DirFX Shopping


DirFX - Solio Universal Hybrid Solar Charger (Black)

Solio Universal Hybrid Solar Charger (Black)
List Price: $99.99
Our Price: $94.99
Your Save: $ 5.00 ( 5% )
Availability: N/A
Manufacturer: Better Energy Systems
Average Customer Rating: Average rating of 3.0/5Average rating of 3.0/5Average rating of 3.0/5Average rating of 3.0/5Average rating of 3.0/5

Buy it now at Amazon.com!

Batteries Included: 0
Binding: Electronics
Brand: Solio
Color: Black
EAN: 5065000778866
Feature: Universal "hybrid" solar battery charger with internal battery for charging portable electronics
Is Autographed: 0
Is Memorabilia: 0
Label: Better Energy Systems
Manufacturer: Better Energy Systems
Model: S19-G07A
Publisher: Better Energy Systems
Studio: Better Energy Systems
Warranty: 1 year warranty

Features
Universal "hybrid" solar battery charger with internal battery for charging portable electronics
Internal battery absorbs energy from 4 hours in the wall socket or 8 to 10 hours of direct sunlight
Charges iPods, cell phones, MP3 players, PDAs, game players, GPS units, or digital cameras
3 blades spread out to absorb maximum sunlight; stores power for more than 1 year
Includes global wall charger; measures 2.5 x 1.3 x 4.7 inches (W x H x D); 1-year warranty

Accessories
3-Year Extended Service Plan - Covers Electronic Items $0-$200 - Repair

Related Items

Editorial Reviews:

It works by absorbing power from either the wall socket or our very own Sun storing this energy within the Solio's own internal battery. Solio is the universal charger of the future because it can use free energy from the sun which is good for the environment while saving you money on electricity costs. In addition to this, Solio limits your need to purchase and carry around multiple chargers for all of your gadgets; Solio is your one stop charging solution for all of your products from cell phones and iPods, to digital cameras, game players, GPS and even Fish finders! One hour of sun will give you enough juice to play your iPod for about an hour. When fully charged your Solio can store enough power to charge a typical cell phone or an iPod Nano at least two times. Have you plugged into the Sun lately?


Spotlight customer reviews:

Customer Rating: Average rating of 5/5Average rating of 5/5Average rating of 5/5Average rating of 5/5Average rating of 5/5
Summary: Great Product
Comment: I love this product! The Solio works great with all our gadgets and we always take it camping at the lake to keep the game boys and cell phones running. I've even used it when I travel using just the sun I can catch at the airport between flights. When I needed to order more tips, I called the company and received excellent service. I will definitely buy from this company again. Keep up the great work!


Customer Rating: Average rating of 3/5Average rating of 3/5Average rating of 3/5Average rating of 3/5Average rating of 3/5
Summary: Fun, but anemic
Comment: I've had varying success with my Solio. Took me awhile to get a hang of the device's fickleness, but I'm able to successfully (albeit partially) charge my iPhone (which needs charging at least every other day).

The trick is that it really takes me two full days of leaving the Solio out in the sun to get a full charge. Their site claims "Charging Solio's internal battery takes 8-10 hours of direct sunlight." I haven't found that to be the case. I really need TWO days to fully charge the device. Of course, if I didn't have a life, I could change the placement of the charger throughout the day to point directly at the sun as it moves through the sky, and this would probably get close to a full charge in a normal day.

When the Solio DOES fully charge, I only get about 1/2 to 3/4 charge to my iPhone, and not more. So two days of work for maybe a work's day of usage for the iPhone. Better than nothing, but not something I'd depend my life on...

In short, I'd describe the Solio as "fun, but anemic". The device actually works and charges devices, but I probably save more money and benefit the environment more by hanging my clothes out to dry (instead of using the dryer) then getting 1/2 charge for my iPhone every couple of days.

