If you have a solar power system and a 5W solar panel, it is only natural to wonder what it can do. Besides, it is also quite portable hence an excellent traveling companion, especially during off-grid travels.
It is also good to get some answers if you plan to buy such a solar panel. For instance, can a 5W solar panel charge a cell phone battery?
As usual, we got your back as far as the answers to such million-dollar questions are concerned. So, without further ado, let’s find out!
Will a 5W Solar Panel Charge a Cell Phone Battery?
For the apparent reason, any solar panel, including a 5W one, can charge your cell phone battery. However, it may be impossible to charge it fully since most smartphones need about 10 watts.
Other factors determine whether charging will be successful. For instance, the power the phone is drawing as you use it shouldn’t exceed the current flowing to the phone from its solar charger.
However, expect such a solar panel to charge your phone slowly. It will be slower than the recommended charging pace.
The bottom line is that such a panel will charge your phone thanks to its functionality. However, if you are looking for convenience besides functionality, it is advisable to consider a higher wattage.
How Many Watts Does a Solar Panel Need to Charge a Cell Phone?
Whereas a 5W solar panel can charge a cell phone battery, its efficiency isn’t as great as that of its counterparts. That’s why the recommended wattage of a solar panel when charging a cell phone is 10 watts.
Such a panel is enough to charge your cell phone for the entire day. It is also worth mentioning that you shouldn’t worry about the phone’s safety when using a solar panel.
That’s because their protection systems are pretty robust. So, it guarantees the safety of any device, including a cell phone, during charging.
How Long Does It Take for Solar Panel to Charge a Cell Phone?
It depends on the solar panel, and here’s a discussion on the various phone models and solar panels and their corresponding charging types.
How Long Does It Take for 5W Solar Panel to Charge a Cell Phone?
Whereas the 5W solar panel with charge your cell phone slowly, how slow can it get? Here’s a summary of this period according to various phone models;
- Samsung Galaxy S20 or S21 charges fully after 3-3.8 hrs.
- iPhone 13 charges fully after 2.5 to 3 hrs.
- iPhone 12 charges fully after 2 to 2.6 hrs.
- Google Pixel 5 charges fully after 3 to 3.8 hrs.
- iPhone 11 charges fully after 2.4 to 3 hrs.
- So, the average is about 2.6 to 3.2 hrs.
How Long Does It Take for 10W Solar Panel to Charge a Cell Phone?
If you own a 10W solar panel, here’s a summary of the various charging periods
- Samsung Galaxy S20 or S21 charges fully after 1.5 to 1.9 hours
- iPhone 13 charges fully after 1.2 to 1.5 hours
- iPhone 12 charges fully after 1 to 1.3 hours
- Google Pixel 5 charges fully after 5 to 1.9 hours
- iPhone 11 charges fully after 1.2 to 1.5 hours
- So, the average is about 1.3 to 1.6 hours
How Long Does It Take for 15W Solar Panel to Charge a Cell Phone?
If you own a 15W solar panel, here’s a summary of the various charging periods
- Samsung Galaxy S20 or S21 charges fully after 1 to 1.3 hours
- iPhone 13 charges fully after 50 minutes to 1 hour
- iPhone 12 charges fully after 42 to 52 minutes
- Google Pixel 5 charges fully after 1 to 1.3 hours
- iPhone 11 charges fully after 47 minutes to 1 hour
- So, the average is about 52 minutes to 1.1 hours
How Long Does It Take for a 20W Solar Panel to Charge a Cell Phone?
If you own a 20W solar panel, here’s a summary of the various charging periods
- Samsung Galaxy S20 or S21 charges fully after 46 minutes to 1 hour
- iPhone 13 charges fully after 37 to 45 minutes
- iPhone 12 charges fully after 32 to 39 minutes
- Google Pixel 5 charges fully after 46 minutes to 1 hour
- iPhone 11 charges fully after 35 to 44 minutes
- So, the average is about 39 to 50 minutes
Besides the solar panel wattage, other factors bring the difference in the charging time. For example, we have the phone battery size and corresponding watt hours, which are as follows;
- Samsung Galaxy S20 and S21 have a phone battery size of 4,000mAh, whereas their watt-hours are 15.2Wh
- iPhone 13 has a phone battery size of 3,227mAh whereas its watt-hours are 12.26Wh
- iPhone 12 has a phone battery size of 2,775mAh whereas its watt-hours are 10.5Wh
- Google Pixel 5 has a phone battery size of 4,000mAh whereas its watt-hours are 15.2Wh
- iPhone 11 has a phone battery size of 3,110mAh whereas its watt-hours are 11.8Wh
How to Charge Your Cell Phone Using a Solar Panel Faster
Here are tips for reducing the time your cell phone needs when charging it with a solar panel
- Charge one device at a time to avoid splitting the output power among various devices
- Always ensure that your solar panel has ample direct sunlight exposure to guarantee consistent charging
- When traveling, ensure that your cell phone is inside the backpack to promote fast charging
- Combine your solar panel with a battery so that it can store power for backup when the sun goes down
- Choosing a short cable has proven to improve the charging speed of cell phones since it reduces energy wastage
- Despite being on the move, it is good to strive to ensure that the solar panels are facing the sun so that they can produce power and charge the device
Main Types of Solar Chargers
Most solar chargers fall under three major categories. They include the following;
- Power bank with embedded solar panel: the manufacturer seals the solar panel to a battery bank
- Portable solar panel with a battery bank: this charger offers two options. You can either charge a battery bank and then use it to charge your cell phone or charge the phone with the solar panel directly
- Portable solar panel with USB ports: You will charge your cell phone with the solar panel directly by plugging it into one of its USB ports.
