Anker 21W USB Solar Charger
Because of the limited number of reviews available in Malaysia or elsewhere in the Tropics, I specifically mentioned Malaysia. Apart from the marketing tricks of portable solar chargers backed by solar panels that are too small for satisfactory performance, it is hard to find a legit solar charger other than expensive commercial ones like Goal-Zero in Malaysia. Although my blog primarily focuses on sustainability in the built environment, you may have yet to be aware that I also have a lot of personal interests that led me to purchase this device. For now, bike touring is a core part of my life. I love the freedom to explore faraway places and feel the cool breeze blow through your skin as you travel. Apart from the carbon filter, which provides water, I also needed an off-grid power solution (and yes, Goal Zero is too expensive, RM1000 for a 15Wpanel) Anker PowerPort solar 21W. Although there are a few editions on the market, this one is the most current at the time of writing. It boasts a 23% efficiency. It’s straightforward! It’s as easy as plugging and playing with two USB ports. This device folds to a size of around 282mm x 160mm. It is also lighter than the Ipad at 417g ( source). It is made from rugged polyester canvas and has a pocket to protect your device from sun rays. There are also punched holes so you can attach them to your backpack or luggage while hiking. Anker products have received a lot of positive reviews. It is, however, limited in Malaysia because it is an American product.
It felt solid and sturdy, even though it was thin at first. It can be unfolded three times to achieve a maximum size of 282 x 670 mm. It can be bent slightly, which surprised me. It was when I was attaching it to my bike rack using elastic straps. Apart from the test results, which I will show you, it charged my 10,000mAh battery up to 50% on my 6-hour ride to Fraser’s hill. Uncertainty about the Tropics’ climate is a problem, but it isn’t a big issue. 21W is a good size for small USB devices. The solar charger can still charge even if the weather is terrible. However, it will be charging at a slower rate.
After charging it using the 21W Anker solar charger, here’s a screenshot from my phone. Although I’m not an expert in justifying performance efficiency, this results from a cloudy day in the Tropics. My Mi3 smartphone’s battery capacity increased by 10% over 40 minutes. This was also during the simultaneous charging of my power bank. The maximum panel output is 5V and 2,000mA. Although the mA is inaccurate, we see close to 4V work from the USB charging ports. Ampere was the app I used to test this.
The only way I would improve the product is to add a permanent zipper. It cost me to buy from Amazon. It is not available from Amazon. I ordered it via Borderlinx, which was 27 USD. It was a decent sum of RM322, well below Goal Zero’s costly starter kit. I received it less than one week after purchase.
There are many players in the US for Solar Chargers. Outdoorgearlab is the most convincing review I’ve seen. I also noticed a recent 14W Solar Charger Anker product on Lazada Malaysia. However, that model has only four panels and a lower-efficiency solar panel. There are many similar panels on Lazada, but I don’t know if they’re trustworthy as my uncle Google didn’t give me any details.
