We’ve just introduced our latest product, the SoliCharger, a new solar-powered charger for the iPhone and some iPods. The SoliCharger™ is the essential accessory for any iPhone or iTouch fanatic. This tiny, lightweight (just 1.4oz – 40 grams) Lithium-ion battery pack slips sleekly onto any iPhone to provide up to 50% full iPhone charge (enough for several hours of use). No cords or adapters to forget, lose or break: the SoliCharger plugs directly into your iPhone.
Simply plug in the SOLiCharger to an iPhone charging cord and it will fully charge in just 1.5 hours. You can even plug it into your phone and charge both at the same time. Then if your phone runs low on power, simply plug the SOLiCharger into the phone and it will immediately begin charging the phone. You can use your phone while it’s charging.
If there’s no power source available, no problem! The SOLiCharger has a built-in solar panel on the back side that will fully charge it in just four hours of sunshine. You can even charge the SOLiCharger in the sun while it is attached to your phone.
The SOLiCharger is great for traveling. Bring it along on camping trips or long plane flights when there isn’t power available. No more worries about losing or breaking your charger, no matter where you are. Perfect for charging in foreign countries and remote locations. The built-in LEDs let you know when it’s charging, when it’s full, and when it’s supplying power to your phone. Simple and tough, the internal high-capacity Lithium-ion battery will last for years of recharging.
You can also charge several of the smaller iPod models with theSOLiCharger. [Because of the large variety of different generation iPods, the SOLiCharger might not fit on all models.]
20 responses so far ↓
1 Mike // Feb 10, 2009 at 2:11 pm
Will this work with all ipod devices?
2 Eric Sanford // Feb 10, 2009 at 2:18 pm
No. Apple has several generations of iPods with different sizes, plugs, adapters and power configurations. Unfortunately there is no one backup charger that will work with all the different formats.
We are trying to put together a comprehensive list for which models it will and won’t work for, but rounding up all the older models is very difficult.
It will work withe the following current Apple models:
Nano
iPod Touch
It will not work with the Shuffle (requires a USB input) or Classic (slightly different size).
Hope this answers your questions. We hope to have a more complete list on our website very soon.
3 Mike // Feb 10, 2009 at 2:36 pm
I have an ipod video 5th generation, the adaptor is the same size, but I have found that my car charger (for the ipod video) will not charge the my itouch. I also have a solar charger that has the same problem. My guess is this will probably work backwards because the itouch requires a little more output. What is your opinion?
4 Eric Sanford // Feb 10, 2009 at 2:41 pm
From what I understand, the iPhone and iTouch use slightly different circuitry and charging voltage that any previous iPods. I also know this from personal experience: none of my older chargers or cords will work on my iPhone.
I do know that the SOLiCharger will charge all my older iPods (except the Shuffle since the Shuffle uses a USB for power). It fits my older Nano but will not fit on my older iPod since the case dimensions are different. When I filed off the “wings” on the SOLiCharger, it worked fine to charge it (obviously we don’t recommend this…).
Finally, all the older iPod chargers and cords will match and charge the SOLiCharger (they will not, however, work to charge an iPhone or iTouch).
Confusing, I know, but that’s my experience and opinion.
Eric
5 Mike // Feb 10, 2009 at 3:45 pm
If the charger is attached to the phone, using the solar charge, how long before it would be fully charged, assuming partly sunny lighting conditions. A rough estimate is fine.
6 Eric Sanford // Feb 10, 2009 at 4:01 pm
If the phone is completely discharged, the SOLiCharger will only supply about half a charge. This is because the battery in the phone is larger capacity than the re-charge battery in the SOLICharger. it would take about an hour for the SOLiCharger to give that 50% charge to your phone. If it were sitting in the sun during this process, you might get 10% more.
The SOLiCharger is meant to be a backup charger, providing enough power to get you up and running. If you wanted it to be your primary phone charger, I’d suggest getting two of them. In order to keep the SOLiCharger small and handy, we had to keep the battery and solar panel small, meaning some trade-off in performance.
Eric
7 Jacob // Feb 17, 2009 at 9:59 pm
Got a charger. Cannot fit it on my iPhone with case on. Is there any solution to this (i.e. an adapter?)
8 Eric Sanford // Feb 18, 2009 at 1:46 pm
Hmmm. Unfortunately with the sleek, cool, svelt, Fararri-type styling on the SOLiCharger, it won’t fit snug against your iPhone if it is in a case. But we do have a great solution: take it out of the case when you need to charge it.
9 Golla // Mar 17, 2009 at 9:18 am
Currently it’s out of stock, when will you receive a new batch for sale?
10 admin // Mar 18, 2009 at 6:15 pm
Looks like we may have some as soon as this Saturday (March 21). Check back in a few days. Thanks!
11 admin // May 8, 2009 at 10:30 am
Thank you everyone for the incredible demand!
Before our next production run we are making some changes based on feedback from our customers to increase performance and cover more of Apple Inc.’s products. We will update you on our progress on the best iPhone® charger out there, but in the meantime, we would love to hear other thoughts of current users.
For feedback on the SoliCharger, please send an e-mail to our R&D Project Team or add a comment in our blog.
12 Tyson Marley // May 12, 2009 at 5:23 pm
I’m not sure if I just haven’t found it, or if it even exists, but I’m interested in finding a cable that would essentially allow me to use this unit, but have the solar panel “in the sun” and the iPhone in my pocket. I’m thinking of using it while riding a bike, having the solar panel exposed, while keeping the phone secured in a pocket. Thanks.
13 Eric Sanford // May 13, 2009 at 3:38 pm
Before our next production run we are making some changes based on feedback from our customers to increase performance and cover more of Apple Inc.’s products. We will update you on our progress on the best iPhone® charger out there, but in the meantime, we would love to hear other thoughts of current users.
14 Jenny // Jul 22, 2009 at 9:08 am
Will this work with an Ipod 5th generation with a software version 1.3?
15 JeffBennett // Jul 23, 2009 at 10:57 am
Before our next production run we are making some changes based on feedback from our customers to increase performance and cover more of Apple Inc.’s products. We will update you on our progress on the best iPhone® charger out there, but in the meantime, we would love to hear other thoughts of current users.
16 david // Sep 4, 2009 at 11:31 am
Any update on availability of the next production run?
17 JeffBennett // Sep 5, 2009 at 1:33 pm
No updates at the moment. You can sign up on our email list to be notified on product availability.
http://www.sollight.com/products/solicharger.cfm
18 Cliff Hauser // Dec 26, 2009 at 1:38 pm
Hi Eric,
I’m sitting at the Columbia Cliff Villas with Tony Kardol and he just told me about your iPhone solar charger–how cool! Please let me know when you’ll have the next batch available–would love to get one for my iPhone Classic!
Best,
cliff Hauser
212-713-2627
19 matt // Dec 27, 2009 at 2:00 am
Hello, any idea when the solicharger will be available. It seems its been out of stock for 6 months or so. Any updates or info?
Thanks
Matt
20 JeffBennett // Dec 28, 2009 at 2:05 pm
It’s not out of stock so much as being redesigned. Before our next production run we are making some changes based on feedback from our customers to increase performance and cover more of Apple Inc.’s products.