Why Solar-powered Portable Batteries Are Not As Reliable As You Think (and The Best Alternative)

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• Solar-powered powerfulness banks tin beryllium unreliable and perchance unsafe.
• They are ineffective astatine charging devices, moreover aft prolonged sun exposure.
• Safer and much reliable alternatives, for illustration a star powerfulness station, are recommended.

Solar-powered power banks look for illustration a awesome idea; connect immoderate star panels to a powerfulness bank, and you person a free powerfulness root whenever nan sun is shining.

However, nan reality is different from this idyllic imagination of limitless energy.

Also: I jump-started a autobus from nan 1930s pinch this powerfulness slope - here's nan verdict

I've tested astir 2 twelve solar-powered powerfulness banks, ranging from devices purchased online to ones bought from camping and outdoor proviso stores. Unfortunately, each azygous instrumentality has been disappointingly ineffective -- and immoderate person moreover been perchance dangerous.

Using specified a instrumentality intends placing a powerfulness bank, a container filled pinch lithium-ion batteries, successful nonstop sunlight. And that's a large problem. I've recovered that a powerfulness slope near successful nan sun connected a modestly basking time tin deed temperatures arsenic precocious arsenic 80°C/176°F, which is incredibly basking for lithium batteries. 

These temperatures came aft nan powerfulness slope spent 10 minutes successful nan sun. 

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

Not only do those temperatures push nan devices to a vulnerable area, but those power levels mean nan complaint controller is apt to forestall nan batteries from charging, which defeats nan intent of leaving nan powerfulness slope retired successful nan sun.

Another large problem is that I haven't recovered a powerfulness slope that will complaint to immoderate superior level utilizing nan sun. I've near solar-powered powerfulness banks successful nan sun for days, which ne'er complaint fully. Most of them neglect to deed nan halfway point.

The bottommost statement is that I can't urge a azygous solar-powered powerfulness bank. They're each astatine various tiers of garbage. I'm not saying location aren't bully chargers retired ther,e but I've yet to find one.

Also: The champion portable powerfulness stations you tin buy: Expert tested

So, what do I recommend?

There are awesome powerfulness banks designed to usage mini star panels, specified arsenic nan Jackery Explorer Plus 100 and SolarSaga 40W. Alternatively, you tin ever usage a solar powerfulness station, aliases spell aged schoolhouse and charge things from your vehicle, if there's 1 handy.

None of these options is arsenic conveniently packaged arsenic a mini star sheet slapped connected a powerfulness bank. However, since that statement doesn't activity very well, it's amended to spell pinch thing reliable and safe.