Solar Powered Gear
Most gadgets that we report on require some sort of power source. One of the most techie and ecologically friendly ways of powering gadgets is via the power of the sun. This section of Coolest Gadgets is dedicated to gadgets that get their power from the sun’s rays, be it via solar panels or just simple heating.
Soladec Device Charger – Not for Vampires
I don’t come from a long line of outdoor enthusiasts, in fact most folks that know me know that a day away from the comforts of home, you know like electricity and indoor plumbing, is a fate worse than death. It stands to reason that my daughter wants to camp more than anything in the world…
Thank heavens for the Soladec Charger, with its ability to charge over 3500 different electronic devices with nothing but the power of the sun, the Soladec Hybrid Solar Powered Charger by MiseMet is designed to provide free solar energy right out of the box, from the sky… to your electronics, no outlet required. Continue reading » Soladec Device Charger – Not for Vampires
Eton raises a “Rukus” at CES
Eton has produced a lot of solar-powered, energy efficient gadgets over the years, and so I had to stop by at CES to see what they had for 2012. I found that they were raising quite a ruckus with their Rukus.
The Rukus is the first portable Bluetooth sound system with a solar panel to wirelessly stream music from a compatible device. As you can see, it is made to be portable, and the speakers are pretty admirable, and they produce some pretty kickin’ noise.
What really sells the Rukus is its 40 square-inch solar panel that can harvest the sun’s energy, and it takes about six hours of direct sunlight for a full recharge. The Press release says that it “never runs out of power”, but that might be too much of a boast. It is very energy efficient, and can be charged via AC adapter. By the way, the Rukus has an integrated USB port so it can charge other devices.
Although you can’t see it very well in the photo, the Rukus has an E Ink SURF segmented display, which can display information without draining the onboard battery. The display can also be read in direct sunlight and at a 180-degree viewing angle.
The Rukus will be available someone in Q2 for about $149.95.
Quirky Ray solar-powered charger
We have reported on a lot solar-powered chargers here on Coolest-Gadgets, most recently the Eton Mobius.
A company/distributor known as Quirky, which puts devices from independent inventors to the spotlight, has the Ray on their catalog. The Ray is different than most chargers as it has a very powerful suction cup to hold it to where the sun shines the most: on glass. It also has a tilting kickstand that supports multiple positions to capture the sun.
The Ray has a compact battery that can store enough energy to fully charge a cellular phone. It has a USB port for easy charging, and these USB cords can be tucked for storage into the kickstand when folded closed.
Continue reading » Quirky Ray solar-powered charger
Eton Mobius for the iPhone 4
Eton has a lot of solar-powered products such as emergency gadgets like the Raptor and the Scorpion. Their most recent product, the Mobius, takes a page from the Mophie Juice Pack playbook as it is a portable charger specifically designed for the iPhone 4.
The Juice Pack is a battery that doubles as an iPhone case, and the Mobius is essentially the same thing, but solar-powered. According to the official Press Release, one hour of sun on the solar cells is sufficient enough for 25 minutes of talk time, 20 minutes of internet use, 35 minutes of video playback, and two hours of audio playback.
Continue reading » Eton Mobius for the iPhone 4
World’s Largest Solar-Powered Boat on a World Tour
I really like the look of PlanetSolar’s TURANOR. Not only does it look like a spaceship on water, but it is very eco-friendly as well.
As you might have guessed, the boat is covered with solar panels, about 5,380 square feet worth. In case you are wondering, the solar panels aren’t as fragile as they look. There are pictures from my Source of people walking on it.
These solar panels power two electric motors that can reach a speed of 15 miles an hour. Yes, that is pretty slow, and the TURANOR is on a long world tour.
Continue reading » World’s Largest Solar-Powered Boat on a World Tour
Nokero solar powered phone charger
Many of us go to bed at night with our smartphones hooked up to a charger, making sure that we would be more than ready for the next day’s gruelling office run, where you have phone calls to make, text messages to send, emails to reply to, and even checking in your Foursquare account to make sure that you have not lost Mayor status at your favorite coffee haunt. That sounds like the norm for plenty of folks, but wait a moment and spare a thought for those who live in less developed countries, where getting an iPhone 4 is practically out of the question.
Those folks will have to settle for feature phones with monochrome screens instead, and forget about 3G or Wi-Fi connectivity. Heck, chances are pretty good they won’t even have access to electricity in their own homes – up to 500 million of them, according to a Hong Kong and Denver-based company who is currently trying to push their solar-power charging panels which targets those who live in off-grid, often impoverished regions of the world.
Continue reading » Nokero solar powered phone charger
Solar Butterfly flits around endlessly
As long as the sun is out, the Solar Butterfly that you see here will definitely flit around your garden joyfully, even though there is nary a single flower for it to feed on, seeing nothing but patches of weeds everywhere. All you need to do is place the stake with solar panels in your garden outdoors, although you can also opt for your favorite potted plant if you want to, and the Solar Butterfly will flutter around, moving its wings just like the real deal.
Of course, during those downcast, rainy days, if you’re so used to having a faux butterfly move around during the mornings, there is always the option to throw in a single AA battery to keep its fluttering action going. The solar stake stands at 16″ tall, where the butterfly is 2.5″ tall and 2″ wide. You will be able to choose from Orange Monarch or Yellow Swallowtail, and this is one butterfly that won’t die after a few days.
How much, you ask? The Solar Butterfly can be part of your garden’s make up for $11.99.
The Solar Fountain Birdbath
Since summer is here for us folks living in the northern hemisphere, it goes without saying that birds would like to come out and frolic as well, and if you set up a birdbath, they would definitely love to have a go at it. However, getting that birdbath’s water to act as a fountain all by itself would require electricity, and you can either use magic, plug it in to your power outlet, or rely on solar energy as the Solar Fountain Birdbath does.
The name itself gives the game away, where your birdbath will perpetually deliver a spring of gently cascading water, courtesy of the solar panel that is located in the center of the fountain that ensures the internal pump remains powered continuously. Only moderate sunlight is required to power the fountain for up to six hours after an eight-hour charge. $179.95 to go green in your garden? Not too shabby at all.
