The BigBlue 28W Solar Panel Charger is pretty useful, especially when you're outside and need to keep your devices powered. To get the most juice from it, you'll want to have it in full, unobstructed sunlight. According to the manufacturer, under ideal conditions, it can achieve a solar conversion efficiency of up to 24% with its SunPower solar panels. So, on bright, sunny days, you can expect it to work at its peak.
But keep in mind, if any part of the panel is in the shade or if it gets cloudy, that efficiency can dropāsometimes quite a bit. Our research shows that even a little shade or cloud cover can slow down the charging or even stop it altogether. So, it's a good idea to keep the panels as exposed to direct sunlight as possible.
The power output also depends on what device you're charging. For example, if you're charging something like an iPhone, you might see outputs between 0.8A and 1A depending on the sunlight and how much your device can handle.
We've found that the charging speed can fluctuate, especially if the sunlight isn't consistently strong. Some folks have reported getting around 1.8A in direct sunlight, but noticed slower rates if it's not completely sunny.
To make the most of your solar charger, there are a couple of things you can try. Keep your devices shaded or in insulated spots while charging to avoid overheating, which can be a problem according to some users. You might also want to pair the solar panel with a power bank.
This way, you can collect and store power during the day and use it later, which means you won't need constant sunlight to charge your devices on the spot.
So, while the BigBlue 28W Solar Panel Charger does best with full sun, its performance can vary based on several factors. Placing it carefully and using additional tools like a power bank can really help you stay powered up when you need it.
