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Alternative battery chargers AKA thinking outside of the box.


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  • #1302241
    Kevin Burton
    BPL Member

    @burtonator

    Locale: norcal

    OK. So we have solar chargers, regular wall chargers, and of course packing in extra batteries as kind of the typical way people recharge their devices.

    Then there are also thermocoupler devices like the power pot.

    But what else… I had some other ideas.

    1. Steam!

    Here is an example.

    http://www.instructables.com/id/Steam-powered-USB-Charger/

    It's kind of a silly idea but if you could use your pot and a wood stove (gas wouldn't make a ton of sense) you could build a charger. WEIGHT is the issue here. I haven't done much research but it would be interesting if you could get a basic steam powered charger working for USB chargins.

    2. Hand crank…

    This one:

    http://www.amazon.com/Innovative-Digital-Hand-Crank-Emergency-Charger/dp/B0089QB2KY

    is 32 bucks and 90 grams. My second battery is 70 grams and I suspect you could get a lighter one. Apparently 6 minutes of cranking gives you 2 minutes of talk time. So this seems somewhat practical.

    I was also thinking that you could use the water from a stream to power this. Maybe use gravity to turn the crank.

    #1980941
    Bob Gross
    BPL Member

    @b-g-2-2

    Locale: Silicon Valley

    "Apparently 6 minutes of cranking gives you 2 minutes of talk time."

    Ask how long they are guaranteed to last!

    Pelton wheels and other water-powered gadgets will work, but in general they weigh more than they are worth unless you have them in a semi-permanent installation.

    You can also try a nuclear source like long distance space probes use. But then you would have to wear a lead apron, so the weight is against you again.

    Wood energy will work, but you need a lot of wood and a lot of time. Even then you may get only a small amount of energy out.

    What is already in use is the most practical.

    –B.G.–

    #1980943
    Kevin Burton
    BPL Member

    @burtonator

    Locale: norcal

    I did some rough calculations based on spotty evidence and I think to use something like the power pot would take about 2 hours to charge a phone.

    … and I don't want to babysit it the whole time.

    #1980955
    Nelson Sherry
    Member

    @nsherry61

    Locale: Mid-Willamette Valley

    I wonder how light one could build a fuel cell that could boil water and charge my phone? Maybe fuel could be a little CO2 style hydrogen cartridge ;p Think of the efficiency.

    #1980959
    Bob Gross
    BPL Member

    @b-g-2-2

    Locale: Silicon Valley

    Just be very careful when you stir the oxygen tank.

    –B.G.–

    #1980963
    Jason G
    BPL Member

    @jasong

    Locale: iceberg lake

    really guys..

    #1980965
    Rick M
    BPL Member

    @yamaguy

    del

    #1980976
    Dustin Short
    BPL Member

    @upalachango

    There used to be a backpack developed for the military that would charge a battery pack. Basically it was an external frame pack that would bounce with you and turn the kinetic energy into electricity. The concept has been simplified and shrunken into a 10" baton you place into your pack.

    For the weight of 14oz though I'd just pack a pound's worth of charged extra batteries…

    #1980979
    Nathan Watts
    BPL Member

    @7sport

    Worked in Back to the Future

    #1980986
    James Marco
    BPL Member

    @jamesdmarco

    Locale: Finger Lakes

    Rick wrote:
    "Patience my friends.

    http://www.myfuelcell.se/products/powertrekk/"

    Luv'it…
    From their site:
    "The fuel cell inside PowerTrekk is a completely passive
    system. Without fans or pumps, the fuel cell silently
    converts hydrogen into electricity via its Proton Exchange
    Membrane. The chemistry process is safe, controllable,
    and the only bi-product from the fuel cell is a little water
    vapor. To operate, hydrogen must be supplied to the
    fuel cell
    , and the fuel cell must be exposed to the open
    air.The PowerTrekk Puck is part of an industry program
    for reusing its materials and is made of coated can materials.
    PowerTrekk and PowerTrekk Puck meet industry
    security standards and can be brought on an airplane
    passenger cabin.
    PRODUCT INFORMATION
    JUST
    ADD
    WATER "

    Proton Exchange? Sounds like cold fusion, they do not explain the process…
    Note the bold text above. Where do you get the hydrogen from? How do you carry it?
    Ha, ha, ha…. all this is just another heavy gadget meaning this is a less than funny joke…a HEAVY USB charging device.

    The problem is material science is not up to storing large amounts of hydrogen.
    Be patient, yes, be very, very, patient.

    Yes, I AM laughing.

    #1981026
    Nick Gatel
    BPL Member

    @ngatel

    Locale: Southern California

    "But what else… I had some other ideas."

    I guess today this might be thinking outside the box… leave the electronics at home :)

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