Customer Rating: Average rating of 4/5Average rating of 4/5Average rating of 4/5Average rating of 4/5Average rating of 4/5
Summary: research solar power before bashing
Comment: Look, I see a lot of people out here writing crap reviews because it doesnt charge fast or anything, etc. Those people need to research solar power. If just one of the cells aren't in the right sunlight, then the power production could be cut in half. And behind windows, the solar energy getting through is much less because some rays are reflected by the glass. And in the manual, it clearly states it take 12-24 hours of direct sunlight to fully charge the battery, meaning it must be aligned properly with the sun. Mine works fine, sometimes has a little problem charging, but these solar chargers are new products. Anyone who bought this should have seen Al Gore's Speech. Remember computer chips and how much they evolved year after year? Its the same with solar power, and because these are new, they will be quirky. So if you had a bad experience with it, say it, but don't complain about how all of these products suck because of one problem.

Customer Rating: Average rating of 4/5Average rating of 4/5Average rating of 4/5Average rating of 4/5Average rating of 4/5
Summary: Little panels. Moving target.
Comment: Nothing ever charges as fast as we want it to. The Solio is no different. Point it at the sun and the little red LED on the back comes on to led you know that you're in a good position and that it is charging.

The caveat is that you're aiming at a moving target. If you're not pointing directly at the sun you're still charging, just not nearly as well.

The first night I had it I charged the Solio from a wall outlet then used it to top off my blackberry that night. It charged it with no issue and drained the Solio to about 40% (2 blinks - 20% per blink). Ever since I've been trying to position it in my parked car to fully charge, but have yet to fully charge it through pure solar use. That being said, I've been setting it on the dash of my car and leaving it there. It's charging. It would charge even faster if I always had it outside facing the sun without uv filtering glass in the way, but it IS working.

If I spent a lot of time outdoors, the Solio would be IDEAL. As it is, I find it would be more of use (for me personally) in an emergency kit.

It DOES work though. If you want faster charging, get something with more solar cell area.


Customer Rating: Average rating of 1/5Average rating of 1/5Average rating of 1/5Average rating of 1/5Average rating of 1/5
Summary: Do Not Buy
Comment: The charger worked well the first time that I used it, but now the power will not stay on to charge my cell phone. The website states that this is a known problem with some motorola phones, but it also occurs with my blackberry. Totally worthless to me.


Buy it now at Amazon.com!

US $36.99 (13 Bids)
End Date: Friday Jan-09-2009 9:53:48 PST
Bid now | Add to watch list

US $99.95
End Date: Saturday Jan-10-2009 8:38:23 PST
Buy It Now for only: US $99.95
Buy it now | Add to watch list

US $99.95
End Date: Saturday Jan-10-2009 8:38:25 PST
Buy It Now for only: US $99.95
Buy it now | Add to watch list

US $34.95
End Date: Saturday Jan-10-2009 11:41:47 PST
Buy It Now for only: US $34.95
Buy it now | Add to watch list

US $12.99 (1 Bid)
End Date: Sunday Jan-11-2009 10:42:53 PST
Bid now | Add to watch list

US $125.00
End Date: Sunday Jan-11-2009 17:13:17 PST
Buy It Now for only: US $125.00
Buy it now | Add to watch list

US $125.95
End Date: Sunday Jan-11-2009 18:39:01 PST
Buy It Now for only: US $125.95
Buy it now | Add to watch list

US $15.99 (2 Bids)
End Date: Monday Jan-12-2009 13:46:01 PST
Bid now | Add to watch list

US $9.99 (1 Bid)
End Date: Monday Jan-12-2009 13:48:59 PST
Bid now | Add to watch list

US $9.99 (1 Bid)
End Date: Monday Jan-12-2009 13:50:09 PST
Bid now | Add to watch list

US $125.00
End Date: Monday Jan-12-2009 21:13:14 PST
Buy It Now for only: US $125.00
Buy it now | Add to watch list

US $126.96
End Date: Tuesday Jan-13-2009 11:16:57 PST
Buy It Now for only: US $126.96
Buy it now | Add to watch list

US $59.00
End Date: Tuesday Jan-13-2009 12:50:39 PST
Buy It Now for only: US $59.00
Buy it now | Add to watch list

US $9.99 (0 Bid)
End Date: Tuesday Jan-13-2009 16:24:57 PST
Buy It Now for only: US $40.00
Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list

US $3.25 (2 Bids)
End Date: Tuesday Jan-13-2009 18:38:47 PST
Bid now | Add to watch list

Sponsored Links

Support DirFX

The DirFX Shopping experience is still in beta. Let us know how to improve your shopping experience and the changes you would like to see at DirFX. Head over to the Contact Page to send us your feedback.