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Message
Why not add solar charging capabilities in future smart phones?
Posted on 1/30/18 at 8:47 am
Posted on 1/30/18 at 8:47 am
I've always wondered why we have never seen a phone designed with solar panels built into the face of the phone (kind of like an old school calculator). I know it would take forever for a phone to charge up fully using solar power, but I figure it'd be a decent way to supplement battery power throughout the day. Perhaps it would look really ugly? 
9
Posted on 1/30/18 at 9:05 am to TigerDaddy30
Even if it was just on the back, it would help a lot with extending battery life for the day.
Posted on 1/30/18 at 9:09 am to TigerDaddy30
It would have to be the entire back of the phone and even then I doubt it would add a whole lot.
Posted on 1/30/18 at 9:21 am to tilco
The problem with the back is that most of the phones are still just fragile enough that you need some sort of protection, and that defeats the purpose of solar.
Posted on 1/30/18 at 9:46 am to TigerDaddy30
quote:
TigerDaddy30
you should invent your own.
Posted on 1/30/18 at 9:54 am to colorchangintiger
quote:I lack the time, tech, and (most of all) smarts for such a task
you should invent your own.
Posted on 1/30/18 at 11:32 am to TigerDaddy30
who leaves their phone in a place where it can catch sunlight? it's either in your pocket, or in your hand.
Posted on 1/30/18 at 11:36 am to TigerDaddy30
The backs of phones are for heat dissipation, usually, so that would create some problems
Posted on 1/30/18 at 12:31 pm to Hu_Flung_Pu
quote:
Even if it was just on the back, it would help a lot with extending battery life for the day.
a solar panel on the whole back of the phone would give you maybe 45 seconds of actual power per day. 
Posted on 1/30/18 at 1:46 pm to TigerDaddy30
quote:Because for all the space the panels and circuits would take up, you'd be better off using that space for a larger battery.
Why not add solar charging capabilities in future smart phones?
quote:If the entire back of the phone were a solar panel, it would take about a full 24 hours in direct sunlight to fully charge an average cell phone. So you'd gain about 4% battery per hour of sunlight. Full, direct, bright sunlight, with the phone off. Indoor lighting would produce much, much less. You would have to hold the phone directly in front of a 100w bulb to get the same output. Just sitting on your desk it'll charge at about 0.1% per hour, and if the phone is on it'll drain faster than that. In a full day it'll extend your battery life by maybe 2%. It's orders of magnitude cheaper and more efficient to put in a 10% larger battery.
I know it would take forever for a phone to charge up fully using solar power, but I figure it'd be a decent way to supplement battery power throughout the day.
All that is with a panel covering the full back of the phone. If you go the "old school calculator" way with a small strip on the front or something, you can divide those rough figures by about 10.
Posted on 1/30/18 at 2:16 pm to TigerDaddy30
A phone case with solar charging capabilities would be clutch
Posted on 1/30/18 at 5:34 pm to MontyFranklyn
They already make solar cell phone cases and solar accessory kits that are bigger. Sell them at most stores that have camping gear like REI. Usually over $100 from what I remember.
This post was edited on 1/30/18 at 5:35 pm
Posted on 1/30/18 at 5:47 pm to TigerDaddy30
Solar panels can't even keep my Logitech 750 keyboard charged. I covered them with electrical tape and use a non-rechargeable CR2032 now.
Posted on 1/30/18 at 6:14 pm to Spock's Eyebrow
I once took 8 solar calculators apart and rigged my razor phone up to be charged by solar power. It actually blew up one day though.
Posted on 1/30/18 at 6:59 pm to pchwinner
That's sort of the opposite of what I did.
Posted on 1/30/18 at 10:13 pm to TigerDaddy30
Its not a good idea to put your cell phone in direct sunlight. It often will overheat.
Posted on 1/31/18 at 9:37 am to TeddyPadillac
quote:
who leaves their phone in a place where it can catch sunlight? it's either in your pocket, or in your hand.
This is the correct answer.
Posted on 1/31/18 at 9:41 am to CarRamrod
quote:
a solar panel on the whole back of the phone would give you maybe 45 seconds of actual power per day.
Hey brah, don't be dissin. I ain't no tech master. I just run off of the knowledge that my calculator does it so at least it works in a small scale battery/use application.
Posted on 1/31/18 at 9:43 am to Hu_Flung_Pu
What about a flip cover with solar panels?
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