First things first, I'm a gadget geek and have been looking for a renewable charging solution for my gadgets including my smartphones, tablets, cameras, and laptops. Up until this point, these type of off the grid solutions costed in the thousands if you wanted a quality kit and powerful enough solar panel.
I originally purchased my ReadySet by being a Kickstarter backer last year and in turn received my unit ahead of the public release. I'm going to repost a review I did on a blog site I post at since it makes no sense in rewriting the same review. :)
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Back around July 13th, I stumbled upon a very interesting Kickstarter project by Fenix International, the ReadySet Solar Kit. The purpose behind this project was to develop a quick, easy, and durable charging solution. Such a kit would be extremely useful during natural disasters when power is limited. I donated and helped fund the project; and thus, I have received early access to the kit.
Being a tech geek, having an off-the-grid charging solution has been my holy grail. Solar technology up until the last 2 years was promising but lacking in efficiency rates. However, progress recently in solar cell technology has helped advance solar development tremendously in the portable realm and has sparked the recent rise of the social funded projects. Kickstarter is helping to crowdfund several of these projects.
Contents, Packaging, and Build Quality
I donated $225 for the project and therefore received the standard kit. My box contained the following items:
ReadySet Intelligent Battery (12V, 9000mAh battery)
15-watt Solar Panel
AC Electric Wall Charger (USA plug)
3-watt High Efficiency LED Light
USB Universal Clip Charger
User Manual
The packaging is excellent and even sported a thoughtful handle. Everything is packaged securely. The solar panel has a peak rate of 15w. I have yet to fully test it since it has been cloudy this whole week. I will post an update to this when I get some sunny days. The ReadySet team says it takes 8-10 hours in direct sunlight which seems very acceptable. The panel is very solid feeling and a bit heavier than I expected. It has two power leads that easily connect to the main ReadySet battery unit.
The ReadySet charging unit feels durable. It has 2 x 12 volt front car charging slots, 2 usb ports, several led lights, and a single button. The underside area has two leads that let you connect your AC charger which allows full traditional on-the-grid charging in 4-6 hours. Additionally, there is a Velo bike kit available that allows you to use a bike to recharge the unit's battery as well.
Recharge Methods:
1. On-the-grid via an AC Adapter
2. Solar panel (included or other types)
3. Velo bike recharge kit (not yet released but coming soon!)
The device is not fancy, but I believe that is the way it should be. The device is no way unattractive, and all items feel solid and sturdy. The solar panel can be exposed to rain and water but should be stored in a dry area. The ReadySet unit itself appears to be rugged but should not be put in direct water or wet areas.
Charging
The ReadySet states that once charged it can charge an iPhone about 10 times. For my first test I charged an iPhone 4 from dead to 100%, and I was able to charge my Dell XT Laptop from dead to 50% before I depleted all the juice. I used a portable AC inverter to charge my laptop so that too would be drawing power. Getting a fully powered mobile phone and half charged computer from a solar charging system seems exceptional to me.
There is also an included LED light bulb that plugs in and allows you use the ReadySet for 10 hours worth of light.
Conclusions
Having the three various charging methods make this kit powerfully useful. For example, I plan to use this kit next summer while camping to keep my mobile devices and radio powered. It will be an essential component of my emergency stores.
Availability is still limited to early Kickstarter backers; however, availability should open up within the next few months to the public. Once it does, I believe this project will be very successful. If you have ever thought about having an off-the-grid charger or just an emergency portable charger, this is a great and versatile kit.
I strongly recommend it!!
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I just returned from a week long camping trip in Joshua Tree and finally used my ReadySet. It was awesome! Super easy to set up and use, which is important for someone who doesn't like to read directions. I charged my camera and phone batteries, used the light (incl) at the campsite and in tent. So rad. So simple. So efficient. Feels good. I need to get some attachments to accommodate other devices, and then I'll be set to go off the grid for good. :) Or atleast while I'm off exploring the wilderness. My little orange ReadySet will now accompany me on every camping trip. Plus, now that I now how easy it is to use, I plan to use it as my main charging station when I'm at home. Or maybe I'll use it to light the storage space. Hmmm, decisions, decisions...
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I received a ReadySet a few weeks ago and it's awesome. Now I can use my laptop and other mobile devices for longer periods of time when I go camping or whenever else I'm off the grid. At the same time, it's currently providing renewable energy in many parts of Africa and helping small businesses grow. A++!
Honest reviews on ReadySet 15-watt Solar Power System
I live in NJ, and recently we've been losing power a lot. Rather than spend a fortune on a generator, I picked up a ReadySet for the important stuffkeeping our cell phones, hotspot, and iPad charged, and a light for the bathroom. Most often the outages last a day or so, but when they go for more than a week, it's great to have the solar panel to keep the battery topped off.
I also keep the USB battery charger in my backpack at all times for charging my camera and phone batteries on the road without lugging around a bunch of extra chargers.
For a fraction of the cost of a generator (and without the maintenance or hassle of dealing with gas cans) I can maintain my digital life, and more importantly my marriage (by not missing the toilet in the pitch black) when the power goes out. And it's "green" too!
Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for ReadySet 15-watt Solar Power System
I gave a ReadySet to my parents to use at their lake house in rural Virginia. They have have grid power there, but wanted a little unit to power a radio, charge cell phones, power a light, etc... if the power fails. They ended up using it often to charge their cell phones because they love the idea of using solar energy to power things rather than dead dinosaurs.
This also works great when they want to take the unit down to the dock and use it where there is no electricity available.
