Solar Charger

[datapolitical]

I was looking around at solar chargers I could use with my MacBook (cause how cool would that be!) and couldn't seem to find a USB charger that was explicitly capable of charging it.

Was wondering, for the folks more technical than me, would something like this work? https://www.anker.com/products/A2421011

Thanks!

 

[Stefan johansson]

Don't think so,3 amps might work for an iPad,but not for a laptop.

 

[Puonti]

For charging a laptop you might want to put a Power Delivery capable battery between the solar charger and the laptop. Anker 28600 PD for instance. Straight up solar power can be fickle and probably won't get you good results. Then you're also going to need bigger solar panels if you want to charge that battery in any kind of decent amount of time.

 

[Trvlngnrs]

Look around the Goal Zero website. They have portable battery packs and corresponding solar panels to charge them.

 

[Puonti]

Goal Zero does not currently offer Power Delivery capable USB batteries, which is key if you want to get the best USB-based charging experience with your Macbook. Their current approach is to offer a unit (Sherpa) to which you can attach an inverter sidecar that allows you to use your Macbook's normal charging block. That or the larger Yeti units which come fitted with that internally.

However, since the OP was considering a solar panel for recharging their Macbook, I suspect they are prepared for slower charging and longer charge times (and no charging while using the device). In that case Power Delivery might not be high up on the list of requirements, and Goal Zero's products might be in the running. I know I've been happy with my GZ solar panel, which I use for recharging non-PD USB backup batteries, phones and 9.7" iPads (albeit slowly).