Freeloader SC8100, SC8101 User Manual

User Manual

Portable Solar Energy

Models:

SC8100 (Grey)

SC8101 (Pink)

We recommend that you charge your

FreeLoader Classic via USB for its ﬁ rst charge.

Freeloader's Classic's aluminium skin and solar panels

are protected during transit by a transparent ﬁ lm.

Remove the ﬁ lm before ﬁ rst use!

1. Solar Panel

2. Power out (for master cable

and devices' own USB cable)

3. Power in (for USB charge cable)

4. LED – Charge status display

IMPORTANT - Due to the ongoing advances in technology we cannot guarantee compatibility with third party devices and in all cases would recommend testing the charger with your device before it is relied upon in the ﬁeld.

Components Included:

1 x FreeLoader Classic charger 1 x Power Master cable 1 x Adaptor for Nintendo DS Lite 1 x Adaptor for LG Chocolate Series Phones 2 x Adaptors for Nokia mobile phones 1 x Adaptor for Samsung mobile phones 1 x Adaptors for Sony Ericsson mobile phones 1 x 4mm jack plug for PSP, Tom Tom, digital camera etc 1 x Micro USB adaptor for most current phones, Blackberry, Nokia,

Samsung, LG, Sony Ericson etc

1 x Mini USB adaptor for Motorola RAZR, MP3 etc

Electrical Characteristics / Performance

1. Solar Panel (mono/multi crystalline): 5.5V 150mA

2. Rechargeable Lithium Battery: 3.7V 1200mAh

3. USB charging cable: 5V 500mA

4. DC Output: 5.5V+/– 0.5% 500mA

5. Time required to deliver power from Freeloader Classic: 30 minutes to 2 hours

6. Time required to charge the FreeLoader Classic internal battery using the USB charge cable: 3 to 4 hours

7. Time required to charge the FreeLoader Classic internal battery in sunny conditions using the solar panels: 5 to 10 hours

Note - light quality plays a key role in determining the speed of charge. Cloudy days or the Freeloader Classic being positioned behind a glass window will all increase the time needed to charge its battery.

Operation Instructions:

1. To charge using the USB charge cable

Insert the Mini USB Tip into the round end of the Master Cable, then insert the USB plug on the other end of the cable into a PC, laptop or other suitable device (which is switched ON). Insert the mini USB tip into Freeloader Classic’s Power In socket (2). The LCD panel (4) will illuminate and a “battery” icon will be displayed indicating the current battery level (1 bar = 10% to 25% charge, 2 bars = up to 50% charge, 3 bars = up 75% charge and 4 bars = from 76% to 100% charge). The “lightning bolt” icon will also be displayed indicating that Freeloader Classic is accepting a charge from a USB connected power source.

Note - Please do not leave the USB charge cable plugged in overnight as damage to the battery may occur.

IMPORTANT - This method of charging is recommended for the ﬁrst charge from new and may take up to 8 hours. USB charging is also a worthwhile practice once or twice a year as this helps to condition the battery and will result in longer battery life.

2. To charge from the solar panels

Remove the clear ﬁlm from both solar panels before ﬁrst use. Detach the solar panels from the body of FreeLoader Classic and separate the two halves exposing the face of each solar panel. The end of the solar panel that has the two locating lugs should then be inserted into the side of FreeLoader Classic’s body – one solar panel each side.

When the solar panels are facing the sun, the LCD panel will show

a “battery” icon indicating the current battery level (see note 1 for more information) and

two ﬂashing “sun” icons (one for each solar panel). Please note – the LCD panel will not illuminate during solar charging. The brighter the Sun light, the faster the charge.

Note - be careful not to scratch the surface of the solar panels and do not clean with strong detergent.

Please note: Prolonged exposure of Freeloader Classic to sun/daylight will not damage the battery because of its in-built advanced charge control electronics.

