Review – I talked about the extent to which our Gadgeteers rely on power. We like gadgets, and gadgets like power. How about a gadget that does not run on power-it generates energy! Let’s take a look at the SunJack 25W foldable ETFE monocrystalline solar panel charger, equipped with two 10,000mAh mobile power battery systems. How about a bite?
What is it?
Basically, it is a solar panel. It is made of ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), a fluorine-based plastic. ETFE is highly resistant to corrosion and, more importantly, can withstand high temperatures. This is of course important for products that are designed to be baked all day long in bright sunlight. ETFE also has up to 95% ultraviolet (UV) permeability, which means it allows more sunlight to shine on the solar cells, thereby increasing the overall efficiency. It has a single crystal, which can provide higher efficiency than a polycrystalline unit. Using the included battery, the entire system is a solar solution that can provide instant daily energy, and capture and store energy in the battery for use after dark.
What’s in the box?
- SunJack 25W solar panel
- Carabiner (2)
- Quick start guide
- 10,000 mAh battery (2)
- USB-A to micro USB charging cable (2)
- Battery Manual/Warranty Card (2)
Hardware specifications
- Solar panel: 25-watt high-efficiency monocrystalline design
- Maximum output voltage/current: two 5V/2A USB-A ports
- Battery: 2 x 10,000mAh lithium polymer battery with USB-C 18W and Quick Charge 3.0
- Folding unit size: 12.5″ x 8″ x 1.2″ (31.8cm x 20.3cm x 3cm)
- Unit size expanded: 24.5″ x 12.5″ x 1″ (62.2cm x 31.8cm x 2.5cm)
- Unit weight: 3.0 lbs/1.4 kg (including battery)
Design and features
The panel is a tri-fold design. It is about the size of an iPad when folded. It weighs about three pounds with the battery in it, which is not too light, but not too heavy. Unfold the panel to see three single crystal cells that collect ultraviolet light.
There are four mounting holes, one in each corner.
These allow you to hang the panel anywhere facing the sun using the two carabiner included. One potential idea is to open the panel and hang it on the backpack. This way, if you go hiking, you can get free fees along the way.
Behind the central panel, we see a zippered compartment covered by mesh. Two elastic straps are sewn to secure the two batteries that come with it.
In the picture above, you can see the charging port for power supply in the upper right corner.
This port contains two USB-A charging ports and a power indicator LED between the ports.
These batteries have a capacity of 10,000 mAh, which is quite small.
Each battery has three ports: a micro USB port for charging the battery, a USB-A port for charging the device, and a USB-C PD port.
This is what it looks like after installing the battery.
Put in the carabiner and zip it all up (after turning one of the batteries upside down for a better fit) to create a beautiful, compact power pack.
set up
To use the panel, insert your device and/or battery, turn it on and place it in the sun.
Performance
I took the panel outside on a relatively clear day. I put it in the shade and opened it partially.
To my surprise, even if there is no direct sunlight, the power LED will light up, indicating that it is generating electricity.
Wow-is it that efficient? let’s see! I plugged in my Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra and got this instruction.
Hmm… it will take nearly six hours to get less than half of the battery? This does not seem very good. But, to be fair, I only opened the panel partially and did not place it in direct sunlight. So, I changed my opinion from disappointment to a little impression. Even if the light is insufficient, it can still provide the least amount of juice.
Next, I moved it to a place exposed to direct sunlight.
Let us conduct a phone inspection.
This is almost the same! This is roughly the same as an ordinary wall charger. Very cool!
Next, I put the panel back in the shade and inserted two battery packs.
Both battery packs are charging-equally impressive, even if charging takes longer.
Of course, in full sunlight, they charge much faster.
I use the USB-C PD port to plug the phone into one of the batteries.
Sure enough, as advertised, the battery provides fast charging.OK
One thing missing from this bag is a built-in easel-style stand. Tilt the panel upward about 45 degrees to provide the best angle. It would be convenient to have folded legs. Nevertheless, if you are out and about, using rocks or any other hard objects can accomplish the same thing. Including carabiner and mounting holes is a good contact, especially for backpackers.
what do I like
- Compact and relatively light
- Provides good power transmission under most lighting conditions
- Beautiful, lightweight, high-power battery pack
What will i change
- Add a folding easel stand
Final thoughts
If you are an outdoor gadget, this solar panel can power your goodies when you are away from the power outlet. This is very convenient for beach days and portable speakers and mobile phones. If you live in an area prone to power outages, this may be the lifeguard of your cell phone, providing emergency power to your cell phone.
All in all, this is a great portable solar solution
Price: $119.95
Where to buy: Amazon; Sun jack
source: The sample of this product is made by Sun jack.
