Solar Battery Chargers

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:hLRYb.340701$I06.3552733@attbi_s01...
I see these things available locally for around $40 bucks. They claim to
be
able to recharge cell phones and laptops. They also say they're good for
trickle-charging vehicle batteries.

My thinking is that a solar charger would be great for Sun N Fun and
Oshkosh -- places where my cell phone (and walkie-talkies, and laptop)
batteries routinely die after a few days. It also looks like something I
could use to keep my motorcycle battery charged over the winter.

Anyone purchase one of these? Do they work as advertised? How long does
it take to charge? Do they require direct sunlight?

Thanks in advance!

We'd kept one on the dash of our Pawnee at the banner tow place I worked
(starter and battery, but no alternator). It sat outside all day, and
really only used the battery once or twice a day. We'd still have to bring
the charging cart out once every two weeks or so to charge the battery back
up though.

Don't know how often we'd have to without the solar panel, probibly the same
:-)