3. To charge from the optional Supercharger Accessory

Supercharger is connected to Freeloader Classic via the Power in socket (2) and will provide all weather, all terrain charging for Freeloader. It also speeds up charging time to as little as 4 hours. When Supercharger is attached the LCD panel will show a “battery” icon indicating the current battery level (see

note1 for more information) and a “solar panel” icon. Please note – the LCD

panel will not illuminate during solar charging.

4. To charge hand held electrical devices

Insert the USB end of the Master cable into Freeloader Classic’s Power Out socket (3). Select the correct adaptor tip, insert into the female end of the Master cable and connect to your device. Freeloader Classic’s

LCD panel will illuminate and a “battery” icon will be displayed indicating the current battery level in Freeloader Classic (see note 1 for more information) and a “mobile phone” icon will ﬂash icon indicating the Freeloader Classic is delivering power to a device. The device being charged should also indicate that it is

receiving a charge. When there is insufﬁcient charge in Freeloader or if the device battery level and the Freeloader battery level are roughly the same, Freeloader will not deliver power and the LCD panel will not be illuminated.

NOTE –

where no adaptor tip is supplied for a device, connect the USB sync cable supplied with a device (such as the white USB cable supplied with iPhone, iPad, iPod etc) into Output Socket (3) and follow the same steps as above. Should no such cable exist additional adaptor tips can be purchased form

www.solartechnology.co.uk.

Warning

1. Keep FreeLoader Classic’s body away from ﬁre, water and any form moisture to

ensure damage and injury do not result.

2. Any sever shock or impact may result in damage and will invalidate the warranty.

3. It is forbidden to dismantle FreeLoader Classic except by Solar Technology

personnel or agents appointed by Solar Technology. Any sign of tampering will result in the warranty being invalidated.

Warranty

FreeLoader Classic is supplied with a 12 month warranty, excluding the battery. Should a failure occur during this time Solar Technology International Ltd will repair or replace any faulty part, at its discretion.

Solar Technology International Ltd does not accept liability for any 3rd party damage how so ever caused or any costs associated with the return of faulty products.

To make a warranty claim please telephone Solar Technology International Ltd on

+44 (0) 1684 774000

These warranty conditions in no way affect your statutory rights. A full set of Solar Technology International Ltd terms and conditions are available on request.

Optional Accessories

Solar Technology International Ltd provides a comprehensive range of accessories for Freeloader Classic, which is constantly being updated as new devices come onto the market.

Our accessory range covers the following: Spare Freeloader battery, Supercharger – booster panel, CamCaddy – universal camera battery charging cradle, AA/AAA Battery Charger, In-car charge adaptor, Mains charge adaptor, Carry pouch for Freeloader plus over 30 additional connection tips. Please contact your retailer for the full range or go to www.solartechnology.co.uk

Removing the battery

PLEASE NOTE this will invalidate your warranty.

If for any reason you need to dispose of the Freeloader Classic’s Battery / Hub you will need to remove the battery ﬁrst.The battery must then be disposed of separately. Please contact your local authority for how to dispose of a lithium ion battery correctly.

To remove the battery you will need to undo the two small screws on one of the black plastic end caps on the hub unit (the part with the LCD Panel). Remove the end cap and then slide the internal compartment out of the aluminium sleeve.

Once removed the battery is the large Blue component, simply cut the connecting wires (using side cutters or strong scissors) and remove the battery. The battery is supported by an adhesive pad and might require a strong pull to remove it.

Please then dispose of the remaining parts in accordance with your local authorities instructions.

Disposal of used FreeLoader Classic’s battery

Please dispose of FreeLoader Classic’s battery responsibly. Should you be unable to ﬁnd a suitable waste disposal unit for the battery, please return this in a sealed plastic bag, contained in a padded envelope to Solar Technology International Ltd.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. My Freeloader Classic has been outside, in the sun but when I connected it to

my device, it only charged for a short time and did not deliver much power?

• Please ensure the ﬁrst charge is given by the USB cable connected to a PC or lap

top.

