Better Energy Systems Solio Review

Posted: 2/24/2005

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Comments (24)

Posted by anonymous on 8/26/2005 10:35:00 AM

the solio sucks. My hats off to them for trying but the things stops charging the phone/ipod after about 10 minutes. The solio is fully charged, but then just stops charging my devises. This is my 2nd solio, I thought the first was defective; its all of them I guess. Its worthless, but exciting for the first 2-3 days until you realize that.

Posted by anonymous on 10/1/2005 5:07:00 AM

My Solio rocks! Sounds like you were dealt a bad hand mate, Ive taken mine all over the frikin place and it never failed me.

Posted by anonymous on 1/13/2006 2:08:00 PM

"the solio sucks. My hats off to them for trying but the things stops charging the phone/ipod after about 10 minutes. The solio is fully charged, but then just stops charging my devises. This is my 2nd solio, I thought the first was defective; its all of them I guess. Its worthless, but exciting for the first 2-3 days until you realize that." I'VE GOT THE SAME PROBLEM....

Posted by anonymous on 9/27/2006 1:05:00 PM

My Solio is doing the same thing, too - only mine cuts out at about a minute and a half. I believe the problem is low power output...it got so I tried my RCA Lyra on it (a tiny MP3 player that runs on ONE AAA battery)...the "RCA" logo showed up on screen, then faded out, then came up again, then faded out. Finally I got it to turn on, totally powered by the Solio (via mini-usb). And then it cut out after a minute. Blast it. I have put in TWO trouble tickets with solio.com over the past week with no reply. Will have to call Better Energy tonight and see if I can negotiate an exchange. Such a beautiful design...if only it worked. I believe in it enough to give it one more try (if you guys say it works). It doesn't help that the manual and the website offers no advice on troubleshooting. Oh, and the Motorola tip doesn't fit! I only found your posting after I googled "SOLIO, DEFECTIVE" without quotes...then the truth came out! Thanks for posting! -- kaybird

Posted by anonymous on 9/27/2006 6:43:00 PM

The Solio is amazing! it works great, i know they are a fast growing company with some growing pains but the reports overall are very positive, i just read that a Solio was given to all the members at Clintons Global initiative, and is used by the Red Cross. I am sure that you will not have a problem with an exchange if your unit does not work because when i called them to ask them a question about my new iPod they were very cool.

Posted by anonymous on 9/27/2006 6:46:00 PM

I have had my Solio for about a year now and have not had any problems, i am ready for my next Solio so will be sure to let you know how it works for me.

Posted by anonymous on 9/28/2006 4:53:00 PM

All these anonymous comments... me thinks Solio is posting the overly positive ones

Posted by anonymous on 10/3/2006 6:28:00 PM

After waiting 6 weeks for a white solio I was sent a black one. I have tried emailing numerous times and apart from the automated response I get nothing. I have called Better Energy offices in UK several times and they just say support is dealt with out of US and they can only pass my details on. I'm just about worn down on chasing this. If this turns out to be a piece of crap I'm not going to stop to think about their 'growing pains' when it comes to getting the message out.

Posted by anonymous on 10/17/2006 10:57:00 AM

I believe Solio is an adequate product provided you receive a working model (I've had two units over 2 years) - the problem is communicating with the company is near impossible from the UK and purchasing through their web site for tips required endless chasing - buy through amazon or steer clear.

Posted by anonymous on 10/23/2006 6:31:00 AM

I've had my solio for about 8 months before it was defective. It was great up until that time. I was also sent a replacement which seems to be working okay at the moment. The biggest problem with them I think depends on what you want to charge. Charging my phone has never been a problem but it does take longer than normal because it can't deliver the same current. When I pulled my old one apart it is actually a relatively complex circuit board for what they want to do so I think they had some problems there. If you unscrew the back of the battery compartment you can see your version on there. Would be interested in seeing what versions people have. Mine is v1.2

Posted by anonymous on 10/25/2006 1:00:00 PM

I'm back. I'm Kaybird - posted the "defective solio" comment Sept. 27th. Called Berkeley's Better Energy Systems office in October, and got response. Spoke with two of their techs - (their online "trouble ticket" e-mail only now has a real live person answering(Peg). They were switching systems, and couldn't get at their own feedback e-mail address. As far as the lack of power - you need to hold the button down for about three seconds when charging up for the first time from an outlet (this is not clear in the directions; I was simply pressing it in briefly.) This solved the problem of it shutting off before complete charge-up. It's also important to "re-set" the Solio before charging up a device, or charging the Solio up with wall power.

