Solar Powed battery charger - no brand

Before leaving, we looked into an array of solar charging options, trawling the net for possible solutions. Nothing existed in a form that was ideal - most solutions were too large, bulky or expensive - though we could definitely see possibilities. In the event, constrained by time and a limited electrical knowledge, we opted for a compact solar charger (the size of a pack of cigarettes) designed specifically for AA batteries, which all of our electronic gadgets run from. This was kindly supplied by Greenshop.

Designed to fit four, recommended charging times proved a little overambitious; we've tended to limit it to two for a little extra speed. But with the right conditions - and we've certainly had more than enough sun - the it's had it's uses in charging up batteries when we haven't had access to power points Charging times are variable - generally a couple of days are needed, depending on the amperage of the battery itself and the light conditions.

The solar charger couldn't provide a strong enough charge for the power zapping digital camera but for the Psion palmtop, it's been fairly good. Very small and cheap (retail price is around 10 pounds) it certainly makes and eco- friendly gadget - if we're got to cook on those desert crossings, we might as well make the sun work for us too...