Gear

Hi all.
If you use an Iphone like me, then I am sure you will realise that their battery life is not something to boast about!

I have a power traveller power monkey and solar monkey, and although the solar monkey will charge the power monkey just fine, it will not charge the Iphone directly, which is a big pain (I have to say, there are far too many 'monkeys' in that sentence lol).

I acquired a solar nut, in the hope that if it was placed between the solar monkey and Iphone it would charge it, but it just won't do it.

Do any of you folks have any better luck with this than I do?
I realise that if I were using an ordinary mobile phone, then I would not be having any of these issues (it works fine with my Nokia N73), but then the Iphone has so many useful apps (GPS springs to mind) that I want to be able to get this to work.

Thanks in advance for any help

I occasionally use a Freeloader Pico, which is a solar charger that also charges from a USB point, which is realistically the only way it's useable in the UK anyway. It will charge to about 55% or so when it's charged itself, but it's very light and compact and cheap-ish too. I'm not really convinced that solar charging is a viable option domestically anyway, if I were you, I'd be looking at one of the supplementary battery packs your can buy.

Hi Jon.
I already have a power monkey (as per above). Charging the power monkey from the solar monkey actually is excellent in the UK, and not only works after the sun is no longer visible, or on slightly overcast days but also works behind glass or under electric light.

I can't remember the stats but the solar monkey is either twice or three times the power of the freeloader.

Last weekend I charged two Iphones and two ordinary mobiles one after the other during daylight. The problem I have is that although I can charge the mobiles from the solar charger, the Iphones have to be done from the power monkey.

The solar nut is supposed to regulate the output of the solar monkey so it will charge an phone, but as yet I have not managed to get this to work.

The ability to charge from other sources (as you mention with the freeloader) is great with the various charging devices. The power monkey can be charged from: Solar; USB; worldwide mains power and 12v in the car.

Hi Rob.
I know the cases you are speaking of. They do hold a small charge, but also tend to block the phone from mobile signals a bit too. They also do not allow you to use a separate phone case, so offer less protection than other methods.

Mike.
I use the set up in the same way you do, and in that way it works fine. You did not get any luck on your last method, as the power monkey can only give or receive power, but not both at once, which is a shame (this is where the solar nut is supposed to work in between the solar monkey and device).

I also think I may not be being very clear here, so let me say that the power monkey works fine, as does the solar monkey, and I can charge my iphone every day with no problems at all.

The problem I have, is that I cannot get the solar monkey to charge an Iphone using the solar nut, and am having to stick with just charging the power monkey via solar.

I would like to be able to charge my iphone using solar (once I have charged the power monkey) so that I can do loads of internet stuff, or just watch some films etc while I stop for lunch.

Regular outdoor charging is fine, and I simply put the solar monkey on top my pack, with the power monkey in the top pocket.

So, everything seems to work except the solar nut!


As a PS, has anyone else got a 'crabble' for their iphone?
I love these little things, and although they are a bit geeky, they do make life a lot easier.

A 'crabble'?

And I have to admit that I don't really use my iPhone much in the outdoors, either a Satmap Active 10 - excellent, but sightly bulky - or a Nokia 5800 running ViewRanger tend to get the nod.

Have you checked your devices for the compatibility of the solar devices and the latest generation iPods/iPhones? The only reason I ask is that I have a Solio charger, still going strong four years later. It charges my older iPod and my old Nokia phones fine, but it won't charge my new iPhone. The reason being is that Apple upgraded the charging cable/connector interface so it has an extra pin in the connector. If I want to use my Solio to charge my iPhone, I need to do one of two things- either purchase from Solio a replacement Solio iPod charging cable (the latest one IS compatible), or purchase the USB replicator cable, which offers a USB port to charge USB powered devices off- this I'd just mate up with the charging cable my iPhone came with. Its a pain in the rear, as I have a special iPod interface cradle in my car, and have the same power/charging issues.

So, have you checked to see if the makers of your solar charger offer a replacement cable that will work with the latest generation iPhones/iPods?

Hi Tom, and thanks for that.
The connectors are all of the latest type, and do charge my iphone 3Gs perfectly (the same connector is used, whether charging via mains, 12v, USB, power monkey or solar. The problem I am having is that I just can't seem to get this to work on the iphone with the solar nut.

I think I will try to add some pics to make this clearer

Ok, here are some pics of the connection methods. All work well,

except connecting the iphone to the solar monkey via the solar nut!

So, all of the above methods work, except the way in photo two, which works with ordinary mobiles, but not with iphones,

Hi Ian.

Thanks for posting the link, but I had already seen this product, and discounted it, before buying the power monkey charging stuff.

I thought the item in your link would be useful for office workers, but not for me in an outdoor situation. It has no benefits over the power monkey set up, but does have far too many drawbacks:

It does not allow you to use a good protective outdoor case, but relies on a prone to damage one (which also degrades the phone's 'mobile' and GPS reception).

It will not charge your phone when it is in your pocket, or in your pack, whilst you are actually using it or even if you are watching a film etc (as the panels will be facing downwards against the foor)

It only allows for charging of one type of device (and only one at a time too)

It would need to have lots of accessories bought to go with it for other types of incoming charging source.

Did you ever get this issue resolved ? The publcility for the solar nut suggests you should be able to charge on the move

Hi Patel Jags.

I have kind of got this to work (yesterday). The problem may have been to do with the tips (as Tom Sargeant suggested.

Although the tip I had been using to charge the Iphone had worked well enough with: mains; USB and power monkey, it had not worked with the solar nut/solar monkey combination. as it had already been working fine with the 3Gs I ruled it out as being incompatible (which still makes sense to me!).

I ordered another tip (identical model to the one I already had), and this one works with the solar nut/solar monkey combo!

The solar monkey and solar nut seem to give a charge of approx 2-3% per half hour of use, so are not great, but will allow the charge to be stabilised while watching films etc.

So, the solar monkey/power monkey combo is by far the best way to get a good charge, but this gives me another way to charge my phone, or allows me to do two at once (mine and my partners).