Solar Battery Charger

A solar battery charger works in much the same way as a regular one, although there are differences because the energy source (the sun) is intermittent and doesn't supply a constant charge. They do work at pretty much any time of day that there is sunlight however, and do not require a bright sunny day to charge. Although nice weather will make your batteries charge faster--because the amount of light available directly affects how fast your batteries will charge, any source of light will be enough for the charger to collect enough energy to run. Solar photovoltaic technology (the type used in both solar panels and solar battery chargers) can also work indoors if there is a strong enough light source to power them. These chargers are very handy if you're off the grid camping, living in a rural area, or in case of a power outtage. You can remotely charge your electronics and batteries without plugging them into a socket, which is incredibly useful if you live in an area that's prone to power outtages.

No Dent in Your Bank Account

Solar battery chargers generally range in price from $25 to $200, and can be used with a separate portable solar charger or you can buy them equipped with it's own solar pv system for more money.

"It's more useful to buy the solar panel separate from the battery charger, as you can then use the pv array for charging other electronic devices (rather than just your batteries) like cell phones, lap tops, mp3 players, etc."

Questions, Concerns?

One worry may be that because the sun goes down at night, the batteries will lose their charge at night. However, this is not the case. For those who charge their batteries overnight, which many people do, the batteries will keep their charge because of a "diode" which is included in the most current solar battery chargers being produced. This diode ensures that no reverse current is able to flow, and that the batteries keep their charge. Some chargers will even continue to charge into the night, if they collect reserve energy. Not all do this though, so you'll have to check when you buy it whether this feature is included.