Comments on: Solio H1000 Universal Hybrid Solar Charger Review http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/05/14/solio_h1000_universal_hybrid_solar_charger/ Gadget reviews and news by Julie Strietelmeier and friends since 1997 Sun, 08 Nov 2009 06:27:19 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Spotlight Gadget - Brando Multi-purpose Solar Charger — The Gadgeteer http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/05/14/solio_h1000_universal_hybrid_solar_charger/comment-page-1/#comment-29149 Spotlight Gadget - Brando Multi-purpose Solar Charger — The Gadgeteer Fri, 09 Jan 2009 13:17:37 +0000 #comment-29149 [...] 5V@500mA power. High power capacity is provided by a 20,000mAh ~ 3.7V batteries array. I tried the Solio Hybrid charger this past Spring without a lot of success, but I’m always open to trying other alternative [...] [...] 5V@500mA power. High power capacity is provided by a 20,000mAh ~ 3.7V batteries array. I tried the Solio Hybrid charger this past Spring without a lot of success, but I’m always open to trying other alternative [...]

]]> By: Tread Sportster Universal Smartphone Case Review — The Gadgeteer http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/05/14/solio_h1000_universal_hybrid_solar_charger/comment-page-1/#comment-28668 Tread Sportster Universal Smartphone Case Review — The Gadgeteer Sun, 28 Dec 2008 21:48:01 +0000 #comment-28668 [...] why I was happy to learn that Better Energy Systems Ltd. (the same company that brings us Solio solar chargers) are creating cases from the discarded tires of South American Trucks. Tread cases [...] [...] why I was happy to learn that Better Energy Systems Ltd. (the same company that brings us Solio solar chargers) are creating cases from the discarded tires of South American Trucks. Tread cases [...]

]]> By: william http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/05/14/solio_h1000_universal_hybrid_solar_charger/comment-page-1/#comment-24979 william Thu, 26 Jun 2008 09:00:53 +0000 #comment-24979 <p>Hi Julie,</p> <p>I live in the UK, so I just have my solio classic stuck to a south facing window where it can maximise the amount of sunlight....works a treat....when it's sunny !</p> <p>cheers...Will</p> Hi Julie,

I live in the UK, so I just have my solio classic stuck to a south facing window where it can maximise the amount of sunlight….works a treat….when it’s sunny !

cheers…Will

]]> By: Julie http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/05/14/solio_h1000_universal_hybrid_solar_charger/comment-page-1/#comment-24978 Julie Wed, 25 Jun 2008 15:54:39 +0000 #comment-24978 <p>William:</p> <p>Where do you charge your Solio Classic? I'm curious if it is easier than the H1000. I would hope so...</p> <p>I'm loving the Centro! :o)</p> William:

Where do you charge your Solio Classic? I’m curious if it is easier than the H1000. I would hope so…

I’m loving the Centro! :o )

]]> By: william http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/05/14/solio_h1000_universal_hybrid_solar_charger/comment-page-1/#comment-24977 william Wed, 25 Jun 2008 15:00:27 +0000 #comment-24977 <p>Hi Julie,</p> <p>I use the solio classic to keep my centro topped up every couple of days. I have found that there is not enough juice for the classic to fully charge an empty centro battery.</p> <p>How's life now that you have moved back to a centro? I have to say that Palm have really hit a winner with the centro. It really is a great phone/PDA combo.</p> <p>Regards,</p> <p>William.</p> Hi Julie,

I use the solio classic to keep my centro topped up every couple of days. I have found that there is not enough juice for the classic to fully charge an empty centro battery.

How’s life now that you have moved back to a centro? I have to say that Palm have really hit a winner with the centro. It really is a great phone/PDA combo.

Regards,

William.

]]> By: Roy Cheung http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/05/14/solio_h1000_universal_hybrid_solar_charger/comment-page-1/#comment-24976 Roy Cheung Fri, 16 May 2008 22:58:20 +0000 #comment-24976 <p>Julie: i think the HYmini has a mount for your car, while you are driving it would charge the built-in battery. But if charging through wind is a problem, the solar panel would cover the wind problem. and the price covers both the Wind generator and Solar....</p> <p><em>[Edited at May 16, 2008 23:17:54 PM.]</em></p> Julie: i think the HYmini has a mount for your car, while you are driving it would charge the built-in battery. But if charging through wind is a problem, the solar panel would cover the wind problem. and the price covers both the Wind generator and Solar….

[Edited at May 16, 2008 23:17:54 PM.]

