http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/ Engadget Comments for SunCat batteries boast built-in solar charging wrappers http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/Feb 27th 2009 8:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/Feb 27th 2009 8:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/Feb 27th 2009 8:45AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/Feb 27th 2009 11:05AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/Feb 27th 2009 11:45AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/Feb 27th 2009 12:33PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/Feb 27th 2009 4:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/Feb 28th 2009 6:00PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/Presuming they can be made robust enough not to break off after a few wrap/unwrap cycles, and can be proven to be 'greener' overall than a normal rechargeable cell...]]>Feb 27th 2009 8:18AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/Feb 27th 2009 8:20AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/Feb 27th 2009 8:23AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/Feb 27th 2009 12:41PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/
What he should do is put a AA battery in there and use the free space for circuitry to better charge them. A smart charging circuit and capacitor would do a lot more than this trickle charge. It would fill the capacitor and then push that out to the battery. I believe LiOn batteries dont do well with trickles.

Regardless, this idea is really limited to camping and other outdoors activities. In the city I prefer these:

http://www.thinkgeek.com/homeoffice/gear/8e82/]]>Feb 27th 2009 4:35PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/Feb 27th 2009 8:29AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/
http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/StudyZone/410/grammar/ppvpast.htm]]>Feb 27th 2009 10:38AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/http://www.engadget.com/contact/tips/

In other words: I don't think you would make a good news seeker - you waited 2 weeks.]]>Feb 27th 2009 1:51PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perfect_tense]]>Feb 27th 2009 2:26PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/Feb 27th 2009 8:34AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/Feb 27th 2009 8:58AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/
They must cost a mint though. ]]>Feb 27th 2009 8:37AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/And no its not a good idea!
That's a bad engadget, Bad engadget, Bad! No!]]>Feb 27th 2009 8:45AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/Feb 27th 2009 8:49AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/Feb 27th 2009 9:52AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/Feb 27th 2009 11:50AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/
As for most of the cells not facing the sun, that could be the design, as solar cells are becoming cheap enough for it not to be an issue, or, if it were an issue the battery could be designed with a low center of gravity on one of the sides so that it would always rest solar side up. Another solution is to have a plastic charging bay which would allow people to set the batteries for charging. I would just design them to roll into place like bad dice though.

Overall a brilliant and simple idea, which I only see one potential problem with, charging times. But since the sun can give up to 1000w per square meter, this might not even be an issue for a small battery. ]]>Feb 27th 2009 8:57AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/Feb 27th 2009 9:02AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/Just don't wear gloves or stick your hands in your pockets.]]>Feb 27th 2009 9:15AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/A few years a go, I read about a solar paint that was conductive - you could paint a roof and garner power from it. What happened?

Maybe there is a conspiracy going on.

]]>Feb 27th 2009 9:38AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/Feb 27th 2009 12:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVZL5WWMBQo]]>Feb 27th 2009 9:40AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/
C-size batteries have dimensions of h=50mm, and a d=26.2
Nihm for C-size have about 2500mAH at 1.2V
thin film solar cells have an efficiency of ~20%

The self-discharge for NiHM cells is 5-10% on the first day, and stabilizes around 0.5-1% per day at room temperature, so if you take that into account the best you can do is keep the batteries from losing their charge]]>Feb 27th 2009 10:33AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/Feb 27th 2009 10:01AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/Feb 27th 2009 10:13AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/
Leave it on the windowsill to charge, use it when it's dark out. ]]>Feb 27th 2009 12:11PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/Feb 27th 2009 9:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/Feb 27th 2009 10:57AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/
You wont get enough power to charge these things in a reasonable amount of time and if you did, why dont you just get a device that has that kind of amperage solar panel hooked directly up to it... I remember when the solar power calculators were all the rage, because people didn't feel like dealing with the batteries in the first place. Specialized capacitors and solar panels make more sense, charging will be faster too...]]>Feb 27th 2009 11:13AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/
Secondly, it is a prototype. Prototypes are there to demonstrate the idea. it really isn't all that often that the first prototype has the capacity to fully accomplish what it is supposed to do.]]>Feb 27th 2009 12:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/
Obviously, a better application would be a solar flashlight; hold your durrs and your hurrs, folks. Recharge whatever sort of rechargeable battery you please inside, with more efficient, stable solar cells on the outside of the flashlight. This solves the problem of batteries wearing down over time, no need to add to the cost of the battery with solar cells.]]>Feb 27th 2009 12:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/Ni-MH and Lithium Ion rechargeable batteries - even the latest whizz-bang technology from Sanyo (Eneloop) - do not like heat. In fact, self-discharge increases a lot the more you heat these things up and who knows what it does to longevity. It can't be good.

Now you can say that a charger heats them up too. Yep, it does (fast chargers of 2 hours or so are notorious for this, so avoid them), but not to the level of a dark-ish battery being left in the sun for hours / days (which is needed for this idea to charge the batteries with current tech).

Poo-Poo 2:
----------------
When the batteries eventually die, the lovely solar cells get disposed of, too. Not good. How will this affect recycling?

More practical solution
------------
If you must use solar, placing the batteries in a charger with a larger solar cell on top (and inside the charger, away from direct heat from the sun) is the ideal, really. The charge can be controlled properly with electronics and the solution is far more practical, and no solar cells really need to be thrown out (and/or recycled) when the batteries reach the end of their useful charge life.



]]>Feb 27th 2009 12:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/Feb 27th 2009 3:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/Feb 27th 2009 8:58PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/2. Insert into old GameBoy
3. Play for ever because sun charges while playing...oh wait...the cover blocks the sun... fail?]]>Feb 27th 2009 4:35PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/Feb 27th 2009 9:14PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/Feb 27th 2009 10:41PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/Feb 28th 2009 9:46AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/Feb 28th 2009 12:17PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/suncat-batteries-boast-built-in-solar-charging-wrappers/Nihm for C-size have about 2500mAH at 1.2V
thin film solar cells have an efficiency of ~20% "

its worse. real C size = 5000-6000 mAh

so its really even more impractical. the cheapie c/d rechargables are no more than cases with AA inside.

heat does damage batteries. 15 minute chargers use fans to keep batteries cool. direct sunlight on a bright day would bake the cells. there might be reverse current flow as well:P]]>Mar 1st 2009 6:29AM