Suntactics S-5 User manual

sCharger-5 1000mA
The most powerful USB solar chargers in their class
Suntactics
Solar Chargers
sCharger-14 2800mA
SCharger-8 1700mA
V5.0

Table of Contents
Introduction..............................................................................................................................................................2
Getting Started .........................................................................................................................................................2
iPhone Charging........................................................................................................................................................2
iPad, Samsung, Other Tablet Devices and High Power Readers................................................................................3
Samsung Smartphone and Android OS Phone Charging...........................................................................................3
Charging other devices .............................................................................................................................................3
Auto-Retry ................................................................................................................................................................4
The Manual Port (S8 and S14 solar chargers) ...........................................................................................................4
Mounting to a Backpack ...........................................................................................................................................4
Cleaning and Caring for your sCharger .....................................................................................................................5
Water Resistance......................................................................................................................................................5
Troubleshooting........................................................................................................................................................6
Troubleshooting incompatible or error messages ....................................................................................................7
Charge Times Rates...................................................................................................................................................8
True Specifications....................................................................................................................................................8
Limited Warranty......................................................................................................................................................9
Warranty Registration ............................................................................................................................................10
Liability Statement..................................................................................................................................................10
Website and Videos ................................................................................................................................................10

2
Introduction
As you will soon find out, sChargers are very unique high powered solar chargers. They are capable of charging USB
rechargeable devices directly from the sun. They do not need internal batteries that can become discharged. They will
actually run a cell phone directly from the sun while you are using it. They utilize fairly complex circuitry that makes
them very simple to use. With proper use and care, your sCharger will provide many years of service.
Most smart phones come with their own USB connector cable so that they can communicate with personal computers.
This is the same cable that can be used to charge device with your sCharger. All USB devices (phones, tablets etc.)
include a cable that has a mini or micro USB connector on one end and a larger USB connector on the other end. If you
don’t have a cable, you should be able to find your USB cable on the internet or at any local electronics store.
Getting Started
Simply unfold the sCharger and place it in the sun with solar cells facing up. The solar cells are the black squares with
tiny lines on them. The little box on the back has a female USB connector and an LED indicator. The indicator should
light up when the solar panel sees light. It will light up even in the slightest sunlight. In order to get maximum power,
the panel should be in full sunlight.Simply plug your USB device into the USB socket on the back of the sCharger using
your device’s existing charge cable. Also note, as the sun moves, the solar panel could eventually get blocked by an
obstruction like a tree or a building etc. Try and strategically place it where there will be no obstructions. If you are
having problems, please see the troubleshooting section.
iPhone Charging
All iPhone models are fully supported. You will most likely be surprised how quickly your iPhone will charge with the
sChargers. Most of the time it is not even necessary to aim the panel at the sun. You can lay it on any flat surface and it
should work fine.
Instructions:
Place the sCharger in full sunlight when being plugged into the iPhone
Do not try to charge in shade or behind glass(sCharger-5)
USB cable port
sCharger 5
sCharger 8 and 14

3
On hot days, keep your iPhone as cool as possible by wrapping in a towel. A USB extension cable may also
be used to get phone into the shade
Look for the lightning icon battery indicator
Try to be patient and let the sCharger do its job
See a video at www.suntactics.com/videos
iPad, Samsung, Other Tablet Devices and High Power Readers
The sCharger-5 is at its best with smaller USB devices, but it is capable of charging tablets as well just a little slower. The
latest iPads can take longer because their larger battery sizes. For absolute best results, charge on a clear cool day when
the sun is high in the sky. Like any solar panel, output power lowers as temperature rises. So charge times may vary. The
sCharger 8/14 provides faster charging rates for tablets.
Instructions:
Aim the sCharger in the sun’s general direction.
Lower your screen brightness to 1/3 and turn auto brightness off (sCharger-5)
Press top button to put iPad into sleep mode (sCharger-5)
Set background image to a dark image (most important tip)
Keep the tablet in shade on hot days
Use after market, heavy gauge, charger cable for best results
See the many videos at www.suntactics.com/videos
Samsung Smartphone and Android OS Phone Charging
Samsung galaxy phones and most all Android OS phones charge extremely well with the sCharger. Simply place the
sCharger in the sun, plug your charging cable into it, then plug the other end of the cable into your phone. The sChargers
also support the latest quick charge feature on the latest smartphones.
Charging other devices
If you can get your USB device to charge from a PC USB port then it should solar charge from the sCharger. The
sChargers can also charge USB backup batteries. USB batteries can be found online or any electronics store. These
battery packs are inexpensive and many are less sensitive to heat than your phone. Plug the battery pack into the
sCharger using a USB cable and leave it in the sun to charge. When charging is complete, you can either use it to charge
your device right away or store it for later use. Some of these batteries are specialized for certain brands of phones or
PDAs, some are general purpose. The sChargers can also charge GoPro Cameras, Nikon and Canon batteries (use a USB
battery cradle), 18650, AAA/AA, USB batteries that can be found from many retailers.

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