7 handy solar gadgets that run on solar energy
Solar gadgets are environmentally friendly and also very practical: You don’t have to constantly change batteries and you can charge your electrical devices independently of sockets – and it’s even free of charge. We have put together a small selection of seven useful solar gadgets for you.
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Garmin Fenix 7 Solar: Smartwatch with solar boost
Smartwatches are extremely practical everyday helpers, but due to their small batteries, they have to be plugged in relatively often – especially when tracking activities.
The smart watch Garmin Fenix 7 Solar therefore uses a built-in solar panel that increases battery life. If the wearer is outdoors for 3 hours a day with a brightness of 50,000 lux, the battery life is extended: from 18 to 22 days if only the basic functions are used, and from 57 to 73 hours if the GPS tracker is permanently switched on . On a bright sunny day it can get as bright as 100,000 lux, so it doesn’t need that much light.
In addition to the additional battery life, the Garmin Fenix 7 Solar also offers all the important functions that other smartwatches offer: smartphone notifications, measurement of various health data, activity tracking, contactless payment and much more.
Cheaper alternative
If the Garmin Fenix 7 Solar is interesting but a bit too expensive for you, then the Garmin Instinct Solar is a good alternative. Here you can find our test of the solar-powered fitness tracker.
Eufy SoloCam S40: security camera with smart person recognition
A few hours of sunlight are enough to power the surveillance camera.
Image: © SATURN 2022
The surveillance camera records all activities around your home in sharp 2K resolution. The artificial intelligence of the cam recognizes when people walk into the field of view and notifies you. On the other hand, passing animals or falling leaves do not trigger an alarm. The integrated headlight shines with a bright 600 lumens. The Eufy SoloCam S40 can be integrated into smart home systems and is compatible with the Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa.
Kosmos Solar Bots: Imparting knowledge about photovoltaics in a playful way
Solar energy can also be converted into kinetic energy and can drive the self-made robots.
Image: © SATURN 2022
The basic principle of solar power is simple: the sun shines on solar cells and these then generate electricity. But how does the physics behind photovoltaics actually work and what can the electricity generated be used for? The step-by-step instructions for the deal with these questions Cosmos Solar Bots.
A solar gear serves as a drive for the versatile solar bots. As far as the shape is concerned, you can really let off steam – eight different robots can be built with the set: beetle, racing car, dinosaur and five other exciting figures. Children between the ages of eight and twelve learn about technology and physics in a playful way.
Xlayer Powerbank Plus Solar 15,000: Powerbank with solar support
Practical: The Powerbank Plus Solar 15,000 charges itself with solar energy.
Image: © Xlayer 2021
A power bank always helps us when our smartphones run out of power and there is no socket in sight. But what if we are on the road for so long that the power bank is also completely empty at some point?
In such cases, it is practical if the power bank is recharged using solar energy – like the Xlayer Power Bank Plus Solar. The power bank has a capacity of 15,000 mAh, which means that it can also fully charge smartphones with larger batteries at least twice.
If that’s still not enough, it’s worth laying the power bank in the sun from time to time or attaching it to your backpack with a carabiner on trips, for example. So it slowly but steadily recharges itself. Thanks to the integrated LED, you can also use the power bank as a flashlight in the dark.
Facts about photovoltaics in Germany
In a recent study (August 2021) that Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE compiled some interesting facts about photovoltaics in Germany. Did you know that …
- In 2020, 9.2 percent of gross electricity consumption in Germany was covered by photovoltaics (PV)? These are 50.6 TWh (terawatt hours)
- PV power over on sunny days two-thirds can cover our current electricity consumption temporarily?
- At the end of 2020, 2 million PV modules were installed in Germany, with a total nominal output of 54GW [Gigawatt] to have?
Logitech K750 Solar Wireless Keyboard: Type with solar power
The solar cells of the Logitech K750 already generate enough power for operation with ambient light.
Image: © Logitech 2021
If you regularly use a wireless keyboard, you won’t be able to avoid an occasional battery change or battery charging. With the Logitech K750, however, replacing the battery is a thing of the past, because the chic wireless keyboard is completely powered by solar energy. Two solar panels above the keys ensure that the keyboard is supplied with enough power.
And this does not even necessarily require sunlight, because other light sources are sufficient to generate electricity via photovoltaics. In a well-lit office or study, the keyboard’s battery is already charged via normal lighting. When fully charged, the battery lasts a good three months, even in dark rooms.
Thanks to the flat keys, the Logitech K750 also offers a comfortable typing experience and can be used with almost any laptop, notebook or desktop PC via the USB 2.0 receiver.
Solar garden lights: envelop the garden in light when it is dark
With this solar lighthouse, every flower bed becomes the highlight of the garden.
Image: © SATURN 2021
One of the major uses of solar energy is the generation of light. That’s no wonder, because after all, LEDs get by with very little electricity and can be made to glow for a relatively long time with tiny solar panels. And hobby gardeners have been using this for many years to stylishly illuminate their gardens.
In combination with motion detectors, they ensure that paths or front doors can be illuminated at night. The sun supplies the power for the LEDs during the day – completely free of charge.
Powertraveller PTL-SG002: The foldable solar panel
Powertraveller’s solar panel can take a few raindrops too.
Image: © SATURN 2022
Anyone who is often out and about in the great outdoors and cannot do without their smartphone or laptop could use a mobile, foldable solar panel like this Powertraveller’s PTL-SG002 may be of interest. The difference to a solar-powered power bank is that the current is not first fed into another battery, but directly into the battery of the connected device.
With an output power of up to 10 watts, the mobile solar module is powerful enough to charge smartphones, tablets and laptops. With a weight of 700 g, the solar module is still light enough for outdoor enthusiasts who are out and about with a backpack.
Reference-www.turn-on.de
