I have a couple of kids and every night they plug their ipods/ipads in to charge.
Can anyone recommend the best way to make use of the sun via a solar panel/charger.
I've looked on ebay and most look like they use a panel to charge a battery pack, then connect the
ipad/ipods to battery pack.
Does anyone have a better system/setup.
Is the cost I'm saving not worth the hassle.
TIA
Yes correct. The only problem is, in WA I get 8c a unit feed in, but when im taking it at night they charge 20c +
The jury is still out at my house regarding solar panels.
I don't understand how this changes your device charging. If you are charging while the panels product power, you don't pay for that electricity, no different from a special solar charger. Either way it isn't much though.
because the sun isn't out at night.
Number one - get a backup battery unit (with a torch built in if possible) since it's a useful thing to have in a handbag, in the car, etc. and isn't expensive.
Number two - if you want to solar charge it, get a USB solar charger (or make one). You aren't going to get great efficiency out of it, and its not going to save you money, but from an 'emergency' perspective it can be useful to have.
The battery gets charged during the day on the charger (in a window say) and can then recharge the phone overnight.
iPhone/iPod charger is 1A (at 5V). That is 5 Watts. At 20c/kWh that is 0.1 cents/hr.
A iPad charger is 2A (at 5V) … 10W. 0.2c/hr.
This is only while the devices are fully charging. It normally takes less than an hour to charge an iPhone and a couple for an iPad. Worst case assume a couple of cents a day, that's still less than $10 per year.
You would have to charge for a lot of hours to make a solar charger + battery worthwhile, and it would probably die within a couple of years anyway. I agree with Bruce that you should install PV on the roof if you want to go solar, if you use most of the energy you generate you get a payoff approaching 20c/kWh.
This.
You need a battery because the devices need a consistant power source, which solar will not provide. If you really want to charge things 'off solar' just get solar power for your house and resume business as usual.
If you want to save energy, run your AC slightly less or at a higher temp in your car/house.