Posted by anonymous on 10/25/2006 1:04:00 PM

Kaybird, Part II: I managed to get my Motorola tip working with my V60i cell phone; it now charges beautifully. You must have the device plugged in to the Solio (and ready to go) BEFORE initiating charge-up (by pressing the button). Because Solio must detect a draw of it's charge from the outset...if it is started up, and does not detect a device needing charge at the other end of the cord, it will turn off! Have had excellent luck charging up my coterie of 3+ year old small electronic devices with the Solio...the secret? Buy USB power cords. Car charging cords will work, too - but I believe the Solio is truly geared for USB charging. Good thing USB charging cords are cheap.

Posted by anonymous on 10/25/2006 1:07:00 PM

Kaybird, Part III: I have had incompatability (where it turns off after a minute), but it's been rare. And the device may have been close to topped-off (again, there must be a DRAW on the Solio's power source in order for it to keep running). Have had luck powering (with proper cordage): A first-generation iPod (4G, firewire) I-Slim CD/MP3 player (rechargeable) Dell Axim X30 (pocket pc) Palm Zire 71 (first generation) I may be able to make it work with an old Rocket e-book. It will NOT work with: RCA Lyra Sport MP3 player, and Olympus' new WMA USB digital recorder - both systems expect to be powered with a battery -and receive their information via USB type 2...not the other way around. The only problem I face now, is that I live in MINNESOTA, and there won't be much sun here until April! Their web site (and I mentioned this over the phone) needs tips and troubleshooting.

Posted by anonymous on 11/4/2006 7:00:00 PM

I just got the solio; I have a Tmobile MDA pocket PC phone and the solio charges that with the motorola tip BUT it will not charge the ipod mini... the faq on solio site said yes you can even charge your ipod WHILE the solio is powered to an outlet, I tried that 9admiteeedly usefless anyway) it does not work either any ideas???

Posted by anonymous on 12/18/2006 7:47:00 PM

i live in Portugal, in a portuguese island in the middle of Atlantic Ocean, and I have a 2nd Solio because the 1st one got wet and was not working properly because of that, it was my fault, but vodafone still gave me another one, they were cool. Solio gives me any kind of problems. I heard about a Soldius.. It sounds cool but a built-in battery looks great in some occasions.. when you want to save energy and don't want to use it at that moment and sun's shining.. solio's good for that. I give it 9 in a 10 scale. That's all, sorry about my english.

Posted by anonymous on 12/26/2006 9:59:00 PM

Crap. Mine quits after one minute, too. I'm going to cry.

Posted by anonymous on 1/18/2007 11:15:00 PM

Dudes...what tip do you use for the iPod?? HTe "female" USB thing does not fit the iPod usb cable. How the heck do you charge your iPod!??

Posted by anonymous on 3/7/2007 10:53:00 AM

Kaybird, back again - I use the 12v "car charger" connection for the Solio with a "Car Charger" cord appropriate for each model of iPod. (I have a first generation, and a third generation). It's an alternative to going back to Solio and buying a new tip just for that model. At least you can take your car charger cords to your car and charge up that way.

Posted by anonymous on 4/7/2007 10:40:00 AM

I'm also having problems with my solio. Although the unit appears to charge from the sun and the wall, when I connect it to a device as per the instruction manual it does not appear to charge the device - nothing happens, the green light flashes to indicate that it is in the correct mode but does not charge the connected device - anyone else have this problem?

Posted by anonymous on 4/20/2007 4:22:00 AM

Hi All. I also have the problem of the Solio switching off after about a minute of charging, this using the nokia tip on 2 different nokia phones. This occurs even with a fully charged solio and plugging in the device before pressing the button. However the 12V adaptor works fine (and very quickly) to power up a satellite phone I was thinking of using it on. I don't know whether to exchange the solio or give up on it.

Posted by anonymous on 5/17/2007 11:47:00 AM

using mine on a PCT thru hike. so far i have to press the button 100 times to charge my ipod. It charges for 1-2 minutes and shuts off. Only one time has it actually charged for longer than this.

Posted by anonymous on 6/12/2007 10:27:00 PM

when charging a device from the solio first make sure it it plugged in then hold down the button for about 5 seconds before letting go, it will then charge fully instead of stopping after a few minutes.

Posted by anonymous on 6/14/2007 8:15:00 PM

Has anyone experienced shortened 4th gen Ipod battery life after a recent charge from the Solio unit. The charge used to last 10-12 hours. Now it barely lasts 3 hrs. I wonder if the Solio somehow messed with my Ipod's circuits to overuse energy or mess up its ability to determine battery charge amount. Also my Ipod gets hot when it's connected with my computer.

Posted by anonymous on 9/16/2007 6:11:00 PM

i like pizza

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