]]> By: Julie http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/05/14/solio_h1000_universal_hybrid_solar_charger/comment-page-1/#comment-24975 Julie Fri, 16 May 2008 11:33:50 +0000 #comment-24975 <p>Roy: I have a feeling trying to charge via the wind would have more issues than sunlight... Unless if you were an avid cyclist or something, of which I am not.</p> <p>William: Thanks for the info on the classic. One question for you... You say that you use the classic to charge your Centro. Do you use it as a top-off charger, or have you been able to use the classic for a complete recharge?</p> Roy:
I have a feeling trying to charge via the wind would have more issues than sunlight… Unless if you were an avid cyclist or something, of which I am not.

William:
Thanks for the info on the classic. One question for you… You say that you use the classic to charge your Centro. Do you use it as a top-off charger, or have you been able to use the classic for a complete recharge?

]]> By: william http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/05/14/solio_h1000_universal_hybrid_solar_charger/comment-page-1/#comment-24974 william Fri, 16 May 2008 08:51:08 +0000 #comment-24974 <p>Hi Julie,</p> <p>I have owned a solio classic for over a year now. It is a fantastic bit of kit and I can tell you it is not picky about sunlight conditions like you describe with the H1000. It can charge even with very little sunlight. I charge my trusty Palm Centro with it every couple of days.</p> <p>Keep up the great reviews !</p> <p>Regards....Will</p> Hi Julie,

I have owned a solio classic for over a year now. It is a fantastic bit of kit and I can tell you it is not picky about sunlight conditions like you describe with the H1000. It can charge even with very little sunlight. I charge my trusty Palm Centro with it every couple of days.

Keep up the great reviews !

Regards….Will

]]> By: Roy Cheung http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/05/14/solio_h1000_universal_hybrid_solar_charger/comment-page-1/#comment-24973 Roy Cheung Fri, 16 May 2008 03:04:01 +0000 #comment-24973 <p>Julie, the HYmini has a battery inside, while the miniSOLAR does not. if i remember, in the FAQ section, it mentions how much mAh the batter inside the HYmini is.</p> <p>EDIT: Copied directly from the HTML version of the site: </p> <p>1200 mAh built in lithium ion polymer rechargeable battery power bank.</p> <p>5V adaptive 200~850mA output through USB 2.0. -----(output to device is USB) Built-in rechargeable battery inside the casing.</p> <p><em>[Edited at May 15, 2008 22:06:31 PM.]</em></p> Julie, the HYmini has a battery inside, while the miniSOLAR does not. if i remember, in the FAQ section, it mentions how much mAh the batter inside the HYmini is.

EDIT: Copied directly from the HTML version of the site:

1200 mAh built in lithium ion polymer rechargeable battery power bank.

5V adaptive 200~850mA output through USB 2.0. —–(output to device is USB)
Built-in rechargeable battery inside the casing.

[Edited at May 15, 2008 22:06:31 PM.]

]]> By: Julie http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/05/14/solio_h1000_universal_hybrid_solar_charger/comment-page-1/#comment-24972 Julie Fri, 16 May 2008 01:20:42 +0000 #comment-24972 <p>Roy:</p> <p>Unless I'm blind and missed it, there isn't any info about the power storage capacity of the HYmini and miniSOLAR products. Hmmmmm....</p> <p>BL:</p> <p>The Sunsei product does look very similar to the Solio. It says it has 135 mA. How does that compare to mAh? Hmmmmm....</p> Roy:

Unless I’m blind and missed it, there isn’t any info about the power storage capacity of the HYmini and miniSOLAR products. Hmmmmm….

BL:

The Sunsei product does look very similar to the Solio. It says it has 135 mA. How does that compare to mAh? Hmmmmm….

]]> By: BL Sansotta http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/05/14/solio_h1000_universal_hybrid_solar_charger/comment-page-1/#comment-24971 BL Sansotta Thu, 15 May 2008 20:39:30 +0000 #comment-24971 <p>I checked out both websites mentioned in the 2 previous comments. The Sunsei looks like a scaled-down version of the hybrid Julie tested - wonder if it has the same limitations?</p> <p>The HYmini looks like something I would definitely like to test to see if it really can power anything for very long. It's got solar power and wind power adapters, you can charge it on your pc/laptop, or in the wall plug. Heck! You can even hand crank the dang thing.</p> <p>Now, all I need to know is if it is any better at powering up devices than the Solio.</p> I checked out both websites mentioned in the 2 previous comments. The Sunsei looks like a scaled-down version of the hybrid Julie tested – wonder if it has the same limitations?

