FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
ABOUT POWERTEC SOLAR CHARGERS

Any solar panel is made of a semiconductor material that absorbs light energy – photons – and converts it directly into electrical current. As a result, it will only produce energy from natural light and not from artificial light.

The sun’s rays must hit the surface of the panel. The panel should therefore be oriented towards the south, ideally at right angles to the sun’s rays. Optimal orientation and tilt of your solar panel will considerably increase its efficiency (its electricity production).

There are three technologies: monocrystalline, polycrystalline and amorphous. Flexible solar panels are based on amorphous technology.
The semi-flexible panels from Powertec are polycrystalline technology from the manufacturer SunPower.

Not all panels react to light in the same way. Traditional monocrystalline panels (the plates) only really produce energy from visible light. The sky must therefore be perfectly exposed.
This is not the case with SunPower panels and their Maxeon technology, which produce energy from UV rays and work even on cloudy days: white mountains (see snowstorm) or cloudy skies but with a lot of reverberation at sea…
Although efficiency will be reduced, the panel will still produce enough energy to power a Powerbank.

A solar panel produces electrical energy from the sun’s rays. The more light there is, the more electricity is produced. For example, a snow-covered surface or water will increase the reverberation and therefore the electricity production.

It is true that exposure to light triggers the production of the solar charger.
However, it is considered that the sunshine time to make the best use of the sun’s rays in France is an average of 5 hours per day. The further south you go, the longer the sunshine period.

To function, the portable solar panel must be oriented towards the light, with the solar cells facing up.
The connections to plug in your device are located on the opposite side of the panel. This way, in case of rain or water ingress (paddle or kayak navigation) the bottom side is not directly exposed to water.
In addition, when the panel is connected to an electronic device being charged via its USB cable, the solar charger port is protected and water cannot penetrate it.
This being said, even if the Powertec panels are perfectly waterproof, it is advisable after use in a wet environment to dry the “electronic” port well before storing the panel

This is particularly true for conventional monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar panels. They lose, on average, 20% of their efficiency at 60°C, whereas SunPower panels lose only 5% of their efficiency.
When recharging your equipment or battery, it is therefore advisable not to place your panel on a hot surface such as the vehicle body, but rather to install it in a ventilated position.

A solar charger delivers 5V (USB-A or USB-C port) or 12/15V (DC5521 / cigarette lighter port).
It is therefore possible to recharge external batteries (Powerbank) that can be charged at these voltages.
When the external battery is a Powertec / GP 10,000, 20,000 mAh or 54,000mAh , the battery has several USB-A and USB-C charging ports.
USB-C is a charge/discharge port, while USB-A is only a discharge port.
To take advantage of the battery’s ‘transfer’ function for solar charging, you’ll need to charge the battery via the USB-C port (in/out) and then connect your electronics via the battery’s USB-A port.
So the panel charges the battery that charges your device.
This mode is particularly suitable when the panel’s output is low (morning, evening, undergrowth) and you are charging a ‘sensitive’ device (a smartphone) that needs power otherwise it cuts out when the voltage drops.

A solar charger works with 5V (USB port) or 12V (DC5521 / cigarette lighter port).
It is therefore possible to charge computers using these 2 types of connection.
The USB port has recently evolved into a USB-C port, enabling charges of up to 100W. The latest generation of laptops are equipped with this connector, which makes charging easier because it works on a ‘boosted’ 5V. All you need is a powerful 5V solar charger (generating 2000mA, for example), which will charge an external USB-C ‘Power Delivery’ battery that can then charge the computer….
– if your computer is not equipped with USB-C, it will need to be powered by a battery capable of generating 16 or 20V, which will need to be charged by a 12V panel.

In fact, this might be technically possible, but it is strongly discouraged in practice for the following reasons:

The voltage and power of large panels delivering several amperes at 12/15 or 20V are unstable, whereas your PC needs perfect stability to operate.
Overvoltage and overcurrent protection is also reinforced by intermediate batteries, known as ‘buffer’ batteries.

So while it’s easy to regulate the voltage at 5V, the exercise is a little more perilous at 20V because the panels are more powerful and risk damaging the equipment being charged.
So the battery is not just for storage, but also for “regulation” and protection against overvoltage …

A solar charger works with either 5V (USB) or 12V + (DC5521 port / cigarette lighter).
We use one or the other to recharge computers, depending on their characteristics, the USB port having recently evolved into a USB-C port to enable charges generating 100W of power.

Here are the different scenarios, depending on the equipment you have:

• Your PC charges via USB-C , like a MacBook or Surface
• Your PC cannot be charged via USB, so you need a 12/21V battery.
• Secondly, any battery can be recharged using solar energy.

A solar charger operates on 5V (USB port) or 12V (DC5521 / cigarette lighter port).
It is therefore possible to recharge a drone’s batteries using these 2 types of connection.
The USB port has recently been upgraded to a USB-C port, enabling charges of up to 100W.
The latest generation of drones are equipped with a USB-C port for easy recharging: all you need is a powerful 5V solar charger (generating 2000mA, for example) which will recharge an external USB-C battery called ‘Power Delivery’, which will be able to recharge the drone’s batteries….
– if your drone is not equipped with USB-C, it will need to be powered by a battery capable of generating 12V, which in turn will need to be charged by a 12V-generating panel.

To keep a foldable solar panel and its battery in optimum condition, follow these tips:

1. Regular cleaning: Be sure to clean the surface of the solar panel with a soft cloth and water to remove dirt, dust and residues. A clean panel captures more sunlight.
2. Avoid extreme temperatures: Solar panels and batteries do not respond well to extreme temperatures. Avoid exposing them to excessively high or low temperatures. Store them in a cool, dry place when not in use.
3. Moisture protection: Electronic components and batteries can be sensitive to moisture. Make sure the storage location is dry. If you use the solar panel in damp conditions, make sure it is well sealed.
4. Regular charging and discharging of the battery: If the battery is not to be used for an extended period, be sure to charge and discharge it periodically. This helps maintain battery capacity.
5. Avoid overcharging: Do not allow the solar panel battery to charge beyond its maximum capacity. This can damage the battery and shorten its life.
6. Use in accordance with manufacturer’s specifications: Always follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for use, storage and maintenance. This ensures that you get the most out of your solar panel and battery.
7. Safe transport: When transporting the folding solar panel, be sure to use a suitable carrying case to protect it from knocks, scratches and other damage.
8. Storing the battery: If you’re not going to be using the battery for a long time, remove it from the solar panel and store it in a cool, dry place. This can help prevent the battery from discharging completely.
9. Performance monitoring: Test the performance of the solar panel and battery before resuming their use in stand-alone mode. This will help you avoid overproduction…

It’s not recommended: USB ports aren’t designed to “add up”, that’s why:

A device can generally only draw energy from one source at a time.

The load circuits are not designed to receive current from several directions simultaneously.

• Risk of short-circuit or damage:

  • Connecting two USB-A ports together without intelligent electronic management can cause overvoltage, overheating or damage to the chargers, the device or the cable.

• Charging systems are intelligent:

  • Phones, external batteries, etc. have circuits that regulate the charge to avoid overcharging. They will not automatically ‘merge’ two sources to double the power.