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Solar battery chargers

Because solar battery chargers are not commonly used, new owners of these devices often have a number of questions about how they operate. Some of these questions might include:

• Will a solar battery charger drain my batteries during the night? Because most people tend to try to charge batteries at night so that they can be ready for the next day, this is a common practice. The answer is no.

Some of the more sophisticated chargers have a diode installed in the unit. It is the diode’s role to ensure there will be no reverse current problems. The diode prevents an electrical charge from turning around and zapping energy from the batteries in a device.

• Are there waterproof chargers?
There are some waterproof chargers, but waterproof is perhaps not as good a term to use as water-resistant. For practicality’s sake, it is better to assume solar battery chargers are not waterproof. While these chargers will be protected from a little water, submersion would be debilitating.

• Will I need a bright, direct sunlight for the charger to work? No. This is one of the aspects of solar energy that is often misunderstood. Most people assume the sun needs to be out and shining bright in order for any kind of collection to occur.

The fact is that solar panels are able to turn any light into electricity. As long as there is some kind of a light source, the solar battery chargers will be able to work, because energy is being collected. Still, if it is a bright, sunny day, this energy will be collected more quickly.