User Manual

4
Auto-Retry
The Auto-Retry port is one of the reasons the sChargers work so well. The Auto-Retry will activate within 5
minutes after first being placed in the sun. Once activated there are a few good things that start happening to
further optimize charging. If a shadow appears like a slow cloud or even a person walking in front of the panel,
some USB devices will give up charging and show a warning message. They will often not restart when the sun is
again available. Charging from the Auto-Retry port takes care of interruptions by doing a charger reset
automatically. As long as the sCharger sees sun, the USB device will continue to charge. Any messages that may
have been displayed on the device will eventually disappear when the Auto-Retry kicks in. Also, if the sun
becomes brighter because cloud haze disappears, the Auto-Retry will cause some more sophisticated USB
devices to kick into a bulk charging state. Some devices may make a signal sound when in auto mode, this is
normal and is a nice indicator that your phone is still charging and not to forget about it.
www.suntactics.com/Auto-Retry
The Manual Port (S8 and S14 solar chargers)
The manual port is a solid source of power. It will not do a retry if the sun is interrupted. So, when using the
manual port and you suspect intermittent shadows, your phone may stop charging and not restart. The manual
port, however, can be useful for non-display devices such as USB batteries and other devices that do not have
screens. We found that offering the two options, both manual and auto-retry provides much flexibility with
different portable USB devices. Once you start experimenting, you will most likely be very happy with this
flexibility.
Mounting to a Backpack
We have had many customers ask us if they can mount their sCharger to a back-pack or even a bike. While
possible, we really can’t guarantee success. Why not? Well, what do you get when you are walking on a
typical trail? Lots of trees! Solar panel outputs can drop as much as 90% power in the shade. What does this do
to your solar charging session? Not much good. Most smartphones need a required level of energy for their
internals to start charging. When the solar panel is not providing enough power, the phone can get confused,
cause the screen to come on and actually drain the battery in some cases.
We highly recommend “opportunity charging” verses backpack mounting. Solar charge when you take a rest, for
lunch, at breakfast or even dinner. The sChargers are very powerful when sun shines on them and you will be
quite surprised how quickly your smart device will top off in such a short amount of time.
“I Don’t Care, I still want to mount it to my backpack!”
So you want the challenge and to show off your sCharger? If you will be in the direct sun at least 80% of the