These portable panels operate like large solar panels, but generate less electricity due to their smaller size. Like their larger cousins, they operate best under direct full sun conditions. Most of them will work on cloudy and rainy days, but it will take longer to generate the electricity to charge your device. Most will not operate with indoor lighting, but there are solar panels being developed that will be able to use indoor light. They're projected to reach the consumer market in another 4 or 5 years.
Good portable panel systems have built-in regulators, meaning they'll automatically adjust the amount of energy they produce to the amount that the device requires. So be sure that the portable panels you buy have this feature, otherwise there's a danger of overcharging (or "frying") the device that you're trying to recharge.
Most portable solar panels fold into sizes small enough to fit into a large pocket or purse. But you can't fold the cells themselves. Think of a weight belt. It's foldable and flexible when compared to a barbell. But it folds because small weights are sewn into a flexible fabric, not because the weights are foldable. It's the same with the foldable solar panels: they fold because the solar cells are small enough to be mounted on foldable fabric.
So even though portable solar panels are advertised to be durable and waterproof, you still need to be careful when handling them. If you fold or crease the solar cell itself, you'll probably break or disable it. So don't fold the cell, or put the portable panels in the washing machine, or poke them with sharp objects. Your weight belt will survive that kind of treatment, but your portable solar panel won't.
One more word of caution: the portable solar panel can't recharge regular batteries. It can only charge rechargeable batteries. This may be obvious to you, but you'd be surprised how many people try to recharge regular batteries.
You will need additional connector equipment in order to use the portable panels, so plan for the additional expense. You'll need connectors that fit with the recharging plugs on your portable devices. And if you plan to use your portable solar panels to trickle charge your car, boat or snowmobile battery, you might need a set of battery clips.
"Trickle charging" can keep your vehicle's battery fully charged. Here's how it works: place the portable solar panel on a surface where it receives the most sun; then plug it into the cigarette lighter socket, or attach the clips to the vehicle's battery. This can be a great help in really cold climates where temperatures drop below freezing, and you have to keep your car parked outside all day.
Portable solar panels are still relatively expensive compared to using grid electricity at home or in the office. But they make sense if you spend a lot of time camping, hiking or working from your car. And they're great backup systems for times when the power goes out.
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