Will it run my laptop or recharge the internal battery?
How long will it run a typical laptop?
Will it charge a MacBook Air, MacBook or MacBook Pro?
Does the panel alone have enough power to run my laptop?
How long does it take to charge other devices?
What does the LED in the logo indicate?
Will it charge indoors?
How do you get the best charging results?
What should I do if the battery pack is flat and I need to charge something?
My device isn't charging, what should I do?
What if I need to charge a device and the sun has set?
How does it work?
The high-efficiency solar panel on the outside of the bag charges the Voltaic battery. You can then run your laptop or charge your device by connecting to the battery using one of the included adaptors, the car charger socket or the USB adaptor.
Will I make it through airport security?
Most Likely. The Voltaic team and our customers have been through many security checkpoints. While we get interested looks and comments, we have never been blocked. We have had one customer in the history of Voltaic who did get stopped so if you are worried, you can ship the bag.
What are the environmental benefits of this product?
Solar power is an environmentally friendly way to produce electricity, our hope is that the first hand experience using solar power to charge cell phones and laptops will increase familiarity and promote even broader use of solar power. At a minimum they are a good way to raise awareness and get people talking about solar energy.
To be fair, the total amount of power generated from one of our bags is a relatively small portion of our total consumption. Adding solar panels to your house or even just turning down the air conditioner in the summer and lowering the thermostat in winter will probably have a greater impact, so please do that too.
The bag eliminates the need for disposable AA batteries used in many emergency travel chargers and other devices. A Solar charger with rechargeable batteries is a much more sustainable alternative. Using our bags also makes it easier for our customers to unplug their wall chargers, which often drain power even when not connected to a phone.What materials do you use?
We use sustainable materials where we can and almost all of the fabric we use is woven from recycled PET (soda bottles). This keeps soda bottles out of landfill, requires significantly less energy to manufacture than virgin PET (which is made from oil).
Will it run my laptop?
Our laptop chargers can run most, but not all laptops. Whether or not a laptop charges usually depends on whether the laptop manufacturer supports charging from external batteries. In general, the more efficient the laptop, the more runtime for each hour the panel is in the sun. If you have an efficient 13-15" laptop, you'll likely have a great experience. If you have a 17" gaming laptop that consumes a lot of power, you likely won't.
Will it run my laptop or recharge the internal battery?
This varies between different laptop brands and even models. It is preferable to run the laptop from the Voltaic battery rather than recharge the internal laptop battery, since energy is lost in recharging (approx. 15-30%). To see if the battery is running the laptop, open the battery window and note the power remaining. If running, this percentage will remain constant until the Voltaic battery is depleted. Some laptops (e.g. Dell) also show the hours remaining as over 1,000 (not accurate) when drawing power from the Voltaic battery. When charging, the charge symbol will usually show in the battery window.
How long will it run a typical laptop?
The Voltaic battery is a 60 Watt hour battery, larger than many laptop's internal battery. A typical small-medium laptop battery is 35 to 50 Watt hours so the Voltaic battery will often double the runtime of a laptop. For larger machines the run time will be less than from the internal battery.
Will it charge a MacBook Air, MacBook or MacBook Pro?
Yes, by you will need an optional reconfigured MagSafe adapter or Apple's Airline Adapter to connect to the MacBook.
Does the panel alone have enough power to run my laptop?
Probably not and we do not recommend connecting directly from the panel to the laptop. The Generator produces 15 Watts max output while most laptops use between 25 and 60 Watts. The Voltaic battery acts as a buffer between the panel and the laptop. For every hour of sun, you will likely get between 20 and 45 minutes of additional runtime.
How long does it take to charge other devices?
From the full Voltaic battery, about the same time as plugging into a wall charger. The bag generates enough power to charge most small devices in about an hour.What does the LED in the logo indicate?
When the LED inside the logo lights up, it indicates that the solar panels are generating a charge. It lights dimly when the panels are in the shade and more brightly when they are in direct sun, reflecting the higher charge produced in direct sun. It will come on in some indoor light conditions; however, the power generated is significantly less than in direct sunlight.
Will it charge indoors?
Generally indoor light is significantly less powerful than direct sunlight and so the amount of charge generated is proportionately lower. Typically the charge from indoor light will be less than 10% of full charge. If you receive direct sunlight through a window, this will charge although the charge will be reduced by light reflection off the window. Avoid placing any part of the bag in shadow.
How do you get the best charging results?
For maximum power output, face the panels towards the sun. If the panels are in direct sunlight but not angled towards the sun the power declines by about 20%. When they are angled away from the sun the power drops off by up to 90%. Make sure that no part of any cell is in the shade. If any cell is obscured, the power output from the entire panel drops.
What should I do if the battery pack is flat and I need to charge something?
Within about 30 seconds of the battery pack receiving a charge (from either the solar panels, the AC charger) you can begin to charge small electronics. If you have both a flat phone battery and a flat Voltaic battery pack, you should be able to plug in your phone, angle the bag towards the sun, and make a call almost immediately. When using solar power or when running a laptop, it is more efficient to let the battery pack partially charge (to amber on the charge indicator) before plugging in the device, this provides a buffer so that the charge to the laptop is not cutting on and off
My device isn't charging, what should I do?
First see the basic instructions below. If the device does not charge even though the battery pack is charged, you have the correct adapter, and the voltage setting is that required for the device, then the device is likely designed to only work with a manufacturer supplied charger, or at a very specific voltage.
