Solar Panel Bag

Does your mobile phone’s battery discharges every now and then? Or do you often look for charger sockets around while you are out of home. If your device, be it a mobile phone, an iPod or mp3, supports a USB connection, the Solar Panel Bag can be a solution to your frequent battery discharge and that too at the cost of nothing (except the initial installation cost). This charger does not come with a battery to store the accumulated charge.

The Solar Panel Bag is a DIY Project. It usesthe PowerFilm WeatherPro Solar panel of 7.2 volt and 200mAh current. All one needs is a bag to integrate the solar panel on. The solar panel is soldered with connecting wires for charging your device. Cover the solder points with vinyl tape for a smooth connection. The edges of the panel are chosen to laminate it with double sided tape. Once the panel is attached to the bag it is ready for use. Some basic level electronics will land you making up a sophisticated device.

Your carry bag cum charger makes most sense when the sun is showing its full face and while you are not hiding in a shadow. Switching between different shady areas may render your battery too switching between charging and non-charging states. Although this hardly affects the performance of the battery but it is advisable not to do so. Even when the sun is not exactly overhead or in the full swing, light reflections from near-by surfaces aids to battery charging. For example, you can recharge a complete empty iPod (G5 for example) in about 6 hours.

Of course, the Solar Panel Bag is not the complete charging solution for your discharged batteries, but it is definitely a good choice when you are moving around. Moreover, solar energy is a non-conventional form of energy so there is no harm you are doing to the atmosphere using this natural treasure.