In this post, we supply a brief background on batteries and battery chargers to introduce you to the additional recent and environmentally friendly technology associated with solar battery chargers. We also supply examples of diverse battery chargers that use solar energy.
Batteries were invented around 1800. A battery combines 1 or more electrochemical cells that store energy. This energy can then be changed into kinetic energy to generate electricity. Batteries have turned out to be so ubiquitous that we rarely consider how central they are to daily life. We use batteries in flashlights, watches, cameras, laptop computers, and so on. Batteries can be found in the dwelling and business. Makers of batteries include Energizer and Duracell, and also the battery industry generates billions of dollars in revenue.
Sadly, until the late 20th century, batteries were disposable and sat in landfills where they leaked toxic chemicals. To alleviate environmental harm and to reduce the price of buying single-use batteries, battery chargers came to market.
Battery chargers put energy into a rechargeable battery by transferring a present by way of it. The current’s charge varies depending on the technology and size of the battery. For instance, we use unique rechargeable batteries and chargers for laptops than we do for golf carts. Due to the widespread use of nickel-cadmium high-power batteries that power electronics like digital cameras, battery chargers have grown to be more popular; they can now be discovered in just about any electronics store. The demand for chargers has even had shops, which include CVS, Target, and Wal-Mart, selling them.
According to Energy Star, a government program that promotes energy efficiency, about 230 million merchandise uses battery charging systems in American homes and companies. Energy Star promotes energy-efficient battery chargers and estimates that Americans could save over 1,000,000,000 kilowatt hours of energy per year if they utilized far more efficient chargers.
Promoters of solar chargers point out that even a lot more energy might be saved if the sun’s power is harnessed to recharge batteries: battery chargers can also use solar energy to force an electric current into the battery. As the marketplace for solar merchandise has grown, we have observed corresponding growth within the solar battery charger marketplace.
Following are some examples of distinctive chargers that use solar energy:
??? Solar digital camera battery chargers. While camera manufacturers may not sell OEM solar chargers, it is possible to obtain third-party chargers for brands which include Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic, Sharp, and Sony. When shopping for a solar charger for your camera, check to see how many volts your camera battery is. Then you’ll be able to order a corresponding solar panel to charge it. Prices for a battery charger for a Sony digital camera range from approximately $140 to approximately $250.
Solar chargers for cell phones and iPods. You can maintain modest devices, including a PDA, iPod, or cell phone, running with a solar charger. Solio makes a pocket-sized charger that can charge the Apple iPod, iPod mini, iPod nano, and PDAs. Prices start at approximately $100.
Other products that use solar chargers incorporate photovoltaic backpacks, hearing aid batteries, and laptops.
For anyone who is committed to reducing their carbon footprint, then invest in a solar battery charger for electronic devices that you simply use all of the time.