What do these bags charge?

The Backpack, Converter and Messenger charge almost any handheld electronics including most cell phones, iPods, MP3 players, satellite phones, small cameras and GPS systems. If you need to charge a laptop or professional cameras, see the Generator

Why do the bags include a battery?

The battery stores power so you can even charge your devices inside or outside when the sun is not shining. You can charge the battery from the sun or from the wall charger.

What will happen if the bag gets wet?

The solar panels are waterproof and so will not be affected. The recycled PET used to construct the bag is also waterproof. However, water will eventually seep in through the zips and seams, so the contents can get wet. The only electrical component likely to be adversely affected is the battery pack, which you should treat as you would any other electronic device and keep it dry.

What care do the panels require?

Scratches on the face of the solar panels will reduce the amount of light hitting the solar cells and reduce the power generated, so it is best to avoid scratching them. The panels are coated with a material that will actually melt away some scratches when exposed to the sun.

Dirt on the panels has a similar effect. To clean them use a damp non-abrasive cloth.

Are the solar panels breakable?

They can be broken, but are unlikely to be damaged in typical use. They can easily stand up to being dropped and leaned on.

If you were to place the panel over a rock and stand on it you would cause the cells to crack, which would reduce the output of that panel. Since the three panels operate independently the other two would continue to provide sufficient charge to run most small devices, but charge times would increase.

What difference does this product make environmentally?

Solar power is obviously an environmentally friendly way to produce electricity. However to be fair, the total amount of power generated is a relatively small portion of typical every day consumption. Turning down your air conditioner in summer and reducing the thermostat in winter will probably have a greater impact.

However there are other benefits. This product should lead to less disposable AA batteries being used in emergency chargers and other devices (they produce way too much waste for a very small amount of electricity), and less discarded batteries finding their way into the wilderness.

It should also raise awareness of the advantages of solar power. A power generator that is tough, portable, runs on sunshine, and lightweight (the panels and battery pack weigh less than one pound) is illustrative of these advantages.

What does the LED in the logo indicate?

When the LED inside the logo lights up, it indicates that the solar panels are generating a charge. However, you should always look at the battery directly to see if the panels are producing enough power to charge the batter