However, I did experience the red LED when I used the solar panel on a 112-degree day. The blue LED indicator is hard to see and behind the panels. In the image below, it is blue, but you can barely tell. However, that LED is extremely dim and hard to see, especially in direct sunlight, making it mostly useless. The light turns red if the unit is overheated or has an issue with your cable or device. You’ll find a small circle LED indicator on the circuit box that’ll turn blue when it’s working correctly and pulling power.
Instead, you’ll have to directly charge a phone or plug in a portable battery and charge it with the panels. There’s no built-in battery, though, and it can’t store power. Or, if the sun is straight up, close the kickstands and lay the Anker 515 flat on the ground. This makes setup fast and easy and delivers the perfect angle for maximum sun exposure. Two built-in kickstands unsnap and fold out. You just plug in and wait for the circuit to pull some power from the sun. Then, plug in your phone or charger and let it do its thing. Unsnap a few metal buttons, unfold the panels, pull open the kickstands, and find a sunny spot. In terms of setup, you’ll be charging in about 30 seconds. That said, the fold-up design is great and ensures you can grab plenty of the sun’s rays without it being big and bulky, then easily store it when you’re all done. I don’t need or want anything fancy here, as it’ll just be sitting in the sun. There’s not much to the design, and that’s fine. There are reinforced holes on the ends, so I guess I could use some carabiners. And while I love that idea, Anker didn’t add a strap to attach it to your bag. Some of Anker’s product images show a person laying the panels out over a backpack while hiking, so you can charge while you walk. Unfortunately, there are no USB-C ports, so you’ll need to use an older large USB-A cable. The fourth panel has the circuit box with three USB-A ports and a large zippered pocket to hold cables or a portable charging brick.