Scosche SolBAT II Solar Powered Backup Battery and Charger for iPods & Other MP3 Players

• Use your existing USB cable to charge most devices, including iPod, iPhone, MP3, Blackberry and more.
• Internal 1500mAh Lithium-Ion battery stores power for whenever you need it and recharges from the sun or the included USB cable.
• Includes windshield mount cradle & universal carbineer mount.
• Output: 5VDC 500mA.

I had my doubts about how this product would actually work and if it would allow me to charge my Iphone3GS because Apple has made its phone series very picky about chargers. I can safely say that this product charges WITHOUT forcing the popup about being a non-standard charger. The unit itself its quite small and I have it attached to the windshield of my car with the included suction cups. I'm using it to charge up my phone while running the Navigation and Traffic Apps (which really drain the phone). Overall I would rate it 5 stars and I'm considering purchasing another for additional devices that I could carry with me on trips.

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Purchased here on Amazon, it charges via the included ipod cable and also has a USB out port for charging anything else that has a USB enabled charger. Charged my droid from 30% to 100% in about an hour and that was even in cloudy conditions. Status lights show when it is receiving enough light to create charge and another status light shows when it is charging the connected device. It will even hold a charge like a battery so you can leave it in the sun to charge up then bring it in and connect it to your device. I may buy another!

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This was great the first four times I used it. It allowed me to charge the battery on my iPhone 3gs from 20 % to 85%. The bummer is that it only did this four times before it has completely died. It no longer takes a charge via solar cell nor via the charge cord.

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I bought this with full knowledge of the physics limitation on this device. For those of you who thought this would be a replacement for the Household AC plug in or even a car charger, I am sure you were disappointed. First off here is the science behind the device. It has a internal 1500mAh Lithium-Ion battery. My Nexus S Google phone has a Samsung 1440mah Lithium-Ion Battery. Great you say. Here's the catch. Though the Scosche SolBAT II may have more little more juice than the phone battery itself, when it begins to discharge its energy to the cellphone, at some point the energy ( I am trying to explain it in non-scientific terms), in the Scosche SolBAT II will reach the same energy level in the cellphone (equilibrium) and it will no longer transfer its energy. That means that the charger will not bring your cellphone up to 100% or even 80% charge. You are looking at 40% to 50% charge max, that's it. Now in a pinch, when you are hiking away from civilization or at the beach or on a train where there are no outlets, this device will recharge your battery to a level that you can use your phone. That's the greatest feature, but it will not do what you expect from an AC outlet. Which is to recharge your phone to the 100% level. So don't expect that. Yes, the manufacturers could have built a device with a stronger internal battery, three maybe four times the energy level, that could recharge your phone closer to the 100% level. But then it would cost three of four times the price. For $20 you get a charger that does not draw from the electric grid, it will bring a dead or dying cellphone battery back to life to an acceptable level for moderate usage. Understand the limitations, and you will be happy with this remarkable device. Hope this helps everyone in making their purchasing decision. I am happy with the product, I know what it is and isn't capable of doing. I am glad I have it, since the electric grid isn't always available. Also you can recharge the Scosche SolBAT II using household electric current too.

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Once set up, this charger is great to have around. I bike and camp a lot and it's great to have a charger that doesn't need electricity. But, as another reviewer pointed out, the instructions for this charger are very unclear. Some chargers (not solar powered) indicate the amount of charge left. With this charger, there is no way to know whether the it's fully charged or almost out. The only way to tell it's charged is that the "charge in" light goes out when plugged in or in sunlight. Definitely take the advice of another reviewer and start out by fully charging this through the USB connection. I think it's best use is to have it in constant sunlight during the day (hooked on your bike or backpack) then charge your ipod/iphone ect. overnight. But once you figure out it's idiosyncrasies, and if your activities take you away from electricity for hours/days at a time, it's really useful.