Wood burning stove/USB charger combo

You do have to keep it burning the whole time you want to be charging something. Just something to keep in mind. With the small firebox you won't be going off doing something else while charging like solar.

I was trying to keep camera batteries charged for people on a Grand Canyon trip and that would have be sweet. I brought solar, but during the days, everything needed to be secured for the whitewater and at night in the canyon, camp was in the shade.

To not have to tend it so often, you could fire it with coals from tonight's fire or charcoal scavanged from an old fire circle.

But for most BPing, I'd say use a flexible solar panel on top of your pack or hat.

I contacted BioLite to inquire whether they'd do a video to show how fast the stove boils water (rather than roasting marshmallows in the stylie vid). They replied with a link to this older vid, which is much more useful.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmHCIBvI6vE

Now, I want to know whether the pot sits high enough to be optimum and I note the high-pitched whine of the fan.

Any idea what the output of the charging port is?

Larry,

My thought too, although I was thinking miliamps :)

I did a little Google searching and could not find the answer. Seems everyone is enamored with the social good of non-polluting fires and there does not seem to be much in the realm of specifications. They went to $24K in revenue in 2010 to over a million $ in venture capital investments. However the fan/electronics does spark my interest.

It looks very cool. Sort of a variation on the old Sierra Zip stove, but without the batteries.

They’ve been trying to bring it to market for at least a couple of years. Originally I believe the announced “Spring 2010”. Looks like that’s Spring 2012 now. Looks different than the version they had on their site in 2009. Kinda cool looking with the honeycomb pattern.

The real question is: Is the TEG (thermo electric generator) sturdy? TEG’s have a reputation for being a bit finicky. If it can’t stand up to trail use, then it won’t be a very good stove. I hope the two years since their original target date has allowed them to get some of the bugs out. It’d be pretty cool and may lead to a lighter weight model (I think this one is two pounds).

HJ
Adventures in Stoving