Share

SunTastics brings fast and efficient solar charging to our most valuable Electronics

The world of keeping our devices charged up on the go is ever evolving. Companies such as OnTrion offer extra batteries and extended batteries to keep us going. Others produce affordable portable battery back up charges and then there are some the create solar panel charges. While the first two solutions have always been more of a normal way of life, solar charging hasn’t yet taken hold. Mostly due to the nature of how many of the current products on the market operate. They take the sun’s energy and converts it to power and stores that power inside a battery built-in to the panel. Often taking 8 to 10 hours to charge up the internal battery for you to plug your device into. No longer is this going to be the norm though, thanks to SunTastics.

SunTastics is a relatively new company to the scene even though they have been in business for nearly 3 years. In business terms that is short, in tech terms they are 65 already. One thing I really like about them is they are a US based company and their product is built-in the US through FastTrak. Their goal was to bring a solar charger to market that could charge your device directly and quickly just like if it was plugged into a wall outlet. That is where the sCharger-5 comes in. Built using the latest in mono crystalline solar cells like the ones used in industrial grade solar systems. The unit provides a 5 watt output from a direct plug-and-play USB port located on the device. Making it as easy to use as it is functional. The sCharger-5 is capable of charging your device even while you are talking on it with the panel open to the suns rays.

Specs:

  • Standard USB “A” connector
  • USB output: 5 volts, 1 Amp (1000mA)
  • Open size: 6-1/8″ x 11.5″ / 15.5 x 29.2 cm
  • Folded size: 6-1/8″ x 5-3/4″ / 15.5 x 14.6 cm
  • Indicator LED, surface mount circuitry
  • State of the art flex circuits
  • Weight: 7-8 oz / 200 g
  • Handles temps up to 160F
  • Water and weather resistant
  • Patent Pending

According to their site, the sCharger-5 can charge up a dead iPhone in as little as 2 hours. Which is a 1420 mAh battery if I am not mistaken. With tests proving it able to add around 1% a minute to your device’s battery. Testing it against an iPad and iPad 2, they were able to measure a charge rate of 10 to 12% per hour. That is pretty impressive in my book.

The sCharger-5’s unique design makes it small, portable and extremely efficient. Easily fitting inside a CD wallet or sliding into your bag makes taking with you easy.

Some of you may wonder why the heck you would ever need one of these in your life. Well, there are a number of great reasons. For one, it is eco-friendly. Not that everyone cares about that though. I can already think of a dozen uses for it. If your power goes out you can still keep your phone charged if the sun is out. You can take it camping and hiking to keep your phone, GPS units or even AA or AAA batteries charged with out needing to carry around extra weight. You can even use it to charge up your battery back ups during the day so you don’t have a power shortage that evening. If you have ever had a dead car battery and a dying device you know how important emergency power can be. Heck, even fishermen out on the lake can use it with ease.

 
While we can easily see the benefits of a sCharger-5 for Android users and iOS users, the applications are limitless. It will charge anything that can be charged via a standard USB cable. Which means nearly all of your portable battery back-ups, Nintendo DSi, Tablets, MP3 players, GPS units, USB rechargeable battery packs and even some digital camera.  The applications of such a product are really only limited by your location, amount of sun you ever see and how you use it.

In addition to having one of the greatest solar panel charger we have yet seen, they also link you to various brackets for mounting the sCharger-5 in various locations. For instance the back of your bike or on the handle bars. Giving you even more applicable abilities.

On a side note, because I know it will come up. no one recommends you leave your phone or other electronic device sitting in the sun for extended periods of time. That is why there are longer USB cables. Placing it outside the tent and charging inside or placing something over your phone would be a good idea.

Personally I think it looks like an amazing product that everyone should own. You never know when a situation might arise that will make it the best purchase of your life. For more information about SunTastics and the sCharger-5, head over to their official website. If you have heard and seen enough to get an order placed now, hit up the Amazon link below to get your order placed. I know I will be doing so shortly. Can’t wait to take it camping this year.