Tips for Traveling with Solar
One of the biggest questions we get from customers is regarding the safety of traveling with solar chargers and lithium ion battery packs. Whether you’re flying domestically or planning a trip overseas, we’ve put together a list of tips to make traveling with solar chargers and battery packs less stressful.
FAA Regulations on Solar Panels and Lithium Ion Batteries
All of our systems and batteries are approved to fly on international and domestic flights. Since Voltaic solar panels are separate from our battery packs, these rugged panels do not face any regulation and can be stored in your checked or carry on bag. On the other hand, spare lithium ion battery packs (including Voltaic’s V15, V50, and V88) are subject to some limitations, please read below.
In compliance with FAA guidelines on spare lithium ion batteries, spare lithium ion battery must be secured in your carry on bag (hand luggage) and cannot exceed 100 Watt hours (includes all of battery packs). The FAA does not have any limitations on the number of batteries an individual can fly with as long as the batteries are for personal use and are under 100 Watt hours each. While these are FAA guidelines, airlines can impose stricter rules than the FAA if they choose – we highly recommend checking the individual policy of your airline before flying. With that said, we have logged a lot of miles with our batteries and have never had an issue with an airline accepting lithium ion batteries for personal use in carry on luggage.
For a more detailed guide, please visit our Lithium Battery Policy by Airline post.
Backup Power is Useful in the Airport
We all know how unpredictable travelling can be, so save the headache and make sure you fully charge your Voltaic battery pack before heading out the door. You’ll spend more time enjoying your holiday and less time worrying about your dead phone or laptop.
Practice Makes Perfect: Test Gear Before You Travel
While you’re charging up your battery, make sure all your necessary adapters and cables are accounted for and that you’re electronics are good to go. If its your first time using your solar charger, be sure you know how it works and what to expect. Have a question? Don’t hesitate to reach out to our support team for a little peace of mind.
Cable Management for Traveling
Use your Voltaic bag or other cable management systems to keep all your pieces in the same spot. This will not only help you charge quicker when you’re on the go but you won’t have to worry about loosing or misplacing adapters along the way.
Travel Safely with Solar
Voltaic panels are made for adventure, so don’t worry too much about durability when travelling. Our tough panels can simply be placed on the outside of your bag (for optimum solar potential) or slid away inside the sleeve of any backpack. We recommend placing your Voltaic battery in a secure yet easy to reach spot like a side or front pocket of your bag.
Need help finding the right gear or have additional questions? You can reach out to us here.
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