Has anyone used a solar charger to fire up their Kindle?

7746 Views 36 Replies 16 Participants Last post by durphy, Jan 5, 2009

jseidel5263

Discussion Starter · Nov 9, 2008

I'm interested in getting a solar charger to recharge my Kindle but I have two concerns: (1) I don't want to fry my Kindle so advice is solicited; and (2) I'm not really sure what I need. I've seen a Solio charger online but can't find a manufacturer that specifically says their product works on a Kindle. (Most talk about charging cell phones.) I suspect I might need a converter tip of some sort to plug into the Kindle. Again, seen those online, too. But has anyone given it a try? Thanks for your help.

P.S. Kindle Cust. Support refused to endorse another manufacturer's product so I got no help there. $:-\$

1 - 20 of 37 Posts

Betsy the Quilter

· #2 · Nov 10, 2008

I haven't heard or read anything, JSeidel... anyone else? I was looking at external battery packs, but I read one person said their Kindle made a strange noise when attached and I lost interest.

Betsy

Mike D. aka jmiked

· #3 · Nov 10, 2008

“P.S. Kindle Cust. Support refused to endorse another manufacturer's product so I got no help there”

That’s as it should be. They can’t test everything out there, and there are liability issues.

I wouldn’t recommend plugging anything into the charger port on the Kindle that doesn’t specifically say it works with the Kindle.

Lithium-ion/film batteries such as are in the Kindle require sophisticated chargers that can carefully monitor the charge process. And because of their different shapes and sizes each type of Li-ion battery requires a charger designed to accommodate its particular size. This means lithium ion battery chargers are more expensive and more difficult to find than NiMH and NiCd battery chargers. (I stole this info from the Green Batteries site, heh).

Mike

Vegas_Asian

· #4 · Nov 10, 2008

I would not risk the precious Kindle

Angela

· #5 · Nov 10, 2008

Hubby has been researching solar power to heat our swimming pool and to supply power for our home, but I had never heard of solar chargers for cell phones and such... interesting!

Betsy the Quilter

· #6 · Nov 10, 2008

Hey, JMiked, love the Alfa logo! Do you have an Alfa? My husband had a '74 Spider Veloce when we met, and has owned a '67 GTV, a '67 Gulia Super sedan, and some four door sedan that he can't recall. I was very upset when he sold the Spider, although he bought something else to replace it.

Betsy

durphy

· #7 · Nov 10, 2008

I've been looking for a portable solar panel. I found this http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/09/20_solar_panel.php that talks about buying one.

My understanding is that the solar power is stored in a battery that you then use to recharge stuff.

Betsy the Quilter

· #8 · Nov 10, 2008

I am NOT recommending this for the Kindle, just putting this out as an example since there seems to be curiosity about solar chargers in general. Hikers/Backpackers use them a lot. REI has several versions from VERY expensive to inexpensive. Here's a link to one sold on Amazon: Solar Charger

.

Repeat I am NOT recommending this for the Kindle, or anything else. Might be good, might not. I haven't tried it. I might get one for some of my other devices, it looks kinda cool.

Betsy

Did I mention I am NOT recommending this for the Kindle?

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Angela

· #9 · Nov 11, 2008

Betsy the Quilter said:
I am NOT recommending this for the Kindle, just putting this out as an example since there seems to be curiosity about solar chargers in general. Hikers/Backpackers use them a lot. REI has several versions from VERY expensive to inexpensive. Here's a link to one sold on Amazon: Solar Charger

.

Repeat I am NOT recommending this for the Kindle, or anything else. Might be good, might not. I haven't tried it. I might get one for some of my other devices, it looks kinda cool.

Betsy

Did I mention I am NOT recommending this for the Kindle?

Thanks for the recommendation Betsy!! LOL j/k

Betsy the Quilter

· #10 · Nov 11, 2008

Angela said:
Thanks for the recommendation Betsy!! LOL j/k

::)

Teninx

· #11 · Nov 11, 2008

If I'm without electricity for the time that it takes my Kindle to deplete the battery charge, losing the use of my Kindle will be far down on my list of worries.

Suzanne

· #12 · Nov 12, 2008

Teninx said:
If I'm without electricity for the time that it takes my Kindle to deplete the battery charge, losing the use of my Kindle will be far down on my list of worries.

Ain't that the truth!

Angela

· #13 · Nov 12, 2008

Teninx said:
If I'm without electricity for the time that it takes my Kindle to deplete the battery charge, losing the use of my Kindle will be far down on my list of worries.

