Solar powered coffee maker

Do you enjoy camping, fishing or other outdoor activities?  How nice would it be to have a hot cup of coffee without firing up the camp stove?  With this solar powered coffee maker, you can use energy from the sun to brew your morning java.  Talk about a useful solar gadget!

Students at the University of Calgary created the portable solar-powered coffee maker (shown above), which pumps water through vacuum-like tubes, heating it with solar energy.  No solar panels are required.  When sunlight hits the black wall of the inner surface, it heats up, warming the water.  It takes about an hour to brew 2 cups of coffee, so start it up before you cook breakfast or maybe even catch another few winks of sleep!

The Two Hand Design student group from the University’s Faculty of Environmental Design came up with the invention through an industrial design course.  The solar coffee maker is called “Girasol” or sunflower in Spanish.

Girasol, the solar coffee maker

Solar powered coffee makers include glass and aluminum and are safe to clean with soap and water.  When your coffee maker has reached the end of its usefulness, you can even recycle it – more easily than other electric devices!

i-Slate solar powered personal computer

We have solar powered cell phones, so why not solar-powered personal computers?  The answer is – yes!

The i-Slate is a solar-powered tablet PC developed by Rice University and Nanyang Tech University of Singapore.  The solar-powered personal computers are currently being tested by schoolchildren in Indian villages.  The solar gadget stands to significantly improve educational opportunities for 100 million students in rural villages.

For remote villages located off-grid, the lack of electricity means that devices we take for granted simply have not been available.  Can you imagine growing up in the 21st century without use of computers to help you learn and connect to the rest of the world?  That doesn’t have to be the case with the i-Slate, which is charged with solar energy, and requires very little power to operate.

According to the Times of India:

Solar Powered Camcorder

Looking for a unique holiday gift this season?  If you or a loved one enjoys taking photographs and video, why not get a solar powered camcorder?

Shown to the left, this solar gadget includes a built-in solar panel that flips up to help extend battery life (while also acting as a sun shade).

You can get a solar powered camcorder at online retailers, including Amazon.com, for about $200-250.  It includes the following features:

• 12 MP image sensor
• 8x digital zoom
• HD video in 720 x 480 pixel resolution
• AVI files for storage on a 32 GB memory card
• Takes still images in JPEG format at up to 4000 resolution.

You can use the built-in solar panel to extend the battery life of the solar powered camcorder.  With a 3-hour charge, the battery will last up to 5 hours.  If you need to, the camcorder comes with an AC charger to plug into an electrical outlet.

No word on who manufactures the solar powered camcorder, so the quality of the device is anyone’s guess!

The Eton Soulra: portable solar power for your digital music sound system

Solar gadgets are all the rage these days.  If you’re looking for a great Christmas idea for a loved one (or yourself), you should consider a solar powered iPod sound system.

Pictured to the left, the Soulra – created by the über-green electronics company Etón – runs on portable solar power, making it the perfect solar device to take with you in all your outdoor pursuits. But exposure to any UV light will work, even indoors.  Simply position the Soulra on your desk or table near a sunny window.  The digital music player works with both the iPod and iPhone.

The solar powered iPod sound system includes the following features:

• full range speaker drivers with an 11W output
• rechargeable lithium-i0n battery
• embedded solar panel that can be positioned to capture energy from the sun to power your sound system for hours (4 hours playing time with full charge)
• battery monitoring light lets you know when recharging is advised
• all-weather construction materials allowing for outdoor use
• splash-proof, sealed speakers
• Can be plugged into a regular electrical outlet with AC adapter
• Remote control

You can find the Soulra at a number of retailers, including Amazon.com, the Apple Store, REI and Hammacher Schlemmer.  Retail price is approximately $199.

Time to start your holiday shopping!

Use the solar strap to keep your devices charged on the go

We have blogged about solar backpacks, solar handbags, and other portable solar power gadgets.  All of them are effective, but the price point can vary.

What if you just want to help boost the power of your portable devices without having to lug about an expensive new bag?  It may be time for a solar strap.  Shown in the photo to the left, this relatively small solar panel can be worn while you enjoy the great outdoors.  When you want to make a call, take a photo or listen to your MP3, you’ll always have power no matter where you are.

The Solar Strap is easy to wear and unbelievably lightweight.  Its compatible with any device that uses a 5-volt charging voltag.  Simply expose the solar panels to UV light, and the Solar Strap will recharge as you bicycle, hike, or even simply take a walk across campus.

According to the website:

The energy is stored in a light-weight battery of 3.7 Wh capacity. You can operate this portable and flexible gadget in a temperature ranging from 0° to 50° Celsius. You can fold the SolarStrap to make it even more portable. When completely open, it is 290 x 97 x 16 mm in size and is 144 x 97 x 25 mm in size when folded. It has an AC charger input capacity of 5.0 – 6.0 V DC and output charge of 5.5 VDC, 800 mA and it weighs around 60 g. SolarStrap Portable charger available at Suntrica.

If you want to get one of these cool solar gadgets as a green holiday gift, check out the Suntrica website, which will direct you to local retailers.