In 2008, my family and I were living in Houston, TX when Hurricane Ike hit. The storm downed telephone and power lines making it impossible to contact loved ones with our cellular phones. We were unable to pump gas, cook on a stove or hide ourselves from the humidity that surrounds that city. We were without power for two weeks. Needless to say, it was a very uncomfortable 14 days. We had to ration our battery supply. Further, because the sun would go down around 6:30 pm, we had to ensure that we had finished cooking and cleaning before it got dark. From that experience I came to realize how unprepared our country is at handling a grid down event and how dependent we are for maintaining our comfortable way of life. Incidentally, this event was also one of main reasons I started prepping.
From that experience, I realized how important it was to have an alternative energy source. Having this would alleviate the strain of off grid events and would help keep in contact with loved ones, keep abreast of localized emergencies and helps us maintain a semblance of normalcy.
Being able to harness energy naturally is a way we can decrease our grid dependency. Those who purchased portable solar chargers found they were too bulky or could not get a decent charge from them in a timely manner. Harold Tan kept these issues in mind when he developed the SunJack®, a portable solar charger that has the capability to power multiple devices with one charge.
I was asked to review the 14W SunJack® and my first impression was the good quality and the portability of the product. It comes with a foldable solar panel with two 2A USB ports; ultra slim lithium-polymer battery; SunJack fast-charge battery cable and handy carabiners for easy hanging.
The greatest aspect of this solar panel charger is when the sun is not shining, users can can still energize their devices from the powerful battery, which holds enough charge to power up to four iPhones.
It is extremely versatile in that you can charge two devices at once and use other USB compatible devices: cell phones, small laptops, iPads, USB capable lights, fans, speakers, etc. Another plus is it is lightweight and around the size of a journal. This would make a great addition to a bug out bag! You can attach it to the back of a pack and allow the sun to charge it or set it in the dashboard of your vehicle or RV and allow it to charge. Additionally, this product would be great for campers, boaters, travelers, hunters, rock climbers, and even working professionals.
I was also equally impressed with the durability of this solar charger. After looking online, I found one reviewer of the product drove his car over the panel system and it wasn’t damaged or cracked. Check it out here.
Here are some specs of the SunJack®:
- Full charge in 5 hours of sun
- 8000mAh lithium-polymer battery that provides USB power under conditions with little or no sunlight.
- Lightweight and durable – shock, vibration, and weather-resistant
- Enough power for 4 iPhones on a full charge
- Charges 2 USB devices at the same time
- Folds smaller than an iPad
- Wall-outlet charging speeds
- Compatible with all USB devices – phones, tablets, cameras, music players, speakers, etc.
The most popular products SunJack® has to offer are:
SunJack 14W Portable Solar Charger
SunJack 20W Portable Solar Charger
Shop for additional batteries and accessories to add to the solar charging system to provide even more power and convenience. The SunJack website has a wealth of information on its capabilities, additional products and reviews.
The vulnerability of our ailing electrical grid can cause widespread power outages. With fears of cyber terror and the need for sustainable power in off grid events, the SunJack® would make a great addition to your supplies.
Their “Mini”, for a single phone is far more useful for me. I’m all about lightweight portability, and even the Mini weighs nearly a pound.