The HYmini looks like something I would definitely like to test to see if it really can power anything for very long. It’s got solar power and wind power adapters, you can charge it on your pc/laptop, or in the wall plug. Heck! You can even hand crank the dang thing.

Now, all I need to know is if it is any better at powering up devices than the Solio.

]]> By: John Kes http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/05/14/solio_h1000_universal_hybrid_solar_charger/comment-page-1/#comment-24970 John Kes Thu, 15 May 2008 17:57:40 +0000 #comment-24970 <p>The solar cells must all be connected in series - shaded cells act like dead batteries, so would stop the whole works. They should have included some parallel paths.</p> <p>I wonder if this Sunsei works better: http://www.solarcharger.com/s.nl/it.A/id.64/.f?sc=2&category=62 The are sold at Fry's for about $30. There are some good reviews of this product on Amazon.</p> The solar cells must all be connected in series – shaded cells act like dead batteries, so would stop the whole works. They should have included some parallel paths.

I wonder if this Sunsei works better:
http://www.solarcharger.com/s.nl/it.A/id.64/.f?sc=2&category=62
The are sold at Fry’s for about $30. There are some good reviews of this product on Amazon.

]]> By: Roy Cheung http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/05/14/solio_h1000_universal_hybrid_solar_charger/comment-page-1/#comment-24969 Roy Cheung Thu, 15 May 2008 04:00:37 +0000 #comment-24969 <p>I'll look for the Solio's classic version, but the problem is that it can't store so much energy that it can fully charge my phone. I've done some searching and found a company called MINIWIZ, they created a Wind powered handheld universal charger called HYmini, and the miniSOLAR. (i won't get into the details, because it would go on forever) but their website is: http://hymini.com You should check it out. The price is actually cheaper then the Solio H1000. $74.98 can get you the HYmini and the miniSOLAR panel, (usually sold separately) extra solar panels are $24.99. The store is at this link: http://hymini.com/eshop/index.html (also linked in the info page) </p> <p>EDIT: Julie, it would be great if you can review this product. I would like to purchase it if it actually works.</p> <p><em>[Edited at May 15, 2008 17:12:26 PM.]</em></p> I’ll look for the Solio’s classic version, but the problem is that it can’t store so much energy that it can fully charge my phone. I’ve done some searching and found a company called MINIWIZ, they created a Wind powered handheld universal charger called HYmini, and the miniSOLAR. (i won’t get into the details, because it would go on forever) but their website is: http://hymini.com You should check it out. The price is actually cheaper then the Solio H1000. $74.98 can get you the HYmini and the miniSOLAR panel, (usually sold separately) extra solar panels are $24.99. The store is at this link: http://hymini.com/eshop/index.html (also linked in the info page)

EDIT: Julie, it would be great if you can review this product. I would like to purchase it if it actually works.

[Edited at May 15, 2008 17:12:26 PM.]

]]> By: BL Sansotta http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/05/14/solio_h1000_universal_hybrid_solar_charger/comment-page-1/#comment-24968 BL Sansotta Thu, 15 May 2008 00:13:11 +0000 #comment-24968 <p>Good story, good try - but this dog don't hunt. They still have a way to go. But - solar power is the big "thing" now. I sure would like to find an inexpensive and EASY way to save on power costs.</p> Good story, good try – but this dog don’t hunt. They still have a way to go. But – solar power is the big “thing” now. I sure would like to find an inexpensive and EASY way to save on power costs.

]]> By: Julie http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/05/14/solio_h1000_universal_hybrid_solar_charger/comment-page-1/#comment-24967 Julie Thu, 15 May 2008 00:05:13 +0000 #comment-24967 <p>Roy:</p> <p>I'm in the same boat as you... I would like to try Solio's classic version that looks like a flower. It has 3 solar 'petals'.</p> Roy:

I’m in the same boat as you… I would like to try Solio’s classic version that looks like a flower. It has 3 solar ‘petals’.

]]> By: Roy Cheung http://the-gadgeteer.com/2008/05/14/solio_h1000_universal_hybrid_solar_charger/comment-page-1/#comment-24966 Roy Cheung Wed, 14 May 2008 22:06:14 +0000 #comment-24966 <p>I'm still waiting for a flat piece of solar panel that i can stick to my dashboard to charge my phone, one that's about the size of a apple keyboard. I haven't found any Solar Chargers that meet my expectations... :(</p> I’m still waiting for a flat piece of solar panel that i can stick to my dashboard to charge my phone, one that’s about the size of a apple keyboard. I haven’t found any Solar Chargers that meet my expectations… :(

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