• Please make sure you have removed the protective ﬁlm from the solar cells as this

will radically reduce the effectiveness of the cells.

• Please ensure Freeloader Classic is given exposure to sunny conditions for

between 5 to 10 hours.

• Ensure the Freeloader Classic is outside, facing south, in an un-shaded position

and ideally tilted at a 45 degree angle.

• If Freeloader Classic is connected to a device that has a near full battery (if for

example you were testing Freeloader Classic from new), Freeloader Classic would, potentially, not deliver power because if the battery in the device has more or equal power than the Freeloader Classic, Freeloader Classic will not be able to deliver power. Wait until the device to be charged is 50% to 60% full (see note 3)

2. What performance I can expect from Freeloader Classic?

• After 1 day in full sun (9am to 6pm) the Freeloader Classic hub will be pretty much

fully charged. When connected to your device it will deliver power for 30minutes to 2hours depending on the device.

• If Freeloader Classic is positioned behind a window, again facing south in full sun

conditions the time needed to fully charge Freeloader Classic’s battery will be up to 3 days. The reason for this increase in time is that most glass incorporates UV ﬁlters, which naturally reduce the amount of irradiation needed to enable solar panels to operate effectively.

• In cloudy conditions, Freeloader Classic may take approximately 1 1/2 times longer

to charge than the above mentioned times, but this is depending on the time of year, density of cloud etc.

3. Freeloader’s LCD panel shows it has some charge but it wont deliver it to my

device.

• In such circumstances Freeloader’s LCD panel will not be illuminated and it means

the battery level in your device is similar to the battery level in Freeloader. You will need to either allow Freeloader longer to charge up more fully or allow your device to discharge further before connecting the two (see note 1).

4. Can I charge my Freeloader Classic hub whilst at the same time powering a

device?

• No. If Freeloader Classic’s hub is empty you will not be able to simultaneously

charge and deliver power. The reason is that Freeloader Classic delivers power to a device approximately 10 times quicker than its solar cells can charge up its hub.

5. Will charging Freeloader Classic from its solar cells behind glass cause me any

problems?

• Not really a problem but it will increase the time needed to charge the hub

sometimes up to three times longer than if outside.

6. I have Freeloader Classic positioned on a shady windowsill.

Will the Freeloader Classic still charge?

• Yes the Freeloader Classic will still be charged by its solar cells but it will take a lot

longer compared to being outside in full sun - up to 4-5 days longer in fact.

7. Can I leave the Freeloader Classic out in the rain?

• No, we do not recommend getting the Freeloader Classic wet, however, should this

happen accidentally, please dry both hub and cells in a dry airy position away from children and food stuffs. The solar cells should be ﬁne; however, the hub / battery may be unsalvageable. A trial will soon tell, however, we would recommend this trial be done outside by the solar cells only and NOT the USB charge cable. If the hub will not work a new one can be ordered from www.solartechnology.co.uk

8. How do I connect Freeloader Classic to my device as I don’t seem to have a

connector in the Freeloader Classic pack that ﬁts?

• To connect up a device where no connection tip is supplied please use the original

sync cable (the cable you use for connecting to a PC) and insert the USB end into Freeloader Classic’s Power Out (3) socket. Then connect to your device in the normal way.

9. I have a device that can be charged via my computers USB port can the

Freeloader Classic charge it?

• Yes the Freeloader Classic should be able to charge it.

10. Are there any devices that Freeloader Classic cannot power?

• Freeloader Classic has a voltage range of 3v to 5.5v, so any device that needs

a higher voltage such as a lap top or video camera is outside the scope of Freeloader Classic.

• If we have no connection tip (see www.solartechnology.co.uk for the list of

accessory tips), there is no USB sync cable supplied with the device or there is no Freeloader Classic accessory such as CamCaddy or the AA / AAA Battery charger that suits the device, then Freeloader Classic will not be compatible.