We were without power during/after Hufficane Ike for 5 days and we are 200 miles north of Houston. DD and family were without 10 days in NE Houston. We had to charge cell phones in my car. Maybe I should invest in a car charger for my Kindle!!

Teninx

· #14 · Nov 12, 2008

Angela said:
We were without power during/after Hufficane Ike for 5 days and we are 200 miles north of Houston. DD and family were without 10 days in NE Houston. We had to charge cell phones in my car. Maybe I should invest in a car charger for my Kindle!!

A five-day interruption in electrical service would tax the capacity of our home generator and likely make it necessary for Mrs. Ten to be transported to an assisted living facility. The last think I'd be thinking about charging up would be our Kindles.

Gables Girl

· #15 · Nov 12, 2008

I have the iGo charger with the multiple tips, including the one for the Kindle and it has both a car charger and a wall plug end. It has worked fine on both sources for my Kindle, cell phone, etc. I figure if I lose power long enough to run out my Kindle, I'll be recharging everything in the car. Living in a hurricane prone area I try to think of the possibilities, since I've been down that road before. That is why I went for a book light that took regular batteries. So far I haven't seen a solar charger that works for the Kindle. I might get it if they had one.

Betsy the Quilter

· #16 · Nov 12, 2008

Gables Girl said:
I have the iGo charger with the multiple tips, including the one for the Kindle and it has both a car charger and a wall plug end. It has worked fine on both sources for my Kindle, cell phone, etc. I figure if I lose power long enough to run out my Kindle, I'll be recharging everything in the car. Living in a hurricane prone area I try to think of the possibilities, since I've been down that road before. That is why I went for a book light that took regular batteries. So far I haven't seen a solar charger that works for the Kindle. I might get it if they had one.

I also have the iGo and love it. I got tips for all of my devices. I just change the tip or use the splitter to charge more than one device. During the last hurricane through VA, my stepson's family was without power for five days. Fortunately they have a generator and their worst problem was keeping the cable running so the kids didn't go crazy.

20 years ago or so, the Washington, DC area got hit with a big snow and we were without power for two days, and the area was immobilized (this was a LOT of snow). Digital newspapers were just starting, the Washington Post had a service called Digital Ink where you could download the paper to your computer. I had a laptop and was able to download the Post via modem. It was a small thing but it helped keep us sane while we waited for power and street clearing; we were fortunate in that we were healthy and had enough food in the house and a fireplace.

Now, with Eleanor the K, I could do the same thing! Probably keep me from whacking my husband with a piece of firewood. He really gets testy without his newspaper.

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jseidel5263

Discussion Starter · #17 · Nov 14, 2008

So, Betsy the Quilter, tell me what you REALLY think?
Are you recommending it!!?? LOL ::)

::)

jseidel5263

Discussion Starter · #18 · Nov 14, 2008

Teninx, the problem I have is twofold. I lose power quite regularly AND I live in earthquake country. Solar radios are a must-have. It's my "what if I decide to live on a desert island" query: Is there a reliable solar charger for my precious Kindle? I don't want to turn into Tom Hanks and talk to a soccer ball on my desert island!! Although I might decorate my Kindle for Christmas this year. If people can put clothes on dogs, why can't I do a little Kindle decorating?? Go Christmas Kindling? Ooh, there's an idea. Put your Christmas Carols on the Kindle and never forget the words!

Betsy the Quilter

· #19 · Nov 14, 2008

jseidel5263 said:
So, Betsy the Quilter, tell me what you REALLY think?
Are you recommending it!!?? LOL

LOL!

I did order one to try with my other devices, but not my Kindle.

No sir, not for Eleanor.

Betsy

Teninx

· #20 · Nov 14, 2008

jseidel5263 said:
Teninx, the problem I have is twofold. I lose power quite regularly AND I live in earthquake country. Solar radios are a must-have. It's my "what if I decide to live on a desert island" query: Is there a reliable solar charger for my precious Kindle? I don't want to turn into Tom Hanks and talk to a soccer ball on my desert island!! Although I might decorate my Kindle for Christmas this year. If people can put clothes on dogs, why can't I do a little Kindle decorating?? Go Christmas Kindling? Ooh, there's an idea. Put your Christmas Carols on the Kindle and never forget the words!

I understand, j.....but in our situation being without power for any length of time is an emergency, life-impairing situation. Having the Kindle on solar power wouldn't matter one bit.

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