Suntactics sCharger-5 User manual

sCharger-5 1000mA
The Most Durable and Reliable Solar Chargers on the planet!
sCharger-14 2800mA
SCharger-8 1700mA

1
Introduction
Suntactics sCharger solar chargers are capable of solar charging USB rechargeable devices
directly from the sun without internal batteries. With proper use and care, your sCharger
will provide many years of service.
Quick Start
Unfold the sCharger and place it in the sun with solar cells facing up. The box on the back
has a female USB connector and 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 using your existing USB charge cable and start solar charging!
Do’s
Solar charge when the sun is out
Use a good charge cable
Keep the USB device (phone) cool. Place in shade
Tell everyone about Suntactics solar chargers and give reviews!
Don’t’s
Don’t solar charge phones walking under trees. Use a power bank
Don’t place phone under solar panel. Too much heat
Avoid shading panel when connecting a phone
Stop solar charging phone in full overcast conditions. Other none-phone devices
are ok (i.e power banks, and other devices that do not have a screen)
Don’t expect good solar energy behind windows

2
Auto-Retry (Auto-Recovery)
With solar, there will be power fluctuations. Some phones will give up charging if there is
a power fluctuation and will not restart when the solar power comes back. Auto-retry will
reset the connection so the phone continues to charge. Example: The solar panel is
stationary and facing the sun and then a cloud or person blocks sun on the panel. When
the sun reappears, the phone may not continue to charge. After a minute or so the Auto-
Retry will reset the connection and the phone will continue to charge. You will periodically
hear the phone beep which is normal.
All Suntactics solar chargers include Auto-Retry. The S8 and S14 include a manual solid
power port and an Auto-Retry port(Indicated as “A”and “M”on the S8 and S14).
What Auto-Retry does is reset the charge connection between the phone and the solar
charger every minute or so. It virtually disconnects the phone and reconnects it so you
don’t have to during a solar power interruption. We are working with mother nature
here.
With phones, Auto-Retry is most effective only if the solar charger is stationary. It is not
effective if you are mobile or walking under trees and shadows. USB batteries behave
differently and you can charge while mobile.
Take note, if you expect no sun for a long while (i.e. complete overcast) stop solar
charging and try again when the sun is out.
The Manual Port (S8 and S14 solar chargers)
The manual port provides a solid source of power. It will not do a retry if the sun is
interrupted. So, when using the manual port with 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. Both manual and Auto-Retry provide much flexibility with

3
different portable USB devices. Once you start solar experimenting, you will most likely
be very happy with this flexibility.
Mounting to a Backpack
Avoid moving constantly under shadows and trees. Smartphones require constant energy
to charge. When the solar charger is not providing enough power, the phone can get
confused, cause the screen to toggle on and off and may drain the battery. We
recommend that the solar charger is in the sun at least 80% of the time when moving
around.
For hikers, we highly recommend “opportunity charging” verses backpack
mounting. Example: Solar charge when you take a rest. You should be quite surprised
how quickly your phone will top off in such a short amount of time.
Use a backup battery (“power bank”)
USB power bank batteries are less finicky than phones. They can charge at lower solar
power levels. However, if you are mostly in shade conditions, it will take time to charge.
Cleaning and Caring for your sCharger
Suntactics sChargers can handle moderate abuse. As with all electronic devices, you
should have a level of respect. Avoid folding the panel backwards against the USB box.
Fold with the panel in the natural direction where the solar cells meet.

