CoolfireCoolFire Solar Watch Fast Charger (compatible with all kinds of eco solar watches) 1046

There are devices that keep automatic watches fully wound when they are not being worn and now there is one to recharge solar watches off the wrist; it is the "CoolFire Solar Watch Fast Charger (compatible with all kinds of eco solar watches) 1046". Getting sufficient light onto a watch-face during the darker months to add to its current charge state is a perennial problem and necessarily involves artificial light sources, most of which emit varying levels of heat that could seriously damage the watch's internal components if sufficiently close (halogen and filament bulbs are the worst); at best, when too distant, charging can be exceedingly slow and need many days. Even with cool- or cold-running CFL or LED bulbs, 24-48 hour charge times are typical and may not then fully charge a watch. The LEDs used in this are a true cold light source and 22 of them produce a strong white light. Power is via a USB cable which may be connected to a computer or a mains USB plug adapter. A co-axial jack socket is a possible power provision option but the enclosed leaflet neglects to mention it but presumably also requires 5v at 2A.Not all solar watches are equal and some charge more quickly than others. The instructions for different watches may include charge times under various lighting conditions. According to the manual for a certain Citizen watch, 20 hours is required for a full charge at 100,000 lumens (bright full sunshine) and 60 hours at 10,000 lumens (cloudy, overcast day). For another Citizen watch, 11 hours in full sunshine is suggested confirming variations among Citizen's watches and other brands may have similar variations. With 40,000 lumens supplied by this unit, 36-48 hours may suffice for a top-up charge sufficient for up to 60 days' use although considerably longer than the 10 hours suggested by a previous reviewer for a full charge. A watch with a charge indicator (recharged only a week or two ago) may be allowed to run down almost to empty to gain an accurate full-charge time. Citizen use overcharge protection devices to terminate the process once the power reservoir is full; other brands may not.The unit is sufficiently small to fit on a bedside table, a small area on computer desk etc provided that there is at least a nearby mains socket or computer; some audio devices have USB charge ports for just such a situation. A power bank is yet another power source option.Other than the unit and USB lead, two soft rubber watch supports/masks are included to respectively suit watches of around 43 mm and 38 mm diameter; there is no specific provision for small-faced ladies' watches and some light leak will occur unless further masked in some way. The unit is light but unstable as the length and weight of the USB lead tend to drag it but with a weighty all-metal bracelet watch mounted it is perfectly stable. Lightweight poly-carbonate watches with silicone, nylon or fabric straps may be a problem unless extra weight, e.g. several large coins, is placed on the back of the watch. This charger is faster, brighter and more efficient than the CFL desk lamp first used or the LED one later used, both with lamp-to-watch distances of around 15-18 cm and typically for up to 48 hours, sufficient for at least 50% charge levels in most instances. There is an option to insert two AAA batteries via the base and then to use it as a super-bright torch or emergency light.

Charged my 43mm dial watch from medium to high charge in under an hour! Works incredibly well.

This product seems good to me. It charges my Cassio G-shock just fine. I measured it's output as approximately 46,000 LUX, which compares favourably with direct sunlight charge times, I have not recharged from empty, so cannot say how long a full charge would take. It is definitel.y a huge advantage for use in the UK, paricularly in winter!I have a slight concern about the temperature rise, the rubber collar restricts ventilation, so watch gets warm. 15 minutes is not a problem, so for the moment, I am being cautious and keeping to no more than 15 minutes exposure at a time until I am certain that it is not getting too hot or can ventilate it better.

Very impressed I have a Casio pro trek solar watch and I do night shifts it got to the point that my watch battery would float between medium and flashing power low, no light I put it by seemed to charge it up past medium when I received this devise I was skeptical but had nothing to loose I would just send it back but it did the job I have read other comments that watch got hot trust me mine didn't and I ended up leaving mine on for over 48 hours in one go and it fully charged my watch back to full also supplied are 2 different size rubber washers for different watch face sizes this also protects your watch screen also its very handy as its a usb cable supplied so can be used with car pc or plug it also takes battery's so can be used on the go or with no mains power leds are very bright so the fact its also able to run on battery's makes it a handy torch as well would defiantly recommend if your having issues keeping the battery charged from day to day sunlight or florescent lights use this you wont be disappointed

I have a range of Casio and Citizen solar powered watches and in the North of the UK they sometimes are tricky to fully charge during the colder months. I had tried leaving them on a window sill but my Citizen got very hot indeed there and I was worried the heat might damage the internal electronics. So when I heard about this gadget I thought it sounded interesting - safe way to charge the watch in a relatively short period of time. Well this turned out to be a Ronseal product - i.e. it does exactly what it says on the tin ! It works ! It charged my Citizen fully from a low to full charge in about 7 hours. You have two rubber holders so you can choose one for the size of watch face and then avoid the watch face scratching on the plastic of the charging lights. You can use this powered by a USB port on a laptop or desk computer or else do what I did which was plug it into the mains - either via a generic mains to USB power adapter or (in my case) I used an iPad mains charger. It can also be battery powered. Yes it is essentially a bit like a torch but this is generally wider than a torch so that even watches with large faces can be accommodated and the LEDs are totally cool in operation, generating no heat. Overall pleased with the purchase - it's juts a bit pricey for what it is.

It works

A must here in the UK especially if you have alot of solar watches like myself. Expensive though for what it is but does the job. Its says your watch doesn't get hot but it does get warm so I cut a toilet roll tube down to about 2inch and that stops them getting warm 12+hours and feels fine no warmth on the watch at all

I cannot believe they have the cheek to charge this amount, it cost £50, it's worth around £3. I've only kept it because I used a work voucher to purchase. I gave 3 stars because it actually worked, got my solar watch working after 5 or 6 years of sitting in a case.