# Complete Solar Charger Board

**URL:** <https://community.sparkfun.com/t/complete-solar-charger-board/24645>\
**Category:** New Product Ideas\
**Created:** [July 18, 2012, 8:27pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/complete-solar-charger-board/24645 "2012-07-18T20:27:47Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![kd5crs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a88e57/32.png) [@kd5crs](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/kd5crs)\
**Post date:** [July 18, 2012, 8:27pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/complete-solar-charger-board/24645/1 "2012-07-18T20:27:47Z")

</div>

So I can get a SFE solar panel, and a variety of rechargeable batteries. But if I want a single board that takes the battery and the solar panel and gives out, say, 5V, that doesn’t exist as a turn key part. (If it does, please point me at it!)

I would think the solar panel would smart-charge the battery and the battery would power whatever you hook up.

Thanks.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Joeisi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@Joeisi](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/Joeisi)\
**Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 3:42am UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/complete-solar-charger-board/24645/2 "2012-07-24T03:42:25Z")

</div>

Well you could just go directly from the solar panel to USB port with one of [[these](http://www.sparkfun.com/products/10968) and [[this](http://www.sparkfun.com/products/9011). If you absolutely want the battery backup, you could do something like this: Plug the [[Boost Converter](http://www.sparkfun.com/productos/10968) with the solar panel as the input, then plug the 5v output into the 5v input on the [[Power Cell](http://www.sparkfun.com/products/11231), plug a battery in, and then put the USB-A Female connector linked to above and hook it up to the 5v output on the Power Cell.

So I don’t think it is complex enough of an idea to even need a dedicated board. Just put some wires together. I also don’t believe the demand is enough to consider, but if I’m wrong I always love a good debate.]([http://www.sparkfun.com/products/11231](http://www.sparkfun.com/products/11231))]([http://www.sparkfun.com/productos/10968](http://www.sparkfun.com/productos/10968))]([http://www.sparkfun.com/products/9011](http://www.sparkfun.com/products/9011))]([http://www.sparkfun.com/products/10968](http://www.sparkfun.com/products/10968))

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Chagrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/57b2e6/32.png) [@Chagrin](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/Chagrin)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 4:15pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/complete-solar-charger-board/24645/3 "2012-07-25T16:15:31Z")

</div>

LiPo Rider: [http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/lipo-r … ?cPath=155](http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/lipo-rider-p-710.html?cPath=155)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Joeisi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@Joeisi](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/Joeisi)\
**Post date:** [July 26, 2012, 12:25am UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/complete-solar-charger-board/24645/4 "2012-07-26T00:25:03Z")

</div>

[http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/lipo-r … ?cPath=155](http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/lipo-rider-pro-p-992.html?cPath=155)

Note that the minimum voltage in is 4.8v. If this is an issue, then get a boost converter.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![kd5crs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a88e57/32.png) [@kd5crs](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/kd5crs)\
**Post date:** [July 30, 2012, 9:09pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/complete-solar-charger-board/24645/5 "2012-07-30T21:09:12Z")

</div>

Awesome, thanks!