This post is specifically dealing with “Not Supported” that commonly displayed on the phone screen or slow charging due to shading effect when charging by a Solar Phone Charger. A good Solar Phone Charger has few rule of thumb designs :
- Ratio Solar Panel Capacity over phone charging power should 2 times or more. For example, if you plan to charge a 5V,1A (5W), you may need to get a 10W-15W solar panel while 10W charging you need a 18-25W solar panel.
- Use USB converter module instead of using common DC-DC converter or direct connected to USB port from solar panel.
- The converter shall be separated from the solar panel to prevent baking under sunlight.
- Use 2 core flexible cable rather than 2 single core PVC cables for extra protection.
- Avoid using Epoxy PCB solar panel which is not resistant to outdoor weather.
- Use 6Vmp Solar Panel or not more than 12Vmp to reduce the power lost due to direct connection to the load.
Solar Panel Foldable Charger
Solar Panel with foldable USB charger is a commercially available type of solar PV system which is specially designed compact for portability and convenience. Kindly check it out some good manufacturer at out affiliate link here !!!
6V Solar Panel
6V Solar Panel is best for powering USB application including 5V Phone charging. For a typical 10W application (2A 5V), it is recommend to use about 20Wp Solar Panel. Grab one of the solar panel at our affiliate link here !!!
The “Not Supported” showed by the phone during charging may due to 3 possibilities:
Right After the USB cable plug into the system :
1. USB Cable Problem. Sometimes the internal cable may be damage which may cause the phone not to be charged correctly. In this case, try using another USB cable.
2. You are manually connect the USB port without using the USB Charge Controller. A direct connection using 2 wires (positive and negative) from Solar Panel cannot trick certain brand of phone as they also use signal from the 2 data cables for confirmation. Thus get a solar USB Charge Controller which also connected all the related wires to the USB port. Optionally you can use Power Bank as a inter medium between the solar panel and the phone
3. The generation is too low. The phone protection feature disconnect the charger as the charging current is too small or phone charging with limits. You are probably using too small solar panel or there is a shading during charging. Sometimes the phone does not show “Not Support” word but charging with limited current as per video shown. It is mainly due to the limitation set (or fault) from phone built in charger.
We can solve it by adding the auto-restart module in between. Optionally, we can also use a Power Bank rather than directly charging to the phone as the power bank charger does not have this limitation problem.
Keweisi USB Meter
This is a very useful energy meter to record the necessary electrical parameter. It is not only useful for energy monitoring but it is also good tool for troubleshooting Solar Generation. Get one here at our affiliate link here !!!
Solar USB Charge Controller
Solar USB Charge Controller is a DC – DC step down converter that used to convert regular solar panel and regulate into 5V output. It requires soldering to be made. Mostly can support wider range of voltage input from a Solar Panel. You can check it out at our affiliate link here !!!
2 core Flexible Cable
Flexible cable is a synthetic rubber cable mostly used in portable tools such as hand drill or welding cable. It is made flexible and reasonably good resistant against outdoor and weather. Try surf and compare them at our affiliate link here !!!
When your phone appears the word “Not Support…”, it means the phone has disconnect internally due to too low current charging. In addition, a phone may looks fine that showing charging sign but most people do not know that it has charging with limited current.
So in this case, normally we have to unplug and plug in back the cable so that it initiate the charging again. The problem is we do not know when a shading will cast on the solar panel and not sure it has affected the charging. We are not going to regularly monitor by stay near to the panel and we do not want the phone left there few hours but not charging due to this error.
The alternative would be using power bank as intermediate medium between solar charger and phone. It seems to have more robust electronic charger which after a shading, the charging current can be back to normal. However, we also do have second choice if you do not have a power bank.
Auto-restart module is a module that automatically reconnect your phone to the solar charging system. There are commercially available solar phone charger with auto-restart function. When it detects the charging current is too small, it will initiate the circuit re-connection. However, we got a new idea and it is a simpler way which using a cycle delay relay module as the auto-restart module.
We can set the constant disconnect & reconnect as a cycle basis typically every 30 minutes. When the phone is disconnect or limited due to shading or cloudy condition, the phone will be automatic to reconnect to the solar charger every 30 minutes cycle. Of cause you can set shorter cycle time.
Overall Wiring Diagram
Ferrule Lugs and Crimper Set
Ferrule lugs are used at terminals for tight and secure connection. Besides, it also prevent stranded cables accidentally touching adjacent power line that may cause short circuit. Grab 1 at our affiliate link here !!!
Terminals Crimping Plier Set
This is a crimping tool with interchangeable jaw for crimping many types of terminals. It is a must have for DIY electronic and electrical for professional installation work. You may choose at out affiliate link here !!!
Specific Working Mode of the Cycle Trigger Delay Relay Module:
P3.2 setting mode – When power is on, Output keep ON for OP (operation time) and then OFF for CL (close time) and then the cycle is keep on looping. The number of cycle or set can be set, but we will set it as infinity. No input signal triggering is needed.
Trigger Cycle Delay Timer Switch Module
This is one of the most powerful and flexible delay relay suitable for many electronic and electrical projects. One of the uses can be used to program cycle operation which suitable for Solar DIY Phone Charger. Support us by purchase the unit at our affiliate link here !!!
How to set Delay Relay Module:
Note:
Long Press = press and hold it for at least 3 seconds then released.
Short Press = press and release your hand.
- Supply Power to the Relay Module.
- Long Press the SET button. When hand is released, it will show current PX.X mode.
- Press UP or Down button to reach P3.2.
- Short Press the SET button. OP word will be blinking. It is used to set ON (operation time duration). For this application, you can set the cycle time of about 30 minutes (reconnect every 30 minutes).
- Short Press STOP button to Switch between time frame. “XXX.” is for time in 1 – 999 seconds range, “XX.X” is for 0.1 – 99.9 seconds, “X.X.X” is for 1 – 999 minutes range. Select “X.X.X” to 0.3.0 for 30 minutes. It allows the circuit to be connected for 30 minutes before turn off.
- Press UP or Down to set the OP time that you want then Short Press the SET button. CL word will be blinking. It is used to set OFF (closing time duration).For this application, you can set the disconnection time of about 2 seconds (every 30 minutes will disconnect the circuit for 2 seconds). Select “XXX.” to 002. for 2 seconds. It allows the circuit to be disconnected for 2 seconds before the cycle repeats again.
- Short Press the SET button. LOP word will be blinking. It is used to set number of cycles. Set it to “- – -“ for infinity looping
- If everything ready, Long Press the SET button to save the parameters.
12V to 5V cigarette Lighter Charger
Cigarette Lighter Charger can be used as DC regulator for Solar DIY charger if the solar panel does not come with a DC regulator. Not all cigarette lighter may support as low as 6V input. Be sure to test it out or ask supplier. You can find them at out affiliate link here !!!
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