BioLite Solar Home System 620+
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Why We Like The BioLite Solar Home System 620+
The BioLite Solar Home System 620+ provides us with a simple solution to lighting up any space, no matter where we are. Whether we're in an off-grid cabin, RV camping, or just need to put a light in our shed, the solar-powered system minimizes our impact and provides light anywhere we need it. Three hanging lights are powered by the control box, which has a light of its own, and it's all powered by just a single solar panel for easy setup. The control box also plays FM radio and can charge our phone, making it invaluable when the power goes out. The lights are all connected by 15-foot chaining cords, giving us the ability to light up multiple spaces, and each light has its own switch for complete control.
Details
- Solar-powered setup to light up any space
- Control box plays FM radio and charges up phones
- 3 hanging lights and one sconce light on the control box
- 15-foot chaining cords allow us to extend our lighting
- Individual on/off switches allow us to customize our space
- Digital readouts of battery life keep us updated
- Easy setup allows us to quickly light up any space
- Item #BIOB00Z
- Panel Output Capacity
- 6W
- Battery Type
- LiFEPO4
- Battery Capacity
- 23Wh, 3600mAh
- Charge Time
- 6 hours
- Battery Input
- PV module
- Battery Output
- USB Charge x2 (USB Devices), DIN Port x1, Light Port x2, Light Junctions x3 (Light Extensions)
- Includes
- 1 control box, 2 hanging lights, 1 security light, 1 solar panel, 1 USB adapter
- Dimensions
- [control box] 7.9 x 6.1 x 2.9in, [lights] 5.9 x 5.5 x 3.2in, [solar panel] 11.4 x 7.5 x 0.6in
- Claimed Weight
- [control box] 1lb 3.4oz [lights] (each) 10.6oz, [solar panel] 1lb 9.4oz
- Activity
- weekend camping, emergency power
- Manufacturer Warranty
- limited
Reviews
Q&A
Overall Rating
4 based on 76 ratings
Review Summary
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Selecting an option will reload the available reviews on the pageJanuary 6, 2024
Not Suitable for Cold Climates
This was a christmas gift. I installed ths system and tested it a few weeks after Christmas. The unit worked for 3 days, then the battery fully discharged without explanation. The vendor (Sport Chek) did not disclose vital information that the system is not designed for cold weather use. Our first use of the system was WITHIN the temp limits, but I had been intending on using it in winter conditions. Product support was ineffective because they only communicate by email, and the support did not address the issue regarding battery discharge.
Originally reviewed on bioliteenergy.com
November 20, 2023
Limited use case... Unfortunately
Purchased to light up a shed, I was disappointed to find out that it does not turn on around 5 degrees Celsius anymore. As someone who lives on the west coast of Canada, our winters seldom approach freezing temps, but even a few degrees above freezing prevented the lights from working. It will depend on your climate/use case, but I would venture a guess that for the vast majority of people outside of tropical or equatorial climates, this just won't work for the months when you need it the most. Even if they work - note that these lights are fairly dim. They work well enough to light up a smaller shed so that you can move about, but do not expect them to adequately light a larger space, especially outdoors, or to provide light to take on complex tasks (doing any sort of work underneath them). The attached battery can charge devices - though unreliably. Battery in the SolarHome was fully charged and would also fail to operate at lower temps. Even then it has a small capacity and you can only expect 80-100% of an iPhone charge before it conks out, you will then have to wait until the next day to charge again (and even then, the included solar panel is only 6 watts - can fully charge if sun is available, but will barely do a thing without adequate, prolonged sunlight hitting the panel). Summary: Overall this is a disappointing product. I am giving it two stars only because it may work for someone, though for me it would be a solid 1-star product unfortunately and was a complete waste of my money. If you are considering picking up this device, note that the use case for this solar setup is narrow - you live somewhere where the darker months are still warm, you are lighting up a smaller area, and you only need enough light to not bump into things. Do not rely on it outside of this.
Originally reviewed on bioliteenergy.com
October 10, 2023
Good idea?
I love this concept. I live in an off grid house, so I was really excited about getting these lights. I don’t want to be disappointed, but I am a little bit. It doesn’t charge that well and the battery will drain itself even without a light or a radio being on all day. It’s also weird if you want to have it in your house ( which you do if in north for temperature requirements) because you have to have the cord going outside for the solar panel. Which means you need to drill a hole through a wall or have the cord through a window that needs to stay slightly open so you don’t sever your cord to your solar panel outside. I will figure that out. I do love the switches that makes it easy like living on grid. I would prefer to have a choice in colour accent. The blue isn’t in my decor ☺️. I have been sitting at home in the evening and all of a sudden the lights go out after a couple hours when they’ve been on the lowest level and I wake up in the morning and look at the information panel and it will say that I have 44% battery and they just shut off. This is happened a couple of times and then as mentioned the battery also just drains itself if you’re not using it I have double checked and double checked to ensure that the motion sensor isn’t on and the lights are all off when I leave. Also, if you live anywhere in the northern hemisphere, get the electrical adaptor for charging in the winter. I typically use these lights for maybe three hours a day max and usually on the lowest setting, and they don’t really hold up. Maybe there’s something wrong with this set that I got but I don’t find them as good quality as the Biolite single lights battery. I believe in this company and will keep watching them grow.
Originally reviewed on bioliteenergy.com
March 2, 2023
Satisfaction !
Toujours satisfaite . Achat d’un deuxième système pour offrir en cadeau. Le premier est toujours opérationnel et nous en sommes satisfait.
Originally reviewed on bioliteenergy.com
October 11, 2022
Pretty good stuff
So far, I'm really happy with the solar home 620+. We have it hooked up at our off grid tiny house in NW Ontario Canada. The solar panel is pretty efficient at charging to lights and they do a great job of lighting our interior. We had lots of cord to place the lights where we wanted them and the radio gets a great signal (even better than I get in my vehicle out here). I rated 4 stars because they took the mp3 option out of this model (which I was hoping to have) and I find the lights a bit small and lightweight (I think they would hang better if they had some more heft to them).
Originally reviewed on bioliteenergy.com
October 11, 2022
HIGHLY RECOMMEND.
Bought the lighting kit for my 89Ford Okanagan Camper Van, it's perfect! Such a must for a great affordable price!
Originally reviewed on bioliteenergy.com
October 10, 2022
Off grid cabin
This is a terrific solution for an off grid cabin and for power outages. We finally have proper lighting, radio, and a charging station and it’s all solar powered.
Originally reviewed on bioliteenergy.com
August 9, 2022
Great for off the Grid
We are off the grid an love this product. The solar panel does not work great, as it does not always charge. Charge it at home before we go camping. We will also use a generator for an hour a day charges the battery. The lights work very well in the evening, even in the winter, which can get very cold. Use it in different areas. Would love to add one more light onto it, but not sold separately.
Originally reviewed on bioliteenergy.com
July 22, 2022
Good solution for lighting in a remote location
We needed to provide lighting in a new yurt that we just set up on our cottage property. We are using the yurt as an extra sleeping space, and it is off by itself away from the main cottage. SolarHome 620 is a very nice solution for this use case. It includes plenty of cable for distributing the three lamps around the space, and the solar panel is keeping the battery at full charge.
Originally reviewed on bioliteenergy.com
July 17, 2022
Great useful product!
I can not imagine improvements. That means the product is great! As I bought other things in the past. Thx
Originally reviewed on bioliteenergy.com
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