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Topic: Cheapy solar charger backup battery  (Read 471 times)

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CGN-38

  • Del Valle Storm Trooper
  • Sea Lion
  • ****
  • Survivor Del Valle FnC 09'
  • Location: Felton, CA. (In the Redwoods)
  • Date Registered: Mar 2005
  • Posts: 3652
I ordered this thing from Amazon, was only $11 (Free shipping) so I thought "What the hell" got the thing, the box contained the solar charger, short USB cable, a ziplok bag containing a few tablet adapters and a carabineer. No instructions or spec sheet.
 Placed the thing in the afternoon sun and saw that the little green indicator was on, Indicating it was producing some amount of voltage from the small panel.
 Ok, let it sit in direct sun, (Actually moved it around to follow what sun I get at my place. When dark I set it under an incandescent lamp. it stayed there for over the weekend.
 Brought it to work, set it up in my car and it got 6+ hours of direct sun.
 Measured the battery voltage, and it was 3.48VDc Ok.
 Plugged it in to a cell wall wort, 5VDC at 180Mah out (Solar charger says 5VDC at 200mAh
  input) 180mAh is close enough. Leave it plugged in over night.
 This morning I arrive to find the little blue LEDS not blinking so I think "Great it charged up and stopped" unplugged the cell wall wort, and that's when I felt it! The micro USB port was really loose.
 (Hey $11 what can I expect?) I turn on the battery by pressing to power button, and only 1 blue LED lights up indicating only 25% charge!
 Well I tested the micro USB port again by trying to plug in the cell wall wort micro USB plug and I can get in in, but it's not charging unless I move the thing around to reconnect it to the board inside!

 Well this aint good! Time to tear it apart and see if it's at all repairable. Figured out how to get into the thing, and once I had the little circuit board exposed, sure enough I could see the micro-USB port had come off the board fell out of the case!
 With a magnifying lamp, I soldered the microUSB port leads back onto the board, then carefully tested by plugging in the wall charger, and the blue charge indicator LEDs came on! Great! next mixed some 5-min epoxy and glued the snot out of the port I just repaired, and the 2 USB ports as well. There not coming off the board any time soon!
 waited for a few hours, then carefully put the 2 case pieces of the charger back together again, then plugged in the power cord again. The charge indicator LEDs cane on. a few minutes ago I measured the battery voltage again, it was at 3.6VDc the charge indicator only shows 2 blue LEDs or 50% hopefully tomorrow, It'll show all 4 lit up or 100%
 If not I may have to change the battery out, or at least check that the battery is getting any kind of voltage before I change it out.
 I held out getting this thing back when I first started looking at them, A because they were over $30 then, and B, the size of the panel I know is very small. ( I use solar at my house, I have 22A from 5 panels into a charge controller then to my battery bank) I'm not new to using solar.
 I have, though on occasion had to use another "PowerBank" battery to charge my phone, so, when I noticed this solar charger was only $11 now I thought "What the hell" go ahead and get it'
 Well tomorrow I'll know if it's junk (Which I suspect it will be) or the darn thing charged up!
 Oh haven't even plugged my phone into it yet!


Member/survivor STORM TROOPER Brigade


FishingForTheCure

  • "I'm going to make dinner because my colors taste like hungry"
  • Manatee
  • *****
  • LOWRANCE & SIMRAD PRO STAFF
  • Location: Aromas
  • Date Registered: Apr 2010
  • Posts: 11327
Funny thing is ... this seems to be par for the course with any "unbranded" electronics sold on Amazon .... and even some name branded stuff.  I've read TOO many 'feedbacks' from consumers receiving name branded items only to find out it is a knock-off branded as the name brand ... directly from Amazon  :smt012  I've had to send a number of things back this year due to poor workmanship.  My Amazon Prime account has been worth it in the long run.

Thanks for the info & let us know how it works out!


RBark

  • Shark Week every week I am OTW
  • Sea Lion
  • ****
  • That Deaf Guy
  • Location: United States
  • Date Registered: May 2014
  • Posts: 1724
Yeah I've stopped buying on Amazon altogether. It's just so hard to tell if it's a legit vendor or a knock off vendor these days on there. Besides I usually find equal or better prices by looking around a bit.
Thresher in avatar and Soupfin Shark in signature both caught and pic taken by me.
3rd place Kayak Connection Derby, 2014
45th place / 423 pts / 3 Species - AOTY 2014 (nowhere to go but up!)
30th place / 1132.25 pts / 7 Species - AOTY 2015 (moving up a little!)

Always looking for new people to fish with!



FishingForTheCure

  • "I'm going to make dinner because my colors taste like hungry"
  • Manatee
  • *****
  • LOWRANCE & SIMRAD PRO STAFF
  • Location: Aromas
  • Date Registered: Apr 2010
  • Posts: 11327
I look around too.  Sometimes I can find a good deal on Amazon.  What I like is the ability to get free shipping with the Prime membership, despite the cost of the yearly membership it has been a good deal for me.  Order online while I'm at work & have it delivered to work ... no worries!


FTB530

  • Sand Dab
  • **
  • Location: Nor Cal
  • Date Registered: Feb 2014
  • Posts: 84
I bought a few rods and reels on Amazon, Shimano's warrenty says they will not cover their products not purchased at a brick and mortar shop with out original and reicept. No more buying shimano on line for me.


FishingForTheCure

  • "I'm going to make dinner because my colors taste like hungry"
  • Manatee
  • *****
  • LOWRANCE & SIMRAD PRO STAFF
  • Location: Aromas
  • Date Registered: Apr 2010
  • Posts: 11327
I'm finding more B&M stores don't honor warranty either these days.  Most rods (now) only cover manufacturers defects & the only trained individuals to determine this are the manufacturers themselves.


CGN-38

  • Del Valle Storm Trooper
  • Sea Lion
  • ****
  • Survivor Del Valle FnC 09'
  • Location: Felton, CA. (In the Redwoods)
  • Date Registered: Mar 2005
  • Posts: 3652
 :smt006
  Quick update:
  My repair worked.  My solar battery actually took a charge to full (According to its LEDs)
Last night with a different cell charger. Next test will be to see if it will charge my phone
  Oh this thing is not waterproof, it can't be b the 3 USB ports.  Each port is a open hole into the case! Even with its rubber port covers.  I won't be tossing the thing into any water soon.  Water resistant at best.


Member/survivor STORM TROOPER Brigade


 

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