Having a solar charger for your mobile phone or tablet means you can recharge your gear anywhere the sun shines. Perfect for travel, camping and most of all emergencies. Remember summer power failures, anyone?

Imagine a holiday with no flat battery moments but instead the convenience of your camera and mobile phone fully usable anywhere. Solar power for your mobile devices also means you are taking less power from the grid – saving the planet one recharge at a time AND saving money.

Here are 5 tips for using a solar charger – and getting the most out of it for camping, work or every day.

1. To increase the efficiency of your solar charger, make sure the panels directly face the sun at all times. As the sun moves across the sky throughout the day, adjust your solar charger accordingly. Pop it onto the car console or dashboard while driving to catch some rays. Leave it on the window sill at home through the day so you can recharge off the grid at night.
2. If you are charging through a window, windscreen, etc, be aware that the charging times will be increased especially if your windows are tinted.
3. A great way to use a solar charger for your mobile phone or tablet while camping or bushwalking is to WEAR IT! Strap it to your backpack and recharge your portable battery anywhere you go. Then it’s on hand to charge up your phone, camera, GPS or the kid’s iPod (so you can enjoy the serenity a bit longer).
4. The power of the sun’s rays depends on the season, as during summer the earth faces more directly towards the sun. So charge times can vary depending on the season where you are. The time of day is also an important factor to consider when using your solar charger. You will get the best performance when the sun is at the highest point in the sky, usually at noon. In fact, an hour charging at noon will give better charge than a few hours later on the same day.
5. Extreme weather can affect your solar charger’s efficiency, so if its baking hot, protect your charger until its a little cooler, ideally less than 45deg C.