List Price: $129.99
Sale Price: $69.70
Today's Bonus: 46% Off
I bought this specifically because it's touted as being able to charge an iPad. I've tested it now for over 6 months with iPhone, iPad, and (with adapter) AA camera batteries at several latitudes (Phoenix to Seattle) and over several seasons (summer-winter). It's performance far surpasses that of a MUCH more expensive 10w B*u*t*n model purchased at REI a year or 2 ago that I returned due to worthlessness.
As you'd expect, it works better in the summer in AZ and at higher altitude than in the fall & winter in WA & OR. Solar cells need strong sun to work well, period. It easy charges an iPhone about as fast as wall outlet in strong sun (45-80 min.). iPad performance is OK, not stellar, it does work but plan to set aside most of the afternoon (4-5+ hours in strong sun). I've really never achieved a full, 100% iPad charge but it did keep me going for extended Kindle reading at remote campsites. I have had success charging on the car dash as well.
Chinese solar cells have come a long way in price & performance in the last year or so. BTW, this model has increased 20% in price in the last few months, and I would still give it 4 stars at the higher price. It's a bit too heavy for extended backpacking (maybe on an overnighter it'd be OK, but I'd think twice before humping this brick on a long trail). The sleeve has a very handy pocket for the battery, cables and adapters, and the loops make it a cinch to hang from a tree, etc.
Summary: Well worth the purchase price, I'll give a solar panel 5 stars when it works as well as an outlet.
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The solar panel is impressive and the battery is effective. However, the battery is described as 5600mAh when it is really 5200mAh, a different product. The battery's output is 1amp which is not effective for charging an iPad 3 or 4. The panel will charge the iPad 3 directly, however, in direct sun. When charging an iPad 3 directly, if a cloud passes by, the charging will be interrupted. Instapark sells a 6000mAh, 2amp battery.Best Deals for Instapark® Mercury 10M Solar Panel Portable Solar Charger
I used this to keep my iphone charged while doing my two weeks of military training this past month. It worked great charging as if it were plugged into the wall (lots of good sun). I would plug in my phone first thing in the morning, and in a couple of hours while eating breakfast and getting ready for the day of training my phone was at 100%.There were two days out of the two weeks we had rainy overcast weather. I used the 5200mha battery on those days and I was never without power. If I used the battery, I would charge both the phone and the battery the next day simultaneously. The phone still charged quickly while charging the battery as well.
Even in slight overcast, this would continue to charge my iPhone 4S quickly. Great for emergencies or hiking/camping.
Honest reviews on Instapark® Mercury 10M Solar Panel Portable Solar Charger
First of all, if you are looking at this panel, make sure you get it with the battery pack.The panel charged the battery quickly even with partial cloud cover which is extremely important. Fully charged, the battery pack recharged my Galaxy S3 twice and my Kindle Paper White twice as well; and it still had power left. When using both USB ports on the panel, charging is a about 1/3 longer, but, that still only took a couple hours (probably less, but I had more things to do than just watch the charge level on the devices).
Obviously, this isn't designed for larger devices, but it works great for our phones, kindles, and garmin.
Small enough to easily pack in a backpack or strap to the outside of a pack or tent, this is one addition to our gear that is already indispensable.
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