Solar Gear

From Sega Retro

SolarGear GG US.jpg
Solar Gear
Made for: Sega Game Gear
Manufacturer: iMP
Type: Battery pack
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Game Gear
US
$49.9549.95[1] PN-700

The Solar Gear by iMP is an accessory for the Sega Game Gear released in the early 1990s.

The Solar Gear acts as an alternative to the six AA batteries needed to power the console, and the official rechargeable options (the Game Gear Battery Pack and later the Game Gear PowerBack) by powering the Game Gear from a large solar panel. A Game Gear is placed into the device, and power is drawn from the sun to keep the console running. This seemingly contradicts official advice which suggests not to play the Game Gear in direct sunlight through fear of overheating.

Given the state of early 90s solar panel technology, it is unknown how reliable the Solar Gear is, however it also doubles up as a battery which can be recharged through more traditional means, i.e. an AC adaptor or through the cigarette lighter of a car (both leads are included in the box). A side effect perhaps of the need to surround the Game Gear casing, is that the Solar Gear can also output audio in stereo.

Similarly large solar panel accessories were also made available for the Game Gear's competitor, the Game Boy.

Physical scans

Game Gear, US

References

Sega Game Gear
Topics Sega Game Gear | History | Magazine articles | Promotional material | Merchandise
Hardware Japan | North America | Western Europe | Eastern Europe | Asia | South America | Australasia | Africa
Wide Gear
Add-ons Pro Action Replay | Game Genie | X-Terminator | Master Gear Converter (Gear Master | Nuby Converter) | Stereo FM Tuner | TV Tuner
Cases Carry-All | Deluxe Carry-All Case | Gear Bag | Holster Case | Standard Carrying Case | Soft Case | Third Party (Play & Carry Case)
Accessories A/V Cable | Battery Pack | Car Adaptor | Car Antenna | Cleaning Gear | Gear-to-Gear Cable | PowerBack (Third Party) | Screen Magnifier (Wide Gear | Super Wide Gear | Third-Party)

Handy Gear | Master Link Cable