Mobile Solar Chargers Ltd

Mobile Solar Chargers Ltd: portable power for expeditions and everyday use

Mobile Solar Chargers Ltd is a British retailer specialising in portable power solutions that has been operating for 14 years. Its catalogue focuses on folding solar panels, power banks and vehicle jump starters, with an emphasis on products proven in extreme conditions and tailored to specific autonomy needs. The company presents itself as a specialist in portable power for expeditions and for situations off the grid, both short and long term.

Product catalogue

The range includes folding solar panels in various formats and power ratings, power banks with USB, AC and DC outputs, and vehicle jump starters. Featured items include:

• Monocrystalline and CIGS folding solar panels, with power ratings ranging from 8 W to 200 W, in 5 V, 12 V, 18 V and 32 V configurations.
• Power banks with capacities from 4.8 Ah to 285 Ah, some with 220 V AC output, PD60W and QC3 technology, and waterproof options.
• Vehicle jump starters with power bank function, such as the Overland + model in 10 Ah or 18 Ah, with 5 V, 12 V and 19 V outputs.
• Combined power packages that bundle a solar panel and a battery, with savings indicated in the catalogue (for example, packages with £10, £20 or £30 off).
• Accessories such as USB-rechargeable solar lanterns and emergency lights.

Catalogue prices are in pounds sterling and include VAT. The company states that orders placed before 10:00 pm are generally shipped by courier the next day.

Applications and use cases

The products are designed to meet power needs in a variety of contexts. The company details applications such as:

• Expeditions and off-grid travel, both short and long term.
• Power cut emergencies, to keep phones and laptops operational.
• Charging USB devices: mobile phones (iPhone, Samsung, LG, Nokia, Sony), tablets, Bluetooth speakers, e-readers, e-cigarettes, MP3 players, GoPro cameras, dive computers, GPS and VHF equipment.
• Powering laptops, cameras and jump-starting 12 V vehicles.
• Charging electric bikes and electric outboard motors, such as those from Epropulsion and Torqeedo.

The company mentions that its products have been used on recent expeditions, including ExIcemaiden, 65DegreesNorth, Expedition 5, a Madex medical expedition to Madagascar, and a K2 climb, as well as in Arctic and Antarctic environments.

Testing and quality

Mobile Solar Chargers Ltd states that its Premium range batteries, with capacities from 5 Ah to 280 Ah, have been tested in demanding environments such as Everest Base Camp, the Atlantic and the Arctic. The company notes that higher-quality batteries, such as those from Samsung, Sanyo and LG, offer greater reliability and lower losses in DC transfer. In its presentation, it warns about quality variability in the market and stresses that two similar-looking products can perform very differently. All products include a one-year warranty against defects, are supplied pre-charged and come with a micro USB or USB Type-C charging cable.

Compatibility and advice

The folding solar panels, in power ratings from 8 W to 200 W and voltages of 5 V, 12 V and 32 V, are compatible with all the company's power banks for off-grid charging. The firm offers guidance to choose the right product for the use: for extended travel and expeditions it recommends combining a power bank with a folding solar panel or a special package; for backup or short stays, it suggests a combined solar charger. The company also notes that customers outside the UK can get in touch, although it warns that shipping batteries involves logistical difficulties and is only viable by courier, whereas panels do not have that restriction.

Standalone solar charging station

The company refers to its website solarchargingcan.com for a modular, portable solar charging station, designed and manufactured in the UK, with a patent pending. This station is intended to provide sustainable, silent off-grid power in applications such as glamping, disaster relief, camps, mobile clinics, NGOs and rural communities, and can power phones, tablets, medical equipment, WiFi, CCTV and lighting.