Sunjack 14W 8000mAh Solar Charger ReviewIt's the little things in life that really impact model life… ya know like electrical power for example. This last weekend we experienced 90 MPH winds and F1 and F2 tornadoes which netted well over 70K people without power including our household. After the realization that it would be days instead of hours until we would get power back up, the first thing tool I grabbed was the Sunjack charger to get all the cell phones charged up. The second task was of course the sprint to the store to get whatever generator was available to keep the refrigerators running. The Sunjack will not run your refrigerator, but it will save your backside when it comes to keeping your digital equipment powered up even when the number of those devices add up.
WHAT IS IT?
The Sunjack 14W 8000mAh high power durable shock, vibration, and weather resistant Solar Charger is a foldable hard panel charger complete with 8000mAh battery pack included. The first point is that the Sunjack is well made 1.75lb of heavy duty solar power that is ready to travel anywhere. This is not one of those little toy cell phone chargers that you find at the airport which will charge your phone in a few days. The Sunjack 14W 8000mAh Solar Charger delivers fast 90 min cell phone charge times and the included battery has enough juice to fully recharge up four phones or a tablet or completely recharge the 8000mAh battery in five hours of direct sun… that is a lot of free sun power.
Notably the Sunjack 14W 8000mAh Solar Charger is packable and powerful but is not small. The charger is about the same size as an iPad when folded and a fairly large 9" x 31" x 1" size when unfolded, but with solar chargers the size and increased size of the solar panels is where the power comes from. Small solar chargers generally net small power outputs, where as larger chargers like the Sunjack delivers substantially more power which in full direct sun can offer nearly the same charging times as an outlet. With the very large solar panel system, you electronics can still get charged from the solar panel during overcast days – a feat that small pocket chargers are unable to accomplish.
Contrasting this to several other “pocket” cell phone rechargers I have used in the past. Most of these smaller chargers require at least eight hours of charge time to net a full cell phone charge. Typically small pocket charger cannot deliver the power to recharge larger devices such as iPads, GPS, or other similar tablet sized devices. The Sunjack 14W 8000mAh Solar Charger delivers plenty of power that it can deliver 2 amps of power to its onboard dual USB outlets. With this type of power, there is no issue charging an iPad and cell phone at the same time.
One of the other huge benefits of the Sunjack 14W 8000mAh Solar Charger is that it includes a Qualcomm 8000mAh rechargeable battery pack. This included feature delivers some substantial benefits. The battery can be charged, disconnected and used without being connected to the bulkier charger. For those highly overcast days where the output of the charger is not optimal, the solar charger can provide a slower charge to the battery, while the battery is delivers full power full amperage recharge power based on the battery reserves. This is a very flexible system which offers a lot of options for keeping your connected.Also included with the Sunjack 14W 8000mAh Solar Charger are a couple of carabiners provides for a simple solution to hang the charger for recharging. Sunjack notes they includes a fast charge cable which is a higher amp rated higher quality cable to assure full current and fast power transfer.
FINAL THOUGHTSSunjack does offer their solar chargers in a number of sizes and models, but I really liked this size. Sure I cannot run a refrigerator, but I was able to easily keep my phones and iPad up and running during the three day power outage. Being able to keep communication open to respond to emails, check the weather and status of the outage repairs, and still have full phone use even without power was a huge benefit. Is the $150 MSRP worth the price, well not if you have power, but I will say if you are nowhere near a working outlet, it is reasonable price for a tool that will likely last for over a decade and deliver the power you need when you are remotely outdoors or without power. An excellent piece of equipment I am sure to use for years to come.
SPECS
- SUNJACK 14 Watt Portable Solar Charger with dual 2 Amp USB output ports
- SUNJACK Qualcomm 2.0 Quickcharge 8000mAh Battery Pack (recharged up to 4 smartphones or 1 tablet)
- SUNJACK Fast-Charge Cable
- SUNJACK Carabiners
- Quickstart Guide
- 1 Year Manufacturer Warranty
- Full 100% Satisfaction Guarantee
Solar panels: 14 watts of high efficiency mono-crystalline
Max output voltage/current: One 5V/1.5A USB port
Battery: 8,000mAh lithium-polymer battery ~ 5 hours
Unit Size folded: 9" x 6.5" x 1.75" (23cm x 16.5cm x 4.5cm) - similar to an iPad.
Unit Size unfolded: 9" x 31" x 1" (23cm x 79cm x 2.5cm)
Unit Weight: 1.75 / 0.8 (lbs/kg)
Packaging Dimension: 10.5" x 8.5' x 2" (27cm x 22cm x 5.1cm)
MSRP $149
SOURCES
Sunjack - https://www.sunjack.com