What are the best solar battery chargers on the market in 2021?
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*Editorial note: This is an unbiased review: we have no financial ties with any of the companies mentioned, nor do we earn money from affiliate advertising. The content of this blog is based on research and information available at the time of writing.
Monocrystalline and photovoltaic solar panels can do more than power your home - they can keep your electronics charged and power up your car battery, too! Solar power can be utilized from mostly anywhere and charge basically any device with the right charger.
If you have access to the sun and a solar battery charger, you can rest easy when it comes to keeping electronics charged and ready for use.
In this blog, we will make it easy for you to determine what solar charger is best for the use you need it for. Whether you need a solar charger kit for charging your phone battery, car battery, boat battery, or supplying power to your RV, we break down the best choices for you.
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What are solar battery chargers?
Similar to how solar panels power your home, solar battery chargers power a device’s battery, providing power to that device. Portable solar chargers use their solar cells to absorb and then transfer solar energy in order to supply electricity to devices or to charge lithium-ion batteries within devices.
Solar battery chargers range in price, depending on which type you need, but many can be found for under $100. They can also be portable and lightweight if you need them for powering smaller electronics, but car and boat battery chargers are not as easy to carry around and will need storage space.
Despite their relative ease of use, it can be perceived that they are not as powerful as traditional chargers. But, as the technology becomes more sophisticated, you won’t have to worry so much about their power - or lack thereof.
Do solar battery chargers really work? What type do you need?
Yes! Solar battery chargers can fully charge your devices. However, if the battery has reached the end of its lifetime and needs to be replaced, a simple recharge won't cut it. And while they do take a longer time than gas powered or wall powered chargers, they remain a great option for traveling or off-grid living.
To figure out what type of solar battery charger you need, make sure you have the following answers:
1. What do I want to charge, something as big as a car or as small as a phone?
If you are looking for a charger for a specific purpose, like charging your car battery, then you can look strictly at car battery chargers.
Once you determine the category of chargers you are looking at, i.e., car chargers, then you can pick between the chargers available. The size and type of the battery you need to charge will determine the size and amp power of the charger you need.
For instance, is it for a pickup truck or a small sedan? The larger the battery you need to charge, the larger the amp.
2. How portable do I need the solar battery charger to be?
Portability is important, especially if you are planning to use your solar battery charger while camping or on the go.
But if you need the charger as a backup for your car battery, it doesn’t need to be portable and can sit in a garage for use only when it is needed - or be stowed in your car for emergency use.
3. Do I want individual solar battery chargers for each prospective use or one that serves multiple purposes?
You might be thinking to yourself that you don’t want a separate charger for each device, that only one solar battery charger is necessary for you.
Luckily, there are charger options that can serve many purposes! So if you don’t particularly care about portability but more about practical uses, buying a general charger makes sense.
Other things to consider are making sure it's waterproof if it is used for a boat or dust-proof if it is needed for camping and hiking. You can narrow down your search by getting specific about what role your solar battery charger is going to play.
Let’s break down the best options by category.
Best solar batteries for cars
Typical 12v car batteries aren’t always the most reliable, especially if there is an accidental light in the car left on overnight or a car sits idle for months.
Solar panel chargers are a great backup option for when your car battery needs a quick charge, either at home or wherever your battery runs out of power.
Solar powered battery chargers are a great way to add a charge to your 12-volt battery and act as a battery maintainer to expand their lifetime and practical use. Many of these batteries are known as ‘trickle charge batteries’ because they produce a low current of electricity to charge batteries’ power banks.
