Solio is compatible with a wide variety of handheld electronic devices, using our special adaptor tip system. Out of the box, Solio works with MP3 players and many cell phones. Please visit our store and click on 'Tips and Cables' for a full compatibility list.

A great reason to own Solio is to power all of your devices, now and into the future. Even before a new handheld is released to the market, we are hard at work producing a new adaptor tip. And with iGo compatibility available on newer Solio models, our list of compatible devices grows longer and longer. Please visit our webstore for the latest additions.

Quite possibly, our 12V Universal Adapter Cable, available on our website, can be used to charge most handheld devices that draw 4 to 12 volts at up to 1 ampere per hour. This cable works with the Solio Classic only, enabling the Solio to charge your device through its car charge. It works just like the "cigarette lighter" in your car. Simply connect it to your Solio in place of the normal System Cable and plug in your device's car charger.

The 12V Universal Adapter Cable is only compatible with the Solio Classic. The requirements to supply the proper power is too much for the smaller H1000, and the Solio Magnesium uses a completely different power supply and tip system.

Our models include the Solio H1000, Classic, Magnesium and Mono chargers. In addition to the Magnesium we also have our other iGo compatible models, the Rocsta-i, Classic-i, and Mono-i chargers which are currently available at Radioshack. All of the ³-i² models and the Solio Magnesium use the iGo tip system whereas the other models use our own Solio adaptor system. It is important to know which tip system your Solio requires so that you obtain the appropriate adaptors for charging devices. Our different models also have a varied range of design, battery sizes and package contents.

The Solio Classic and Magnesium chargers have three folding out solar panels. The Solio Magnesium has the largest internal battery, improved solar technology, a magnesium alloy shell, and uses iGo power tips. It comes with several iGo tips plus a wall charger for charging the Solio.

The Solio Classic has a smaller internal battery than that of the Magnesium and comes with a USB charging cable. Our Solio Classic comes with six Solio adaptors, however, the Classic-i does not come with any adaptors. For the Classic-i you will need to purchase the appropriate iGo power tips.

The Solio H1000 and Rocsta-i have a different design than the other models ­ more like the ³hiker¹s version.² These models have a single exposed solar panel, a carabiner clip at its top, and an attached system cord. It has a smaller internal battery than that of the Classic and Magnesium. The H1000 (sold at our online store) comes with three Solio adaptors whereas the Rocsta-i does not come with any adaptors. For the Rocsta-i you will need to purchase the appropriate iGo power tips.

We also have a fourth model called the Solio Mono that has a single solar panel design. We have different Mono chargers sold through different retailers, but the basic design is the same.

Your Solio experience is very important to us, please feel free to contact us at support@solio.com with any questions you may have.

Solio, through either our Mini USB or USB port replicator tip, can charge many digital cameras. If you have a car charger for your camera, our 12V Universal Adapter will work great. However, our Mini-USB tips cannot be used if your camera's Mini USB port is for data download only.

Yes! Solio is an essential iPhone companion. The USB port replicator tip - included in the box - is also compatible with iPods, MP3 players, and many digital cameras. It is important to note that a separate adapter is required for the iPhone 3G and is available on our website. Please click here for the iPhone tips available and select one that is appropriate for your Solio model.

Unfortunately not. Laptops are very power hungry, but future products are in development to address this.

There may be a number of reasons for this:

• It takes 8-10 hours to fully charge a Solio from the sun. With peak charging times between 10am and 2pm, it takes a minimum of 2 days to fully charge a Solio. Please look for the steady red light that indicates the Solio is being charged.
• Placing Solio behind a glass window will also reduce the amount of energy absorbed by the solar panels.
• Any shadow on part of one or more of the panels will reduce the performance of Solio.
• For the solar panels to perform at their peak they need to be in direct sunlight and perpendicular to the sun, this requires adjustments to your Solio as the sun moves through sky.
• Clouds, pollution and higher latitudes will have a negative impact on Solio's performance. Please see our solar intensity maps.

Please note: If your Solio came with a thin plastic film on its solar panels please remove before use. This is a protective covering for shipping purposes which was included with later model retail units.

Solio has a built in "fuel gauge" that measures the amount of charge within its own internal battery. The level of charge within Solio is indicated when the start button is pressed. Once the button is pressed, a green light will flash between 1 and 5 times. 5 flashes indicates a full charge and every number less than that is a percentage (1 flash = 20%, 2 flashes = 40%, etc.). However, as with other devices that use a lithium ion battery, the indicator is only a rough estimate in determining the state of charge. For example, although Solio may show 2 flashes after it has been left in the sun for several hours, it may in fact be 50% charged, which is more than enough to power a cell phone or iPod.

Please be sure that you are using the appropriate adapter and that it fits snugly into the all black system cord. Please note that the connector fits smoothly into place in only one direction, and while it's possible to place the connector upside-down, that requires a bit of force. After the connections are made please press the start button to initiate charging. The connected device should show its standard charging indication, and the Solio will continuously flash green every three seconds. Note that some devices require being turned off before being charged.

As a safety precaution, Solio terminates a charge once the electrical current drops below a certain threshold (usually an indication of a full charge) in order to conserve Solio's stored energy in its internal battery. Unfortunately, in the case of some Motorola and Research in Motion Blackberry™ phones, the current draws to a trickle only part way through its charging cycle. Thus the Solio thinks that the phone is full and terminates the charge. We suggest holding down Solio's start button for five seconds to re-initiate the charge. It is also possible that you may need a different adapter for your phone. Please contact support for compatibility inquiries.

The USB Port Replicator tip is used in place of the USB port on your computer. Simply plug the Adapter Tip System cable into your Solio, attach the USB Port Replicator to the cable, then insert your iPod cable into the USB port the tip provides. Press the start button on the Solio to start charging.

Older Solios and our current Solio Magnesium comes with a female USB cable instead of a tip, which is used in the same way and is the same for most purposes.

Warning: Do not use the USB charging cable with your tips! It may damage your device!

The red flashing LED indicates that the Solio's internal battery may have been damaged. Please stop using the Solio immediately and contact our customer support team by completing a Support Form, or call us at +1 (510) 868-8714.

No, the Solio was not designed for use with inverters. DC to AC inverters may damage the internal battery.

Warning: Using an inverter with the Solio will void your manufacturer warranty!

First, make sure you are using the proper cable, the Adapter Tip System cable, and the correct tip for your device. Make sure the cable is firmly in place, then press and hold down the start button on the Solio for a minimum of five seconds when starting.

Yes, Solio will charge on a cloudy day, although less efficiently than when under clear skies. Cloud cover can also be too thick to allow enough sunlight through to the solar panels. Solio is engineered to be rugged and weather resistant, but it is not entirely weatherproof. Solio should not be left out in wet, rainy, or snowy conditions without a protective covering.

Yes! You can do this with all of our chargers, providing that the Solio has a bit of power on it. Please note that as the Solio is transferring power to your device it will not gain much of a charge, if at all. If the current drawn is greater than the amount that sunlight conditions allow the Solio to charge it's internal battery, you may not significantly receive a charge from the Solio.

Just like a cell phone battery, Solio's internal lithium ion battery may eventually need to be replaced. The expected life span of your Solio's battery is approximately 350-500 full cycles of charge and discharge depending on care and average use. Keep your battery as fully charged as possible to extend its life. Please contact our customer support team by completing a Support Form, or call us at +1 (510) 868-8714.

Q18 Are there special considerations for Canadian customers?

Our Canadian customers are responsible for VAT charges that may be charged by the Canadian government, which could be as much as $50. We will include a copy of the invoice with the package for customs. Please note that orders to Canada must clear Canadian customs and can take longer than orders shipped within the United States.

Your entire order will be delivered in one shipment. If one item is on backorder the entire order will ship only once the backordered item(s) become available. If you would like to check on the status of your order, please contact our customer support team by completing a Support Form, or call us at +1 (510) 868-8714.

Please contact our customer support team by completing a Support Form, or call us at +1 (510) 868-8714.