Hybrid Solar Charger For iPhone 3G, 3G S Black
We will hiking for a month and have been looking for ways to charge our iPhones on the trail.
After waiting for months, my white/orange surge finally arrived! It's beautiful and about the same size as a Mophie Juice Pack (charging case), and the same price.
After using it for about a month, here's my review.
1) as a plug in/extra battery charger case, it rocks. I wear it with a carabiner on my belt loop while its recharging my phone (about 1-2 hours). It's easy to use and after an initial problem getting my phone to sit correctly, it now slides in easily and firmly.
2) as a purely solar charger, it is disappointing. I've tried leaving the charger sit in the direct and indirect sun that hits my porch for three days, and it was still barely charged. I've tried sitting it on my dashboard (to absorb sunlight through the windshield), and it gets hardly any juice. As a purely solar charger, I'm not going to get enough power for my daily email needs on the hike.
Having said that, I would still recommend the Surge. It is the same size as a Juice Pack and functions exactly the same (plug into my computer to charge the case, carry it around in my purse till I need it) and works very well. As solely a solar charger, it is lacking. But who cares? If I can get a little juice from the sun and consume a little less from the grid, then its a good thing. The cost is the same as other charging cases, and the Surges are very cute! Maybe those living closer to the equator get better sun power.
Note; When the Surge battery is almost empty, it is best to disconnect the iPhone and let the Surge charge up on solar power alone. Why? As the Surge battery gets empty, the phone flips back to using its own battery, then when the Surge has collected a tiny bit of power from the sun, it flips back to charging mode. I was serenaded by beeping every 20-30 seconds until I realized this was happening. Unplug the phone, let the Surge charge up again on its on from the sun, then plug it back in if you need more power.
Solar power from such a tiny panel is, well, tiny. But I love the case and would recommend it for anyone considering a powered case.
(We ended up also buying a HyperShop HyperDrive MBP-60 ($200) to carry backpacking - It weighs one pound and will charge our phones 14 times! Worth it!)
Surge Hybrid Solar Charger for iPhone 3G, 3G S (Black)
