Jul 11, 2022
Small and portable, this will recharge batteries for hand radios, drills, or chainsaws if the grid goes down — and all you need is sunlight to get a full charge.
Where to get this solar charger
There are several options available in the Baldr brand. We bought the 330W portable power station with solar panel, but it's no longer available. Several other Baldr options also look like great options. These include:
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Why we like it
We bought this primarily to charge the batteries of our handheld radios, cordless power tools, and chainsaws without relying on extra fuel storage. It works. On our first test, we charged a standard Black + Decker battery (for our Aligator chainsaw and weed-eater) in 2 ½ hours, the same time as if it were plugged into the wall. And, it drained less than 20% of the charge on the Baldr. Doing the math, it would seem we can charge 4–5 batteries on one full Baldr charge.
We were also able to charge a cell phone by placing it on top of the Baldr and we tried it out with a mini-waffle iron. It powered the waffle iron but drained the battery pretty quick while making breakfast.
We were also able to charge it much faster than we anticipated with the solar panel. At 60% charge and full sun outside, the portable power station recharged to 100% in just over one hour.
We also like that this can be used while plugged into the solar panel as pass-through energy. It’s perfect to take camping to power small items and recharge phones.
Let’s break it down to a few bullet points:
It charges quickly and can power a variety of items.
It recharges very fast.
It’s easy to use.
It has a variety of plugs and power options.
Has a variety of cable and plug-in options available, including USB, 110V, and 12V.
As for the solar panel itself:
The panel folds up and clips closed for easy storage.
Is compatible with most solar generators.
Is waterproof.
Has built in adjustable brackets to help angle it toward the sun.
How this solar charger impacts our prepping efforts
This solar generator and panel will help us recharge batteries even when the grid is down, that means we can still use cordless drills, saws, and other power tools even when living fully off grid. We can also power handheld radios so we can communicate when out of cell range or in case services cease.
We could use this to power a radio and hear outside news or charge up cell phones and laptops to access critical information, records, or to view pictures of loved ones who may be out of reach.
Specs
The Baldr portable power station:
Has an output of 330 watts
Is 110 volts
Weighs nine pounds
Measures 11.6 x 8.27 x 7.68 inches
Has 288Wh lithium ion battery
This comes with one AC outlet, two DC outlets, one 12V car outlet, three USB 3.0 quick-charge plugs, one USB type-c port, one wireless charging pad. It also includes a connector cable, AC wall plug power adapter, 12V car charger cable, and a user manual.
The Baldr solar panel:
Is compatible with most solar generators
Has a built-in smart IC chip
Is 120 watts
Measures 20 x 14 x 2 inches
Weighs 10 pounds
Is 18 volts
Has a frequency of 60Hz
This solar panel is made of wear-resistent oxford cloth which is waterproof. It also has five charging protections against voltage, overcharging, overcurrent, overloading, and short circuits.
It comes with two USB ports and 18V DC output.