I just bought one on e-bay for a grand total of 42.99. I charged it up using the USB cable connection, but haven't charged it up using the sun yet, although I did leave it outside for a few hours. I used it to charge my iphone and it worked, although not at first.
I'm planning on using this on a thru hike, to keep my phone charged.
Awesome. I'm glad the price is already coming down so much. Perhaps that's a good sign for solar panels in general. Hope you have (errr, had) a great hike!
It's actually a good idea to charge it with the cord the first time, just to make sure it is fully charged. I think it's an issue of "batter memory." In any case, you shouldn't try charging with it the first time until you see the light flash four times. That's when it's full.
Once you do get to test it, feel free to come back here and comment about it!
Those are good points. I admit, I need to look into this issue more. If anybody has info about how long solar panels generally last and what's the best way to dispose of broken ones, I'd be much obliged. :-)
They can be melted down for the metals back out of them, or crushed and added to concrete mix for building. Its only sand in a defferent form. Recycle it for building stuff. Maybe add it to the mix for the next pad for the new one you install or a walk way to a better place.
Just this month there has been a recent breakthrough in this technology at MIT. Basically they have found a catalyst that enables them to make hydrogen gas from water using solar energy in an energy efficient way.
"Daniel Nocera, a professor of chemistry at MIT, has developed a catalyst that can generate oxygen from a glass of water by splitting water molecules. The reaction frees hydrogen ions to make hydrogen gas. The catalyst, which is easy and cheap to make, could be used to generate vast amounts of hydrogen using sunlight to power the reactions." -ABC News August 2, 2008
Neat! Sounds like a fascinating way to power up with the sun. Also sounds like it has potential for helping along clean cars -- both electric (ideally via solar energy) and through hydrogen fuel cells. I still idealize pure electric cars, though, as owners of said vehicle wouldn't have to hunt down a refueling station.
Thanks for the news. I'll definitely look into this more.
Because they're highly effective they're not cost effective? Meaning, it's too expensive to get the really good stuff?
I know that solar panels for the roof can be expensive, especially depending on whether you get photovoltaic or thermal, but both should save you money in the long run. The trick is risking the initial investment, and not everyone can do that. But I can see where you'd worry people would dispose of the small stuff too quickly.
This product is far from perfect, but it is handy and useful. I keep it in my car to power my mp3 player/radio recorder. I believe in purchasing the best item like this that you can find in order to encourage the market in solar technology.
As I said in the video, I WANT to know about updated and better solar panels. This product is simply one small step in the right direction. If you think this product is crap compared to other solar chargers, which solar alternatives DO you support?
Thats the thing; he doesnt. Just another disgruntled youtube user, but he does have a point. But i'd argue to make America better we'd first have to medicate him and his ilk. But away from that nonsense, can you send me some info on solar panels if you have any and how much battery life do these really have, can they be used to power a laptop?
So far, the ones I've seen that are small and affordable aren't strong enough to power a laptop. The strongest ones are likely the solar backpacks that are coming out now from a variety of venues. Those only really make practical sense, though, if you plan on backpacking a lot out doors. Which, hey, when I wander around a city I'm outdoors a lot, but I'd need to travel much more often to make that practical. ...
I'm currently learning more about solar panels for your roof, and hopefully there will be solar panels that can be attached to the roof of a hybrid (or fully electric) car in the relatively near future. This post continues to get interesting feedback and I'm very interested in finding out what's available, so I'll try to do a follow up post some time this summer.
Sure, it takes energy to make solar panels, but decidedly less than to be constantly taking in fossil fuels. The solar panels I've seen advertised for household power are expected to last at least thirty years, not six.
Besides, what if we had given up on computers early on because they took up so much energy and filled a large room? There is always a refining process in manufacturing, ESPECIALLY for technology.
Furthermore, in the U.S. you earn money back much faster because the government pays YOU double the cost it would charge you for every watt of electricity you generate. Powering just a third of your electricity use would mean a zero dollar electric bill every month. If you add more panels, then you actually MAKE money from the energy you generate (which goes back to the electric grid for others to use).
Thank you very much fro the review. I was surprised how long it took for the battery to fill up. Does charging your MP3 player drain the Soliio completely? I was also wondering what latitude you're on. I imagine that would make a difference. I have to charge a mobile phone in a village in Haiti.
No problem! I should really do an update to this, now that I've used it for longer. You should know that, if left in the backseat of a car, it charges very, *very* slowly, practically at a glacial pace. It really should be kept in direct sunlight whenever possible. And yes, whatever I'm charging, it pretty much drains the whole thing so that I have to recharge it completely in the sun.
I'm honestly not sure what latitude I'm at. I'll look that up and get back to you. Thanks for the comment!
