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Warning: That solar charger review missed the big battery problem

Most reviews praise its green power, but the battery dies too fast. Are we ignoring durability for flashy features?
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4 Comments
michaelgrant
Maybe they just expect us to charge it like @the_quinn said, not actually use it all day.
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the_quinn
the_quinn1mo ago
Totally feel this. Battery life is such a letdown with some of these green gadgets. Had a similar thing happen last summer with a camping charger. The solar panel looked great, but the battery packed up by noon. Why do companies skip on the basics for flashy specs? Makes you wonder if they even test these things in real use.
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palmer.holly
Seriously, I ran into the same issue with a solar lantern last year. The box said it would last all night, but it gave out before midnight. What I learned is to always see how much charge the battery really holds, not just the fancy features. Companies often use cheap parts that can't handle real use, so they fail fast. Now I test new gear in my backyard before taking it camping. Saves a lot of hassle when you're not stuck in the dark.
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laura841
laura8411mo ago
Remember my old headlamp that died right as I was packing up camp in the dark? Swore off anything without a replaceable battery after that.
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