Introduction, Solar I or Solar II Mounting

Silva Solar I and II – Instruction manual

Thank you for purchasing a Silva Solar charger. Please carefully read the instructions in order for you to get the most out of this environmentally friendly portable power device.

Introduction

Both the Solar I and Solar II chargers operate best in clear skies and in direct sunlight. To optimise the power output of both units, position the solar charger in direct sunlight, with no shadows being cast on the front surface of the panel.

Power output in different conditions

As a general rule, Solar I or Solar II will produce the power rates, specified below, when faced directly at the sun:

•Direct Sun with panel faced directly at the sun – 100%

•Direct Sun with reflections from water surface, snow etc – up to 125%

•Partly cloudy (enough to cast a shadow) – approx. 50%

•Cloudy – approx. 10%

Performance in different temperatures

The performance of the Solar I and Solar II is affected by temperature. Best performance will be obtained on a clear sunny day in low temperatures. This is due to the fact that the output of solar panels drops with an increase in the surface temperature of the solar cells.

Solar I or Solar II Mounting

The Solar I and Solar II have been designed to mount in a number of different ways to a variety of different products:

Rucksacks, bags etc: Use nylon strapping (not supplied) up to 25mm wide.

Pass the webbing through the slots provided along the top and bottom edges of the charger casing, and secure using the buckles provided with your web- bing.

Windows, glass etc: Use suction cup mounts provided.

Please note that the performance of the Solar I and II will be diminished by 10 to 25% when operating through glass. Do not use the Solar I and II where the glass has been treated with an anti-reflective coating as the output of the charger may drop to as low as 10%, even in ideal conditions.

Care

When not being used, store the Solar I in a safe place to protect the panel from scratches etc. Solar II should be folded shut. Despite the best of care, you may find that, through time, the front face of the panel may become scratched. This will not generally affect the power performance and the durability. Do not attempt to remove any scratches from the front layer of the solar panels. Clean as necessary with a soft damp cloth.

Caution

It is not unusual for The Solar I and Solar II to become hot during use, even in cooler climates and care should be taken at all times when handling the Solar I or Solar II.

Warranty

2 years against manufacturing/material faults. The warranty does not apply to modifications, normal wear and tear or abuse.

Responsibility

Silva is not responsible for any consequences, direct or indirect, or damage resultant from the use of this product.

Solar I – Charging ‘AA’ batteries

The Solar I has been specifically designed to used with rechargeable ‘AA’ batteries.

Note! Do NOT attempt to recharge non-rechargeable batteries, as this may cause leakage, explosion and personal injury.

The ideal battery type to be recharged in the Solar I is Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) Batteries. Nickel Cadmium (NiCd) batteries can also be used. Bat- tery capacities of 1,600mAh to 2,300mAh are best used with the Solar I. Batteries with larger capacity will take longer to recharge. Typically, used in ideal conditions, the Solar I will recharge (from flat) 2xAA 1,600mAh NiMH batteries in around 5 Hours, or 4xAA 1,600mAh NiMH batteries in 10 Hours. Recharge times will vary with both battery capacity and available light level.

To help maximise the life of your rechargeable batteries, the following points should be noted:

•Don’t overcharge your batteries by leaving them on charge for more than 3 days in good conditions (5 days in poorer weather).

•Remove any batteries from the Solar I battery holder immediately if they become excessively hot.

•Remove any leaking batteries from the battery compartment immediately and dispose in accordance with the instructions on the battery.

•Only use one type of battery chemistry in the battery charger at any one time: i.e. don’t mix NiMH batteries with Nickel Cadmium (NiCd) ones.

•Always use batteries with the same capacity in the charger compartment at any one time: i.e. don’t mix 1,600mAh NiMH batteries with 2,000mAh ones.

•Always store batteries safely when not in use.

•Don’t let your batteries run completely flat. Removing batteries from your electronic device before they are ‘dead’ will avoid over-discharge and help to get the most out of your batteries in the long run.

•Observe the polarity of the batteries when inserting them into the recharg- ing chamber of the Solar I. If incorrectly inserted, they will be discharged instead of recharged.

Solar I Charging Compartment

The Solar I has a permanently attached battery charging compartment, allow- ing either 2 or 4xAA batteries at any one time to be recharged at one time. It is not possible to recharge 1 or 3xAA batteries with this charger. Do not place fully recharged batteries in the charger in conjunction with depleted ones in order to recharge a single battery. Always place the charging com- partment out of direct sunlight. This will minimise the temperature to which the batteries will be exposed, and hence will reduce the risk of degradation of the batteries.

Note! Make sure the batteries are inserted correctly according to the sym- bols inside the battery case. 1

Solar I - Technical Data

Case material: PC/ABS

Case dimensions: 122 x 136 x 9 mm

Charging compartment material: PC/ABS

Charging compartment dimensions: 145 x 37 x 20 mm

Cable length: 370mm with flex up to approx 900mm

Solar panel type: Polycrystalline

Solar panel size: 108 x 108 mm

Maximum output: 4V, 300mA (1.2 Watts)

Solar II

The Solar II has been specifically designed to charge the likes of mobile phones, MP3players, radios and other similar appliances. It provides a por- table 12V power source (during daylight hours) via the unique 12V adapter socket. 2

Solar II – How to charge

Position the Solar II in direct sunlight, connect the ‘car charger’ to the output socket provided and connect the output of the charger to the device requir- ing recharge.

During the charging of some devices (especially mobile phones) it should be noted that the Solar II must be kept in direct sunlight and should not be shaded during the recharge process as this may interrupt the charging process and require disconnection and reconnection of the car charger from the electronic device to re-establish charging.

Solar II – Charging times

When using the Solar II in conjunction with a car charger unit, the recharge time will be similar to that achieved when using the charger in a car. In lower light level conditions the recharge time can be extended. Ensure that the Solar II is positioned properly to receive maximum light during all recharging applications.

Solar II – Suitable Devices

The Solar II will operate well with most low power devices normally associ- ated with portable electronics, but will not recharge the likes of laptop com- puters. Remember to check that your device does not require more power than the Solar II maximum power output, which is 13.6 Volt, 350 mA.

Solar II – Technical Data

Case material: PC/ABS

Case dimensions (folded): 270 (140) x 180 (180) x 8 (15) mm

Cable length: 370mm with flex up to approx 900mm

Solar panel type: Polycrystalline

Solar panel size: 2 pcs 160x105 mm

Maximum output: 13.6V, 350mA (4.75 Watts)