Mobile Technology

Quirky's Ray solar charger with suction cup goes up for pre-order

Quirky's Ray solar charger with suction cup goes up for pre-order
Quirky's Ray is a USB solar charger for portable gadgets, and features a suction cup and a tilting kickstand
Quirky's Ray is a USB solar charger for portable gadgets, and features a suction cup and a tilting kickstand
View 6 Images
Quirky's Ray is a USB solar charger for portable gadgets, and features a suction cup and a tilting kickstand
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Quirky's Ray is a USB solar charger for portable gadgets, and features a suction cup and a tilting kickstand
Ray is the result of collaborative work within the Quirky community, and it's the 137th product designed and developed since the project's launch
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Ray is the result of collaborative work within the Quirky community, and it's the 137th product designed and developed since the project's launch
Quirky's Ray is a USB solar charger for portable gadgets, and features a suction cup and a tilting kickstand
3/6
Quirky's Ray is a USB solar charger for portable gadgets, and features a suction cup and a tilting kickstand
Quirky's Ray is a USB solar charger for portable gadgets, and features a suction cup and a tilting kickstand
4/6
Quirky's Ray is a USB solar charger for portable gadgets, and features a suction cup and a tilting kickstand
Quirky's Ray is a USB solar charger for portable gadgets, and features a suction cup and a tilting kickstand
5/6
Quirky's Ray is a USB solar charger for portable gadgets, and features a suction cup and a tilting kickstand
Quirky's Ray is a USB solar charger for portable gadgets, and features a suction cup and a tilting kickstand
6/6
Quirky's Ray is a USB solar charger for portable gadgets, and features a suction cup and a tilting kickstand
View gallery - 6 images

Designers of solar chargers need to deal with a certain issue: how to build a charger so that it had easy access to maximum sunlight, without much effort on the user's part. One clever solution was to combine solar cells with a bikini, but unfortunately that's really only useful on the beach. The Quirky community, a social project based around product development, has come up with another solution - it's the Ray solar charger, and it features a suction cup and a kickstand.

Utilizing a USB port suitable for numerous portable gadgets, the Ray solar charger reportedly stores enough energy to fully power a cell phone. Its suction cup can be used on any glass surface, such as house windows, or windows in cars and planes. In-car use while driving (as suggested by the picture) is a dubious idea, however, given the prevalence of lighter-based car chargers.

The tilting kickstand allows users to place the charger on flat surfaces, and also serves as a place to store the USB cord.

As with Quirky Digits and the Scratch-n-scroll mouse-pad, the Ray is the result of collaborative work within Quirky community, and it's the 137th product designed and developed since the project's launch in June 2009.

The Ray solar charger is now available for preorder, and is priced at US$39.99. The production will not start until 2,000 orders are placed (there were over 600 at the time of writing).

View gallery - 6 images
6 comments
6 comments
Slowburn
It is nice to see a solar charger that has had some thought on how to keep it pointing at the sun given to the design.
sonic
The suction cup looks weird and will soon break down, not work and tip over while you drive. So why didn\'t they just tilt the top of the solar panel? Cause quirky is not good at good design. They are the opposite of apple. \"Lets take this common thing and add one more odd feature... yeah\"
Slowburn
re; sonic \"The looks weird\" OPINION. \"will soon break down, not work and tip over while you drive.\" ASSUMES FACTS NOT IN EVIDENCE.
I have used suction cups that gave decades of good service.
Jennifer Rogers
I can also attest to the fact that suction cup reliability and quality has definitely increased and should not be an issue. Certainly a better option than the "bikini" attachment.
Thanks
Jenn
SpaceBagels
"the suction cup can be used on any glass surface, such as house windows, or windows in cars and *planes*."
Good luck in doing this on a plane without getting wrestled to the aisle arrested and flight redirected and escorted off the to the nearest interrogation room.
Harpal Sahota
The Old ideas are best: Stick it on the inside of a sunroof - that way you get maximum sunlight ... SIMPLES!

Harpal Sahota.