Amazon offers great options, we recommend:
1. Sunway Solar Car Battery Trickle Charger & Maintainer
Price: $24.99 - $49.00 depending on kW Buy Now
Image source: Amazon
Pros: Designed for daily use, diminishing risk of overcharging the battery. An LED light indicates when the charger is on, so when the light is off you know it is done charging
Cons: Does not have the ability to fold up for easy storage
2. POWOXI 3.3W Solar Battery Trickle Charger Maintainer
Price: $31.99 Buy Now
Image source: Amazon
Pros: Comes with a 1-year warranty and can be used to charge other devices, not just a car battery
Cons: Higher-wattage POWOXI models like this one need full sunlight to work, whereas lower-wattage models can work in any weather
3. SUNER POWER 12V Solar Panel Car Battery Charger & Maintainer
Price: $36.95 - $59.95 depending on kW Buy Now
Image source: Amazon
Pros: Comes with a 1-year warranty and is built to be durable
Cons: Lower-wattage options such as this do not come with a solar charge controller, i.e. it does not know when to stop charging your battery
Best solar batteries for boats
Boats are a great place to have solar battery chargers on hand because it is quite rare that weather conditions will get in the way of you charging your boat's battery via solar.
Also, solar batteries are a great way to make sure a boat’s battery life is maintained during winter storage months.
We recommend:
1. SUNER POWER Waterproof 12V Solar Battery Charger & Maintainer Pro
Price: $39.95 - $59.95 depending on kW Buy Now
Image source: Amazon
Yes, we’re recommending this brand again because they are very durable, have multipurpose uses for various products, and are known for great customer service.
2. DuraVolt Marine Solar Panel Battery Charger, 8.3 Watt Solar Panel
Price: $125.00 Buy Now
Image source: Amazon
Pros: Great option to maintain boat battery while in winter storage
Cons: High cost
Best solar batteries for RVs
A solar powered battery charger is perfect for RVs. If you store your RV without use for a few months, the battery might need a recharge before your next camping trip.
No matter where you park your RV and for how long, you can always rely on the sun's energy to keep your battery charged.
We recommend:
1. Battery Tender 12V, 270mA, 5W Solar Battery Charger
Price: $92.56 -$139.95 Buy Now
Image source: Amazon
Pros: Lightweight, 12-volt power, and built for outdoor use and all-terrain vehicles
Cons: Ability to charge batteries is reduced in cloudy conditions
2. Sunforce 50022 5-Watt Solar Battery Trickle Charger
Price: $42.75 Buy Now
Image source: Amazon
Pros: Great cost, completely waterproof
Cons: Ability to charge batteries is reduced in cloudy conditions
Another consideration for RVs is portable solar panels.
Best portable solar batteries
When you are hiking or on the go and cannot be tethered to outlets as a power source, solar chargers will charge whatever you need.
No more worrying about your cell phone or tablet battery running out when you need it most.
We recommend:
1. BigBlue 3 USB Ports 28W Solar Charger
Price: $69.96 Buy Now
Image source: Amazon
Pros: Very reliable, works in cloudy conditions, charges electronics safely
Cons: Large and bulky to carry around
2. Nekteck 21kW Portable Solar Panel Charger
Price: $49.99 Buy Now
Image source: Amazon
Pros: Water and dust-resistant, great cost, includes USB port connector
Cons: Might not work in cloudy conditions
Learn more: Best solar powered cell phone chargers
Increase your solar savings with a solar powered home
Relying on solar power makes your life easier - all you have to do is set up the solar panels and let them be.
With portable solar battery chargers, you can improve and maintain the charge for your car, boat, and RV battery packs - from anywhere. If the concept of using the sun’s energy to power your appliances appeals to you, a solar powered home might also make sense.
Learn how much it can cost you to power all of your electricity usage with solar panels alone.
Key takeaways
- Solar battery chargers utilize solar panels to power up battery packs for anything from small electronics to 12-volt car batteries.
- Solar battery chargers allow you to stay charged on the go and anywhere you find yourself without an outlet but have access to the sun.
- Solar battery chargers are becoming more popular as backup battery charging options, especially for car batteries that can run out after a forgotten light is left on.
Author: Ana Almerini | Web Content Specialist
Ana is a web content specialist at SolarReviews. She has 5 years of marketing experience blended with 2 years of experience in climate communications and holds a master of arts degree in climate and society from Columbia University. Ana frequently volunteers for environmental causes ranging from oyster reef restoration in NJ to expanding bike sharing in Naples, Italy.