Thanks a lot for the review. I was expecting there to really be disadvantages to the product since you said you were going to talk about both. But it appears it's a very good, reliable product. You seem pleased with it. I'm thinking about getting one myself.
In my mind talking about how these panels are much slower than they could be was considered a down side, and is their currently high price. I should have made that clearer.
Solio is handy and fun, but I CAN'T WAIT for the next development to come along. There is SO much more we could do with this technology. We could save the Earth, save lives, and save money at the same time! :-D
Have you heard of any other brands? I really want some comparisons to see how these match up against each other.
I don't know how it compares with the H1000, as I don't own that one. But there should be some information about that on their website. Mine didn't come with an ipod charger, but you can definitely get that through their website.
I'm very jealous that you get to visit the Himalayas. Have a great time!
Thanks for a real review of this product- it's the first I've seen outside news/commercials! I'm trying to find something small and durable for my trip to Iraq- I'll probably be better served by getting the new Solio H1000 or something else I can more easily secure/clip than this.
I just bought one on e-bay for a grand total of 42.99. I charged it up using the USB cable connection, but haven't charged it up using the sun yet, although I did leave it outside for a few hours. I used it to charge my iphone and it worked, although not at first.
I'm planning on using this on a thru hike, to keep my phone charged.
joshjhutton 2 years ago
Awesome. I'm glad the price is already coming down so much. Perhaps that's a good sign for solar panels in general. Hope you have (errr, had) a great hike!
pmcrimson 2 years ago
I just bought one today can't wait to get it
Buckincrazy 3 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Cool! Let me know what you think.
pmcrimson 3 years ago
I have my Solio Classic and I don't know if it will charge from the sun. I will test it when I have the chance.
SethMethCS 3 years ago
It's actually a good idea to charge it with the cord the first time, just to make sure it is fully charged. I think it's an issue of "batter memory." In any case, you shouldn't try charging with it the first time until you see the light flash four times. That's when it's full.
Once you do get to test it, feel free to come back here and comment about it!
pmcrimson 3 years ago
"No bad sides to solar energy"
What happens to all the outdated and broken panels? They end up piling up in land fills. And how toxic are they?
Merany1 3 years ago
Those are good points. I admit, I need to look into this issue more. If anybody has info about how long solar panels generally last and what's the best way to dispose of broken ones, I'd be much obliged. :-)
pmcrimson 3 years ago
They can be melted down for the metals back out of them, or crushed and added to concrete mix for building. Its only sand in a defferent form. Recycle it for building stuff. Maybe add it to the mix for the next pad for the new one you install or a walk way to a better place.
s1r9a9m9 3 years ago
Oooh, excellent. So this adds a "cradle to cradle" element to solar panels as well! (Have you read that book? It's fantastic.)
pmcrimson 3 years ago
Just this month there has been a recent breakthrough in this technology at MIT. Basically they have found a catalyst that enables them to make hydrogen gas from water using solar energy in an energy efficient way.
Festerius2008 3 years ago
"Daniel Nocera, a professor of chemistry at MIT, has developed a catalyst that can generate oxygen from a glass of water by splitting water molecules. The reaction frees hydrogen ions to make hydrogen gas. The catalyst, which is easy and cheap to make, could be used to generate vast amounts of hydrogen using sunlight to power the reactions." -ABC News August 2, 2008
Festerius2008 3 years ago
Neat! Sounds like a fascinating way to power up with the sun. Also sounds like it has potential for helping along clean cars -- both electric (ideally via solar energy) and through hydrogen fuel cells. I still idealize pure electric cars, though, as owners of said vehicle wouldn't have to hunt down a refueling station.
Thanks for the news. I'll definitely look into this more.
pmcrimson 3 years ago
Dawm man, pmcrimson is still being cool about the crap ur saying... but u keep on going, and with that language.
Maybe this is pmcrimson's life, dont u think u need a life, if u were able to sit threw all of this and type all that stuff?
Before u go and tell me to get a life... "I have one" Most of the time i bother to get on utube, is when im in the crapper. Literally.
BleuSHADOW 3 years ago
Because they're highly effective they're not cost effective? Meaning, it's too expensive to get the really good stuff?
I know that solar panels for the roof can be expensive, especially depending on whether you get photovoltaic or thermal, but both should save you money in the long run. The trick is risking the initial investment, and not everyone can do that. But I can see where you'd worry people would dispose of the small stuff too quickly.
pmcrimson 3 years ago
This product is far from perfect, but it is handy and useful. I keep it in my car to power my mp3 player/radio recorder. I believe in purchasing the best item like this that you can find in order to encourage the market in solar technology.
As I said in the video, I WANT to know about updated and better solar panels. This product is simply one small step in the right direction. If you think this product is crap compared to other solar chargers, which solar alternatives DO you support?
pmcrimson 3 years ago
Thats the thing; he doesnt. Just another disgruntled youtube user, but he does have a point. But i'd argue to make America better we'd first have to medicate him and his ilk. But away from that nonsense, can you send me some info on solar panels if you have any and how much battery life do these really have, can they be used to power a laptop?