We are not able to test all laptops. Please contact us at support@voltaicsystems.com if you have a question about your specific model. In the even that our bag does not either run or charge your laptop, you are welcome to return it to us for a refund within 60 days so long as it is in new condition.
What if I need to charge a device and the sun has set?
This is part of the reason we included a battery in the Voltaic bags. The battery stores energy generated by the solar panels until you need it, and will hold a charge for months. So even when you can't get access to the sun, you can plug a device into the battery pack and charge from that.
The battery can also be recharged using the included AC travel charger and the DC car charger, so you can use whatever power sources are available to keep the battery topped up.
Do you have an adapter for...?
The adapters included with the Voltaic bag, and many of the devices they will charge, are listed on the adapters page. However, these adaptors may fit additional devices (particularly the universal adaptors). We have included photos and specifications for each adaptor to help you to determine whether they are likely to suit your device.
What if you don’t have an adapter for my device?
For handheld devices, use the USB charging cable that came with the device. For laptops, check to see if there is a car charger for your specific model laptop and you can connect that to our optional car charger socket and the socket to the battery.
How do I know what voltage to select on the battery pack?
The power requirement for a particular device is typically indicated, in the product literature, on the device itself, or on the charger (as power output).
Most cell phones charge at 5V when connected directly using an adaptor. USB chargers for phones, music players and gaming devices should also be connected at 5V. For camera cradles, use the 12V setting.
Some devices will operate at several voltage settings. For the most efficient use of power, select the lowest setting that powers your device.
Warning: Using higher than the required voltage may damage some devices. Check the voltage setting on the battery before connecting to a device.
What do the lights on the battery pack indicate
The Charge Indicator lights sequentially when the battery is receiving a charge.
Does the fact that you offer the adaptor mean the battery pack will charge my device?
No, the availability of an adaptor does not guarantee that the battery pack will charge the device. The voltage requirements for your device may not match the output of the battery pack.
How long will the battery last?
The battery is designed to charge approximately 500 charge cycles. Like any rechargeable battery, it may need to be replaced. We accept our batteries back for recycling.
What care does the panel require?
Scratches on the face of the solar panels will reduce the amount of light hitting the solar cells and reduce the power generated, so it is best to avoid scratching them. The panel is coated with a material that will actually melt away some scratches when exposed to the sun. Dirt on the panels has a similar effect. To clean, use a damp non-abrasive cloth with either detergent or alcohol.
Warning: Using higher than the required voltage may damage some devices. Check the voltage setting on the battery before connecting to a device.
Is the panel breakable?
It can be broken, but it is unlikely to be damaged in typical use. It can easily stand up to being dropped. You should avoid bending the panels or stuffing your bag with so much stuff that it puts pressure on the panels. If you were to place the panel over a book or other solid object and stand on it you would cause the cells to crack, which would reduce the output of that panel.
Is the bag waterproof?
The solar panels and recycled PET fabric are waterproof. However, water can seep in through the zips and seams, so the contents can get wet. The only electrical component you need to keep dry is the battery pack, which you should treat as you would any other electronics
Can the bag tolerate heat and cold?
Yes. The battery is rated for use at temperatures from -10 to 60° Celsius (14 to 140°F) and the panels can operate at a similar temperature range.
1. Power Button,
2. Charge Level Indicator,
3. Voltage Indicator,
4. USB Port
5. Voltage Switch
6. DC Output
7. DC Input
1. USB Out Cable,
2. DC Out Cable,
3. Phone Adapters,
4. Laptop Adapters
1. Switch - changes both outputs to 6 or 18V. Use 18V for Voltaic Battery. This is only on Fuse 10W and Array, not the Generator or V60 battery.
2. 5.5x2.1mm Plug - Connect to Voltaic Battery,
3. Female 5.5x2.1mm Jack - Connect to devices via adapters. Not all devices will charge direct from solar, use direct connection from solar panels with caution.
Battery LEDs light up sequentially when charging; disconnect and press Power Button to test battery level. Make sure solar panels are outside and pointed directly at sun for best charging.
Connect AC Charger to DC In on Battery.
With 10 Watts of solar panels, battery charges in about 12 hours. With 16 Watt panel, this takes about 7-8 hours. Open bag to reduce charging temperature.
Select proper Voltage. Plug DC Out Cable into DC Out. Connect to device with the right adapter. Unplug cable to turn off. Remove cable from device before switching Voltage.
Try setting Voltage one lower than your laptop charger’s output first. i.e. if your charger says 19V, try 16V setting on Voltaic battery first
Our battery will work best with smaller, more efficient laptops
Change your power management settings to Maximum Battery Life & Turn off WiFi
Some laptops (e.g. Dells) will not recharge their internal battery from our battery, but will run. Do not let your Dell laptop battery go flat if you’re relying entirely on an external battery.
Some laptops will run from the Voltaic battery with their internal battery removed. You should turn off your laptop before the Voltaic battery is fully drained to avoid crashes.
MacBooks require a separate, refurbished MagSafe adapter available at www.voltaicsystems.com/adapters.shtml
Email us at support@voltaicsystems.com if you have any questions
Press and hold Power Button for 3 seconds to activate USB output. Charge Level Indicator will turn on. Press and hold for 3 seconds to turn off.