4
If you find dust on the panel, gently wipe if off using a soft cloth with a non abrasive spray
cleaner or just clean water.
Water Resistance
sChargers are very water resistant. If your charger falls in water, shake the water out of
the USB box. If condensation collects in the USB box, place the sCharger with the USB port
facing up. Eventually it will dry. You can also use a hair dryer to dry out the box.
Common Solar Charging Problems and Troubleshooting
Solar panels in do not produce power unless they see the sun
Avoid shade while plugging into the solar charger
Keep phone cool. Place in shade while solar charging
Don’t place the phone under the solar charger. The heat from the panel can
transfer to the USB device
Energy efficient windows block sunlight and may slow solar charging
Phone error messages are caused by solar interruptions. No harm will incur
Observe charge indicator on phone, charge indication shows when charge is
working
Phone may discharge in low light conditions
Beeping sounds are normal. Auto-Retry port does this
If phone battery is depleted, it may take some time to come alive with solar
Charge Rates
There are very many variables and many USB type devices. We like to say that our solar
chargers can charge the same rate as the wall charger. But it depends on the brightness
of the sun, the USB device you are charging, the rate they can actually charge at, and the
solar charger model you are using. The typical phone should charge very close to what a
wall charger can do using an sCharger-5. Using a larger Suntactics solar charger is useful
for devices requiring more power such as a tablet or high capacity power banks.

5
Specifications
Item
S5
S8
S14
Connector Type
USB Type “A”
USB Type “A” (two ports)
USB Type “A” (two ports)
Output Voltage (USB)
5.0 Volts
Output Current (USB)
~1.2A (1200mA)
~1.7A (1700mA)
~2.8A (2800mA)
Max Output Power
6 watts
8 Watts
14 Watts
Temperature
Optimum <110F Max 160F/ 71C
Indicator
Bright LED/s
Dimensions (open)
6-1/8” x 11.5” / 15.5 x 29.2
cm
7.75” x 14.5” (19.6cm
36cm)
11.5” x 14.5” (29cmx
36.5cm)
Dimensions (closed)
6-1/8” x 5-3/4” / 15.5 x
14.6 cm
7.75” x
7.25”(19.6cmx18.4cm)
11.75” x 7.25” (30cm x
18cm)
Weight
~7 oz / 200g
13oz / 395g
20oz/566g
Weather and corrosion
resistant
Water resistant tested to 40 feet. Salt and corrosion tested. IP7 rated.
Limited Warranty Information
We got you covered. We offer a 45 day money back guarantee. But if you are not satisfied with your
solar charger, we may kindly ask what made you change your mind. If you choose not to give
feedback, no worries.
Warranty Period
The warranty periods for Suntactics portable solar chargers whether purchased from the website or
any authorized dealers such as; Amazon, Ebay or other certified dealers. A full 2 year warranty is
guaranteed on new purchase solar chargers. A full 1 year warranty is guaranteed on new, but
blemished sChargers (occasionally offered on Ebay). Proof of purchase is required. Keep your
receipts or else we may not honor the warranty.
Suntactics warranty does not apply to a Suntactics solar charger that has been abused, misused,
modified, physically damaged, or used for anything other than normal use.

6
Warranty Limited to Original Purchaser
The warranty on Suntactics solar chargers are limited to the original purchaser and is non-
transferable. Original proof of purchase must be under the same name of the consumer who
requests a warranty replacement.
How to Claim a Warranty
To claim a warranty, fill out the form under the support tab on Suntactics website. If purchased from
another channel(i.e. Ebay, Amazon) use their return process. We would prefer you use the above
return methods however you may also contact customer service via telephone: [phone], via
email at [email protected], or send the product back to the address below with a written note of
the issue.
Suntactics
943 Eden Ave
San Jose, CA, 95117
Note: You may be responsible for the return shipping cost.
Liability Statement
Suntactics solar chargers have been designed to perform flawlessly. They are very safe, inert, and
do not contain on-board batteries. They are designed to perform much like a wall charger which
includes reverse flow protection.
Suntactics is not liable for damages to the receiving charge device or Suntactics solar charger
incurred from mal use, reverse connections, damage incurred from using testing equipment, all
other measuring devices, and unauthorized modifications. Suntactics is not obligated to replace the
consumer’s USB device, pay for or compensate for, any damages to the consumer’s USB device.

7
Informational videos: www.suntactics.com/videos
Support, manual updates and FAQs: www.suntactics.com/support
www.suntactics.com
[email protected]m
1-888-308-4786

8
V8.0