Deatonis 3 years ago
So far, the ones I've seen that are small and affordable aren't strong enough to power a laptop. The strongest ones are likely the solar backpacks that are coming out now from a variety of venues. Those only really make practical sense, though, if you plan on backpacking a lot out doors. Which, hey, when I wander around a city I'm outdoors a lot, but I'd need to travel much more often to make that practical. ...
pmcrimson 3 years ago
I'm currently learning more about solar panels for your roof, and hopefully there will be solar panels that can be attached to the roof of a hybrid (or fully electric) car in the relatively near future. This post continues to get interesting feedback and I'm very interested in finding out what's available, so I'll try to do a follow up post some time this summer.
Thanks for your response!
pmcrimson 3 years ago
This is a funny idea...but....
Solar energy is BAD becouse:
Everything needs engery. am i Right?
It also needs engery to make these solar pannels.
It takes 6 years before solarpannels have made enough enegry to produce the engergy that the fabrick needed to make the solar pannels.
But after 6 years you have to replace the solarpannels becouse they arent makin enough energy to (for example) refill your battery!
so... that is the problem with solar energy.
tiesto213 3 years ago
Sure, it takes energy to make solar panels, but decidedly less than to be constantly taking in fossil fuels. The solar panels I've seen advertised for household power are expected to last at least thirty years, not six.
Besides, what if we had given up on computers early on because they took up so much energy and filled a large room? There is always a refining process in manufacturing, ESPECIALLY for technology.
pmcrimson 3 years ago
Furthermore, in the U.S. you earn money back much faster because the government pays YOU double the cost it would charge you for every watt of electricity you generate. Powering just a third of your electricity use would mean a zero dollar electric bill every month. If you add more panels, then you actually MAKE money from the energy you generate (which goes back to the electric grid for others to use).
pmcrimson 3 years ago
oh thanks for this information...
i did not know that becouse i am living in holland...XD
tiesto213 3 years ago
No problem, I'm glad to hear from you. :-)
If you know any updates about solar or wind power news, please let me know.
pmcrimson 3 years ago
Thank you very much fro the review. I was surprised how long it took for the battery to fill up. Does charging your MP3 player drain the Soliio completely? I was also wondering what latitude you're on. I imagine that would make a difference. I have to charge a mobile phone in a village in Haiti.
Again, thanks for the review. A real service.
geertvanderkolk 4 years ago
No problem! I should really do an update to this, now that I've used it for longer. You should know that, if left in the backseat of a car, it charges very, *very* slowly, practically at a glacial pace. It really should be kept in direct sunlight whenever possible. And yes, whatever I'm charging, it pretty much drains the whole thing so that I have to recharge it completely in the sun.
I'm honestly not sure what latitude I'm at. I'll look that up and get back to you. Thanks for the comment!
pmcrimson 4 years ago
Thanks a lot for the review. I was expecting there to really be disadvantages to the product since you said you were going to talk about both. But it appears it's a very good, reliable product. You seem pleased with it. I'm thinking about getting one myself.
secondjustice247 4 years ago
In my mind talking about how these panels are much slower than they could be was considered a down side, and is their currently high price. I should have made that clearer.
Solio is handy and fun, but I CAN'T WAIT for the next development to come along. There is SO much more we could do with this technology. We could save the Earth, save lives, and save money at the same time! :-D
Have you heard of any other brands? I really want some comparisons to see how these match up against each other.
pmcrimson 4 years ago
Uhm, i agree with everything u said but how can it save lives?
BlueR0cks 3 years ago
r u an american or a democrat?
rjprofiteer 4 years ago
Hahahaha, I don't suppose there's any chance that's a typo, is there? ;-D
pmcrimson 4 years ago
hahaha love that comment rjp.
secondjustice247 4 years ago
nice review! - does it come with an ipod recharger and how does it compare to the solio H1000, i'm spending 1 month in the india himalayas soon!!!
thanks...
apollogaylord 4 years ago
I don't know how it compares with the H1000, as I don't own that one. But there should be some information about that on their website. Mine didn't come with an ipod charger, but you can definitely get that through their website.
I'm very jealous that you get to visit the Himalayas. Have a great time!
pmcrimson 4 years ago
cheers!
apollogaylord 4 years ago
Thanks for a real review of this product- it's the first I've seen outside news/commercials! I'm trying to find something small and durable for my trip to Iraq- I'll probably be better served by getting the new Solio H1000 or something else I can more easily secure/clip than this.
theeternalknight 4 years ago
No problem! If you do get it, I hope you get to post a review of your own. :-D And good luck in Iraq!
pmcrimson 4 years ago