Im planning a few longer trips this summer and, sad though it is, i need to be able to use my phone. So, based on personal experience, whats the best option solar, AA battery, dynamo or something else?
Off grid phone charger options, whats best?
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Scots_Charles_River
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
I have FREELOADER which has a battery that charges via a solar panel and has a larger attachable solar trickle charge panel. I also have a Maplin battery pack to connect. I do not use a spare phone battery as when you take the back off phones they never really snap as well again.
I use a Power Monkey Extreme. I used it whilst Serving and definitely found the sunnier countries worked a little better. However, it's seems perfectly functional here in the UK too.
Hope this helps. Ed
Hope this helps. Ed
Ignore solar, Solar wont keep up unless its proper sunny. A two AA charger may give you 3/4 of a fill.
depending on what phone you have you could carry spare batteries.
trent chargers are great value and have two outputs, one for phone and one for ipad etc. I use a power pack all the time now and it keeps me juiced for up to a week.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/New-Trent-I...MP50/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1364152785&sr=8-1
depending on what phone you have you could carry spare batteries.
trent chargers are great value and have two outputs, one for phone and one for ipad etc. I use a power pack all the time now and it keeps me juiced for up to a week.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/New-Trent-I...MP50/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1364152785&sr=8-1
I have this one, but in black... http://www.amazon.co.uk/PortaPow-Pr...B26O/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1364154933&sr=8-3
It's OK and does the job but only fully charges my I phone twice. If I were to buy again I would go for something with more capacity, like the Trent that Paul showed.
Steve
It's OK and does the job but only fully charges my I phone twice. If I were to buy again I would go for something with more capacity, like the Trent that Paul showed.
Steve
My freeloader is a bit of a waste of time, the only time it did charge properly was on holiday but I think I fried one of the panels. I bought a multi charger from go outdoors, 2x AA batteries, simples
I have a power monkey extreme. Great battery and the solar works well enough in this country to keep the battery topped up and even better in sunnier places.
I too have the power monkey extreme, as said, works brilliantly for me too. Great battery, 9000 mah and the solar panel charges my phone on its own, even without direct sunlight. Obviously it's better in full sun. Waterproof to a certain ipx standard, can't remember which though. Well worth the money.
Scots_Charles_River
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Without direct sunlight on a cloudy day you still get charge from a FREELOADER. The trick is to charge the connected battery first, before connecting the phone.
Make a brew while it charges .
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Biolite-C...amping_CookingSupplies_ET&hash=item3cd00daebb
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Biolite-C...amping_CookingSupplies_ET&hash=item3cd00daebb
Scots_Charles_River
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Charges 35% of your battery in an hour of burn as long as you have good dry wood. Based on iphone 4 test i did
I use a car jump pak with an on board inverter or 12 v charger. Hundreds of charges
Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk 2
Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk 2
How long is 'longer'.
For up to about a week I use a trent battery pack + my smartphone.
If its just for the odd call here and there, an old gsm mobile works well (their battery life is impressive).... I've got an old T68i that'll do a week on standby, couple that with the battery pack and I reckon I could easily do a month+ with calls
For up to about a week I use a trent battery pack + my smartphone.
If its just for the odd call here and there, an old gsm mobile works well (their battery life is impressive).... I've got an old T68i that'll do a week on standby, couple that with the battery pack and I reckon I could easily do a month+ with calls
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I use an Anker Astro 3E http://www.amazon.de/10-000mAh-Ladeger%C3%A4t-Sensation-Handy-Anschl%C3%BCsse-schlankes/dp/B0067XRL56/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1364211375&sr=8-1
It can recharge my smartphone almost 6 times.
It can recharge my smartphone almost 6 times.
I use a 7000mAH TeckNet, it'll charge my iPhone 4 4-5 times from a single charge. Got one after hearing nothing but good about them from people I follow on Twitter, really happy with it (tons of reviews through the above link).
Matt
Matt
Reviews say it takes hours to get a charge into a phone.
Carrying spare batteries is one option.
http://dx.com/p/aa-battery-usb-emergency-backup-power-and-charger-pack-15048
Gives me a couple of charges.
Sadly it doesnt work like that, the onboard microprocessor protects the fan function and will cut off the usb supply if you try to charge without running the stove. I had a biolite and as a stove its great on dry wood or pellet. The phone charging is an added bonus. the company states that 20mins of charging gives one hour of talk time. If it was really that good they would quote time to fill a battery. Its still emerging tech and im sure it will improve over time.
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