need to have this thing in the sun all the time to keep the battery charged - and then it will take forever to charge whatever device you have. As if that's not bad enough, it comes with 1.5 million pieces - so it's not exactly as portable as you'd hope.
If you read the instructions, the manufacturer is clearly trying to sell this based on some environmental claims - you won't be using electricity to charge your iPod. But your iPod will take forever to charge, you have to carry around the little array, the battery, and whatever adapters you might need. Clearly, there's a better way to save energy. Keep your fridge slightly warmer, or adjust your thermostat. This is a waste of time.
Great idea still needs a little improvement 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!
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