Bought a portable solar generator for $800 and it barely charges my phone

Saw all these influencers hyping up solar generators for emergency prep, so I dropped $800 on one from a popular brand. After 3 full days of sunny weather, it only gave my phone about 60% charge - has anyone actually found one that works for more than a weekend camping trip?

2 comments

2 Comments

derek_coleman17d ago

Did your friend happen to check if the solar panel was actually facing the sun the whole time? My buddy Mark bought one of those big Bluetti setups last spring, took it out to the desert, and after two days his phone was at like 30%. He was so mad until he realized the panel was sitting in the shade of his truck for half the day and the little display was showing like 5 watts coming in. Once he moved it out in the open and pointed it right at the sun, it charged his phone twice in one afternoon plus ran a little fan. Still seems like a lot of money for something you gotta babysit though.

ross.sean17d ago

Mark must have felt like a genius when he figured that one out lmao. Still, paying that much for a setup that can't even outsmart your own truck's shadow is kind of hilarious.