This Portable Folding Solar Cell Charges Your Gadgets Anywhere

Even the great outdoors is no refuge to man from his technological endeavors. The Folding USB Solar Cell makes sure you never run out of power no matter where you are. It is a portable, lightweight, compact, and affordable solar cell charger for all your USB enabled devices. Conquering nature has just gotten easier now that your mobile phone and GPS can charge while you camp; you'll never get lost again. 

How it works
The device is a simple yet effective design made from three solar panels, fit together in an enclosure, which output 5 watts, or 1 amp of current, at approximately 5 volts directly to a standard female USB port. Using it is as simple as unfolding the panel and plugging in your USB cable. No fancy adaptors needed, only the common sense of remembering to charge your equipment while there's still sun outside.

Outdoors and indoors
The Folding USB Solar Cell is an outdoorsmen's best friend, considering a host of modern camping gear includes the option of USB charging: lanterns, flashlights, flex LED lights, AA chargers, camera batteries, and GPS. Anything that's charged off of a lithium battery may be used in conjunction with the Folding USB Solar Cell. But why settle for only charging these devices during camping, wasting time, when you can simply drape the panel on your backpack and charge while on the move.

Future proof
Given the USB's dominance as the default plug for the majority of gadgets, it's safe to assume all future products manufactured with a USB plug will work with these cells. As long as the gadget is charged through a USB, then it's compatible with the Folding USB Solar Cell.

Tech specs
If the 5-watt kit outputting 5 volts, at 1 amp of current doesn't provide enough juice to suit your fancy, then rejoice because the Folding USB Solar Cell is also available in a 7-watt setup, which outputs 5 volts at 1.5aAmps of current. The 5-watt kit measures 18 x 7.5 inches and weighs only 8.1 oz while the 7-watt variant is slightly larger, measuring 24 x 7.5 inches and weighing 14.5 oz.

The designer states that the average charge time for an iPhone battery is three hours with the 5-watt kit and two hours and fifteen minutes with the 7-watt kit.

Powerbanks
The most obvious disadvantages of the solar cell is its dependency on clear skies to function at full capacity, not to mention that it can't work at night. To alleviate this issue, the designer of the Folding USB Solar Cell has also created a lithium Power Bank to be paired with the cell. The Power Bank is essentially a portable chargeable battery of 2,600 or 5600mAh, depending on which variation one chooses. It’s charged the same way as any other gadget, through a USB cable connected to the solar cell's female USB port, and can be charged with the Folding Solar Cell during the day to provide power at night.

For all the specifics visit the Folding USB Solar Cell’s Kickstarter page.