4 Awesome Solar Laptop Charger Options
How amazing is it that we can use solar power to now charge our computers using a solar laptop charger?
It’s a beautiful thing.
But, you need a great one to get the job done.
On this page you’ll find 4 awesome solar laptop chargers—the only good ones really – as well as an explanation of how they work and what to keep in mind when buying one.
How A Solar Laptop Charger Works:
These solar laptop chargers come with ports for an 18V DC output – this is the kind of output needed for a laptop. They also have adapters included that will likely fit into your computer so that it can charge. (Basically the same end you plug your power cable into your laptop). There are always a few computers that are special and need a different sort of adapter.
What you do then is:
- Put the panel in the sun.
- Plug one end of the DC cord into the solar panel.
- Put the correct adapter on the other end of the cord.
- Plug the end with adapter into your computer.
It charges!
What’s important to note here is that for all of these solar laptop chargers, your computer needs to be plugged directly into the solar panel while it’s charger in the sun.
If you don’t want to do this, you can get a power bank. The solar panel charges the power bank which is essentially a battery – it stores energy. Then you plug your laptop into the power bank to charge.
Check out: power banks for laptops here.
There are 2 solar laptop chargers here that have 12V capabilities and these are great for plugging into power banks.
Before You Buy:
Check that the voltage is correct for your laptop.
Determine how many watts you need your charger to be. Laptops generally need 30-60W but if you have a larger screen and a bigger computer, you’ll need more juice rather than less.
This article use useful for figuring this out.
What Makes These Specifically Solar Laptop Chargers?
1. They run from 40W – 80W.
2. They have 10-in-1 connectors included. These connectors cover most types of PCs. You’ll have to get your own adapter if you have a Mac.
Top 5 Solar Laptop Chargers
SUAOKI Solar Charger 60W Portable Solar Panel
The Suaki 60W solar laptop charger is definitely one of the best and it’s our #1 pick for sure.
Highlights:
- Portable
- Dual Output
- High Efficiency
- Smart IC chip for the USB port
- 10-in-1 laptop cable adapter
- Splashproof
High efficiency is great for a solar charger.
Why?
Because it charges your laptop faster. (Yay!)
You get about 20% conversion efficiency from this charger. This is due to these panels using single-crystal silicon. It’s these panels that make it faster than many other solar laptop chargers out there to convert sunlight into a charge for your computer.
Dual output means you can charge two devices at the same time.
You can use it for devices that need a 5V USB (like a phone, for example) as well as 18V DC outputs needed for things like laptops.
It’s quite portable and folds up to about the size of a briefcase. This is what it looks like as well when you’re carrying it.
Use this by hanging it on a tree, tent, putting it on the roof of a car (while it’s not moving) and laying it out in the grass.
This charger has a built-in IC chip that automatically detects the current needed for your USB device. This also allows it to deliver charge to your device as fast as it can.
This charger will also work for things like:
- Tablets / iPads
- GPS
- Cameras
- iPhones, smart phones and cell phones
- Radio routers
- 18V devices
There are a number of different connector wires included:
– 1 Car Charger
– 1 10-in-1 Connector Cable for Laptops
– 1 SAE-to-Clamp for Storage Battery
– 2 DC-to-DC Cables
– 1 DC-to-SAE
Plus a bag to hold it all in.
This is a quality product and on the higher end of the wattage scale for the solar laptop chargers here..
Like the look of it?
–> Go check out Suaoki’s 60W Portable Solar Laptop Charger here.
POWERADD High Efficiency 50W Solar Charger for Laptop
The Poweradd solar laptop charger is a bit lower in wattage – 50W – but you still get the high efficiency. The conversion rate can be up to 22-25%. The solar panel is a Sunpower solar panel which is why the conversion rate is so high.
At a glance:
- High efficiency
- Waterproof
- Dustproof
- Durable
- Portable
- Lightweight
- Foldable
- Cloth wrapped
- 5V, 12V, 18V
- Can be used with 12V inverter
- Dual output
This solar laptop charger has also been designed to be durable and for outdoor use. It also has 3 options in terms of voltage:
5V for USB devices like smart phones, cameras and tablets.
18v for laptops and other things needing DC power.
12v for power inverters and rechargeable batteries. It auto detects the different voltage needed.
If you’re planning on traveling or moving around with your solar laptop charger, this one will work well as it’s quite light at just over 4 pounds. It’s very easy to set up and keep clean and is also a good size for putting in a window.
What’s Included:
- 10 laptop connectors
- 1 data cable
- 1 micro USB cable
- 1 alligator clips to DC cable
- 1 cigarette lights plug to DC cable
If you’re thinking of getting a power bank instead of keeping your laptop plugged in all the time, I would suggest taking a good look at this one.
–> Go check out Poweradd’s High Efficiency Solar Laptop Charger here.
X-DRAGON 40W Solar Panel Charger
The X-Dragon solar laptop charger will give you 40W and is also a dual output charger. You can use it for 5V USB and 18V DC.
40 watts is still within range for a laptop – some only need 30 – and this is another great high efficiency laptop charger. You’ll find Sunpower solar panel on this charger which gives you 22-25% conversion rates. Great!
At a glance:
- IC chip
- 5V, 18V
- Dual Output
- High efficiency
- Water resistant
- Surge protection
- Short circuit protection
- Durable – good for outdoors
- Foldable panels
- 10 laptop connectors
It has an IC chip to detect the correct current to deliver to your USB device. You can use this not only for laptops but also smart phones, cameras, tablets and other 5V devices.
The solar charger will also work for batteries (has alligator clamps), and a cigarette lights adapter.
It is very similar to the ones above it’s just that people tend to like those just that little bit more. This is still a good one.
–> Go check out X-Dragon’s 40W Solar Laptop Charger here.
ALLPOWERS 80W Foldable Solar Panel Solar Charger with iSolar Technology for Laptop
Here we’ve got the last solar laptop charger I’d recommend and with the highest wattage – 80W. It’s a big one!
Differences here to the ones above:
- Dual USB ports plus an 18V/12 V output
- More power – 80W
- Can easily attach to backpack
The Allpower solar laptop charger can not only charge your laptop – and probably the largest variety of them – but 5V USB devices (like phones and tablets). It has 12V capabilities, so you could charge a car battery or attach a power bank.
It is a high efficiency charger with conversion rates of 23.5% and uses Sunpower solar cells. There is a built-in voltage regulator which is great because this protects whatever you have plugged in.
It portable, light weight, foldable, water resistant, anti-shock and made of high anti-wear PET.
The Allpower 80W charger comes with a variety of cables:
- 10 laptop connectors
- DC cable
- USB cables
- Carabiners
- Cigarette lighter plug
- Clip line
This solar laptop charger will provide power for the largest variety of laptops.
Look good to you?
–> Check out the Allpower Solar Laptop Charger here.
Why There’s Only 4 Solar Laptop Chargers Here
I had originally wanted to find 5 great solar laptop chargers to feature here but I couldn’t. The rest were just not great or not really for laptops specifically.
You can use a variety of different solar panels and solar panel kits to charge laptops as well as other gear, but these here are specifically designed for laptops and give you adapters.
I hope you’ve found one that’ll work for you!