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"Ultimate Solar Charger"
Company says batteries can withstand 80 degrees (F). How hot do you
think this thing would get sitting out in the sun, even closed, even just
sitting in your car?
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Roland Kleinfeld, a jeweler and entrepreneur, has designed a cell phone
charger that uses solar energy. It looks like a cell phone, except that
the flip-out reveals solar panels, and the body contains the battery pack, which
can hold adequate charge for up to 14 days.
Kleinfeld was inspired to design the solar powered cell phone charger while on
vacation at a local fair in Shenzen, China. "I saw lots of garden light
products and camping lights running on solar energy. At the same time, I was on
my cell phone talking to an associate, when my cell phone battery died during a
very important moment--dont they always? How ridiculous in this day and age
to have a cell phone battery die on you with all the technology the world
possesses!"
And so the Ultimate Solar Charger was born. Kleinfeld hired a staff of technical
engineers in China to perfect the technology. Next came the designing for
the look of the solar charger.
The company says the solar cell phone charger is compatible with most cell
phones, including over 30 Nokia models, 20 Ericsson models, 14 Motorola/Nextel
models, and 8 Seimens models. Specific cell phone charger compatibility
information can be found on their website.
The question that we were not able to get answered in trying to reach the
company by phone and email was what all that heat would do to the
batteries. (We did get phone message saying they received the question and
would be asking about it and getting back with us.) Other solar battery
charger systems have proven counter-productive for the damage that the sun's
head does to the batteries and their longevity, as well as causing
leakage.
Also, it seems to me that if you're somewhere that your car cannot be, with its
plug-in charger capability, chances are you will not have cell phone reception
either. So the practicality of the device comes into question.
Maybe Kleinfield should stick to jewelry?
If you are a gadget person and want to get these anyway, click on the video
link on their site, where you will see their television advertisement, where the
charger is listed for only $24.95 "for a limited time" by calling
1-866-311-9584.
So now you have another thing to pack around with you. The phone, plus the
charger -- just in case. If it's extra battery storage capacity you're
after, you might think twice about the sun-heat versus battery-life thing.
Then again, you might find that this is just the solution you've been looking
for, if you are out and about a lot, and an expensive battery that probably
won't endure many cycles is not a problem for you.
On a positive note, having a solar-powered cell phone battery charger could
become all the vogue, and help spur an alternative energy consciousness
fad. That, alone, may be a good enough reason to get one.
# # #
SOURCES
CONTACTS
Sun v. Battery -- Response
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From: "Bill Apter"
To: "STERLING D.ALLAN"
Sent: Friday, September 30, 2005 7:23 AM
Subject: Re: Solar v Batteries
Good morning Sterling:
This is the reply I received today from the owner of the Ultimate
Solar
Charger:
"THE BATTERY IS PROTECTED WITH A SMALL SAFTEY DEVICE ON TOP OF
THE BATTERY THIS PROTECT THE BATTERY TO OVERHEAT AND EXPLODING. IT
HANDEL TEMPERATURES OF 80 DEGREES."
I hope this answers your question.
Bill Apter
Marketing Manager
Ultimate Solar Charger
(215)887-5700 ext 108 |
Sterling's Response:
As a matter of fact, it does answer my question. These guys
don't have a clue. They've not thought this through. 80
degrees is ambient room temperature. That it will
handle. That is what we expect of regular batteries. A
device sitting in the sun will get 160 degrees. They should
have thought of that. |
| The engineer in Belgium is presently unavailable for
comment. Expected later. |
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Feedback
Sure would have been nice after Katrina
From: "Burt Brown" <email
>
To: <sterlingda@osen.ca>
Sent: Friday, September 30, 2005 5:37 PM
Subject: COMMENT: Solar Cell phone Charger
Hi, Sterling:
I wonder if there are not some people who would have loved to have had this
charger during the recent Gulf Coast hurricanes? Being here in Miss. I know
there was SOME cell phone usage, but no electricity and often a wiped out car,
therefore nothing to charge the phone with. I know from close monitoring of TV
and WEB that NOLA police had their portable radios run out of charge and a solar
charger for them would have prevented some serious problems. Certainly hand
cranked units would have helped, too! The question I have for the engineer is,
does he mean 80 degrees Fahrenheit or Celsius. I'm not sure what the standard of
China is. Probably the former because a conversion from C to F would be in the
range of 175, which might be on the high side. Seems like a good idea that could
be perfected fairly easily.
Burt Brown
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