• Digital camera’s where the “block style” battery of the camera needs to be

removed and inserted into a cradle to charge can only be powered by Freeloader Classic if the optional CamCaddy accessory is purchased. Please Note – Freeloader Classic will only be able to charge compact

digital camera batteries (or any camera battery under 5v). For Digital SLR camera battery charging, Freeloader Pro must be purchased.

WE WANT YOUR PICTURES!

We are seeking images of you and your Freeloader in action in the weirdest and most wonderful places around the world. For every picture we publish on our web site you will receive a complimentary Freeloader Battery/Hub worth £19.99.

Please email your images to sales@solartechnology.co.uk and don't forget to include your mailing address.

Note: We cannot guarantee to publish every image received - the ﬁnal decision to publish or not will be made by Solar Technology International Ltd. By sending the image the sender automatically grants Solar Technology International Ltd approval to use the image for any future use in marketing its Freeloader product.

Solar Technology International Ltd

We are manufacturers of some of the worlds most advanced solar energy products from solar toys to full scale industrial solar modules. To ﬁnd out more please visit www.solartechnology.co.uk.

If you have any questions about this product or regarding these instructions please contact the Solar Technology International Technical Help Line on +44 (0) 1684 774000 or alternatively please write to:

Solar Technology International Ltd, Unit 4, Station Drive, Bredon, Nr. Tewkesbury, Glos. GL20 7HH, UK

Il vous est recommandé de recharger

votre FreeLoader Classic à l’aide du câble

USB lors de sa première charge.

Durant le transport, le revêtement aluminium et les panneaux solaires du FreeLoader Classic sont

protégés par un ﬁ lm transparent.

Enlevez le ﬁ lm protecteur avant la première utilisation!

Notice d’utilisation

Énergie solaire portable

Modèles :

SC8100 (Gris)

SC8101 (Rose)

Éléments inclus

1 x chargeur FreeLoader Classic 1 x câble de connexion principal 1x adaptateur pour Nintendo DS Lite 1 x adaptateur pour téléphones LG de la collection Chocolate 2 x adaptateurs pour téléphones portables Nokia 1 x adaptateur pour téléphones portables Samsung 1 x adaptateur pour téléphones portables Sony Ericsson 1 x prise jack 4 mm pour PSP, Tom Tom, appareils photo numériques, etc. 1 x adaptateur micro USB pour la majorité des modèles actuels de téléphones :

Blackberry, Nokia, Samsung, LG, Sony Ericson, etc.

1 x adaptateur mini USB pour Motorola RAZR, MP3, etc.

IMPORTANT - Pour cause de changements continus de technologie, nous ne pouvons garantir la compatibilité avec des appareils de tierces parties et dans tous les cas nous recommandons le test du chargeur avec notre appareil avant utilisation sur le terrain.

1. Panneau solaire

2. Sortie de tension (pour le

câble de connexion et le câble USB fourni avec l’appareil)

3. Entrée d’alimentation (pour le câble de charge USB)

4. LCD - afﬁchage du niveau de charge

Caractéristiques / performance électriques

1. Panneau solaire (mono/multi cristallin) : 5,5 V 150 mA

2. Batterie rechargeable lithium-ion : 3,7 V 1200 mAh

3. Câble de charge USB : 5 V 500 mA

4. Puissance de sortie DC : 5,5 V+/– 0,5 % 500 mA

5. Temps de charge d’un appareil à l’aide du FreeLoader Classic :

de 30 minutes à 2 heures

6. Temps de charge de la batterie interne du FreeLoader Classic via le câble de charge USB : 3 à 4 heures

7. Temps de charge de la batterie interne du FreeLoader Classic à l’aide des panneaux solaires dans des conditions ensoleillées : de 5 à 10 heures.

Remarque - La luminosité joue un rôle important pour déterminer la vitesse de charge. Par temps nuageux, en hiver ou lorsque le FreeLoader Classic est placé derrière une fenêtre, le temps de charge de la batterie interne sera considérablement plus long.

