The ChumAlong Solar Panel is coming at a great time. As the weather is clearing up and sun is now shining, solar energy can be put to good renewable use. The Solar ChumAlong is not just any ordinary solar panel. It has features from the most advanced (and expensive) power stations but can also be suitable for your around the house gadgets. The neat feature the Solar ChumAlong has is the ability to follow the Sun as it moves along during the day. This is a great feature since you don’t have to move it every hour or so to attract the solar energy. This is 50% more efficient than stationary solar devices.

However, this advanced feature does add to the cost. This is due to the Micro-controller Technology that is required for automated positioning by using a gear axis shaft and optical sensors. The cost doesn’t stop there. You will also need to get extra 12vdc batteries since it doesn’t come with them at another 30 USD. On another the downside, it is a relatively weak solar panel generating 5 W only. The ChumAlong Solar Panel runs about 400 USD as a lightweight portable solar panel.

Solar ChumAlong has only one very strong feature to differentiate it from the other solar panels. Just like a sunflower, ChumAlong follows the sun as it moves along during the day. How important that is? Well, in a perfectly sunny day it can produce up to 50 percents more power than it would gather in static. Overall solar tracking system produces plus 30 percents to average figures. Making this possible made ChumAlong this expensive. Positioning requires a special Micro-controller Technology, worm gear axis shaft and optical sensors. And there we are, 400 USD for a portable solar panel. It is also easy to adjust and light to carry, but it has some drawbacks also. Solar ChumAlong is capable of producing 5 W only. And probably the worst thing is that the device doesn’t come with a battery which you will obviously need, hence add at least another 30 USD for 12vdc battery expenses.

It may still be a few more years until solar panels become more affordable for the average consumer and produce industrial strength power. However, if you have the money and REALLY love the sun and a gadget geek, this maybe for you.

Via Gadget Reviews