Sometimes manufacturers are so innovative in their product designs that their products only have one battery option. Cell phones are a common product with this problem. No two brands, and often no two models made by the same company, will use the same battery pack.

When you want to charge your device away from household power, the usual option is to use a car power adaptor (cigarette socket) provided for your item. This also happens to be the best solution for connecting your device to a solar panel for true portable power.

Using a car adaptor designed for your product will ensure that the power provided by a 12V system, such as a car or solar panel, will be modified to suit your device properly. Some devices require 4.8V while others can manage 7v, so a car adaptor eliminates the need for matching voltage & the need for special connectors.

Note: Solar power fluctuates with the weather...
While it is easy enough to plug your car adaptor into the 12V DC cigarette socket accessory of a solar panel, it is important to understand that the charging power of the panel, and therefore the speed with which your device will be charged, depends on the weather. An overcast day can decrease power output by 30%, and may cause a version of a 'brown out' from the point of view of your device.

For stabilized charging performance in any weather, or to store solar power for charging needs at night, consider using a small battery pack between the solar panel & your car device's car adaptor: see our compact portable power solution note for more information.

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