Mode d’emploi

1. Charger à l’aide du câble de charge USB

Insérez l’adaptateur mini USB à l’extrémité ronde du câble de connexion, puis insérez la prise USB à l’autre extrémité du câble dans le port d’un PC, d’un ordinateur portable ou de tout autre appareil adapté (l’appareil doit être allumé). Insérez l’adaptateur mini USB dans la prise d’alimentation

du FreeLoader Classic (2). L’écran LCD (4) s’allume et le symbole d’une « batterie » s’afﬁche aﬁn d’indiquer le niveau de charge actuel de la batterie (1 barre = niveau de charge de 10 à 25 %, 2 barres = jusqu’à 50 %, 3 barres = jusqu’à 75 % et 4 barres = de 76 à 100 %). Par ailleurs, le symbole d’un « éclair » indique que le FreeLoader Classic est mis en charge depuis une source d’alimentation connectée via USB.

Remarque – Veuillez ne pas laisser le câble de charge USB branché toute une nuit car cela pourrait endommager la batterie.

IMPORTANT - Cette méthode de recharge est recommandée lors de la première charge de l’appareil neuf et peut requérir jusqu’à 8 heures. Un chargement par USB est recommandé une à deux fois par an aﬁn d’allonger la durée de vie de la batterie.

2. Charger le FreeLoader Classic via les panneaux solaires

Retirez le ﬁlm transparent des deux panneaux solaires avant la première utilisation. Détachez les panneaux solaires du FreeLoader Classic et séparez les deux moitiés de façon à exposer la partie supérieure de chaque panneau solaire. L’extrémité du panneau solaire qui est dotée de deux pattes de positionnement doit être insérée sur le côté du corps principal du FreeLoader Classic – un panneau solaire de chaque côté. Lorsque les panneaux solaires sont exposés au soleil, le symbole d’une « batterie » s’afﬁche à l’écran LCD de façon à indiquer le niveau de charge actuel de la batterie (voir note 1 pour en savoir plus) ainsi que le symbole de deux « soleils » qui clignotent (un pour chaque panneau solaire). Veuillez noter – l’écran LCD ne s’allume pas durant le chargement via l’énergie solaire. Plus la lumière du soleil est intense et plus la vitesse de charge sera rapide.

Remarque – Veillez à ne pas rayer la surface des panneaux solaires et à ne pas les nettoyer avec un détergeant trop puissant.

Veuillez noter : Une exposition prolongée du FreeLoader Classic au soleil ou à la lumière du jour n’entraîne aucun dommage à sa batterie grâce à son système intégré de contrôle électronique avancé.

3. Charger à l’aide du Supercharger (accessoire en option)

Le Supercharger est relié au FreeLoader Classic via la prise d’alimentation (2) et permet de recharger le FreeLoader quelles que soient les conditions météorologiques et du terrain. Il permet également de réduire le temps de charge, jusqu’à 4 heures seulement. Lorsque le Supercharger est connecté, l’écran LCD afﬁche le symbole d’une « batterie » de façon à indiquer le niveau de charge actuel de la batterie (voir note 1 pour en savoir plus) ainsi que le symbole d’un « panneau solaire ».

Veuillez noter – l’écran LCD ne s’allume pas durant le

chargement via l’énergie solaire.

4. Charger des appareils portables

Insérez la prise USB du câble de connexion dans la prise de sortie du FreeLoader Classic (3). Sélectionnez l’adaptateur adapté, insérez-le dans la prise femelle du câble de connexion principal et reliez à votre appareil. L’écran LCD du FreeLoader Classic s’allume et le symbole d’une « Batterie » s’afﬁche aﬁn d’indiquer le niveau de charge actuel de la batterie du FreeLoader Classic (voir note 1 pour en savoir plus) et le symbole d’un « téléphone portable » clignote pour indiquer que le FreeLoader Classic recharge un appareil.

L’appareil rechargé devrait également

+ 28 hidden pages

Freeloader SC8100, SC8101 User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual