View Full Version : New charging option - Hydro power
Starchild
04-18-2018, 07:13
Just saw this
https://waterlilyturbine.com/store/
It's interesting, and can be used with moving water or wind. I've seen backpacking wind turbines, but are awkward to carry and fragile and need wind. Running water is sometimes more dependable. Weight it too high at close to 3 lbs for most backpacking situations, but could be useful in some situations.
It would be nice to set it up in the stream at night to recharge and have it fully charged by morning, or even top off at lunch by a stream, and water should have that power.
Perhaps future versions of this will shave the weight down.
Nice try, IMHO.
One of the possible issues might be debris and leaves getting into the turbine while submerged in the water.
I'm running a tiny private hydropower here and the leaves in autumn are giving me the most headache.
Claiming for 15W peak output when used for wind seems to me off by a huge factor though.
Starchild
04-18-2018, 08:41
Nice try, IMHO.
One of the possible issues might be debris and leaves getting into the turbine while submerged in the water.
I'm running a tiny private hydropower here and the leaves in autumn are giving me the most headache.
Claiming for 15W peak output when used for wind seems to me off by a huge factor though.
Look at the windspeed required to get that 15W, might be possible.
Went into the formulas and have to admit:
When you're able to keep the airflow (inside the turbine) at the rate according to the specs, you could get an output of 15W.
My gut feeling tells me different, and I'd love to see the power output in a sample setup.
Adfischer
04-18-2018, 09:19
I'd love to see something like this work but its going to have to get down to about 1lb before its worth it to me. For the same weight (2.86lbs) I could carry at least 50,000mAh of battery packs which would keep my devices charged for weeks, even with heavy use.
I live off grid . Have for over 30 years . Not a big fan of wind power.
Thom
MuddyWaters
04-18-2018, 11:42
My last 5 day hike, my phone had 60% charge when finished. And i watched 4 downloaded tv shows at night. If you cant get by on small backup batt, you doing it wrong
HooKooDooKu
04-18-2018, 11:54
I'd love to see something like this work but its going to have to get down to about 1lb before its worth it to me. For the same weight (2.86lbs) I could carry at least 50,000mAh of battery packs which would keep my devices charged for weeks, even with heavy use.
Not that new an idea. Devices that tried to charge via water or wind were available when I was planning a 2016 JMT thru. MAYBE the only thing unique here is it works with wind OR water (but even then I'm not sure that's unique).
But in any case, the nearly 3lb weight pretty much means this is a useless device to hikers. Would only be practical for a small group that's "camping".
jackwagon
04-18-2018, 14:29
I just chatted with someone at the company that developed this. I thought that I might have a use at my off-grid cabin, but the flow in our cove is not enough (min. of about .7 mph required). He said that their primary marketing audience is campers staying several days where there is good wind or water flow.
gpburdelljr
04-18-2018, 16:30
I'd love to see something like this work but its going to have to get down to about 1lb before its worth it to me. For the same weight (2.86lbs) I could carry at least 50,000mAh of battery packs which would keep my devices charged for weeks, even with heavy use.
Erin “Wired” Saver is a serious long distance hiker that really, really, likes to stay connected, hence her trailname “Wired”. I remember that she used a solar panel on the PCT, or maybe the CDT, but she now just carries a 20,000 mAh Anker Powercore.
https://www.walkingwithwired.com/gear
Okay, I don’t know where to post this. Why must one even carry electronic devices when everyone else is carrying them? Why can’t we borrow and share?
Old Hiker
04-19-2018, 08:15
Okay, I don’t know where to post this. Why must one even carry electronic devices when everyone else is carrying them? Why can’t we borrow and share?
Because I'm no one's Sherpa. Carry your own gear that YOU want to use, just like I carry MINE.
So, by YOUR reasoning, NO ONE will be carrying because EVERYONE will be planning on some one ELSE'S.
Emergency: of course.
Because you are too lazy or an ultra-light enthusiast: not a chance.
Starchild
04-19-2018, 08:25
Okay, I don’t know where to post this. Why must one even carry electronic devices when everyone else is carrying them? Why can’t we borrow and share?
OK, I'll let you use my phone, but you are carrying the beer.
Okay, I don’t know where to post this. Why must one even carry electronic devices when everyone else is carrying them? Why can’t we borrow and share?
I'm doing something similar on a regular basis, hiking in the Middle East deserts.
When one of my desert hikes comes closer to its end, I share the charge left in my powerbank with locals.
In reverse, there had been years when the locals had their old Nokias, but I had none, so I asked one every now and then to send a short message to my loved ones back home.
rocketsocks
04-19-2018, 09:43
No one carry’s all that stuff anymore, they all beg & borrow
Starchild
04-19-2018, 09:58
No one carry’s all that stuff anymore, they all beg & borrow
Well there would be no need for that if all the trail maintainers would stop cleaning out the shelters of the useful items left, and perhaps pack in some thing in need of replacement instead. ;)
Seems that you come closer to our concept of Alpine huts, where you can charge your devices for free.
nsherry61
04-19-2018, 14:27
Seems that you come closer to our concept of Alpine huts, where you can charge your devices for free.
Actually, that would be really cool if there were a battery charged by solar panel as part of the shelter system on the AT, Adirondacks, etc. Then I could have yet one more reason to stay away from certain overused trails. :rolleyes:
Okay, I don’t know where to post this. Why must one even carry electronic devices when everyone else is carrying them? Why can’t we borrow and share?Because Noro Virus.
Actually, that would be really cool if there were a battery charged by solar panel as part of the shelter system on the AT, Adirondacks, etc. Then I could have yet one more reason to stay away from certain overused trails. :rolleyes:
Maybe if it becomes a more common practice to start the hike with a sturdy solar panel, which people dispose of after realizing that its too heavy - by this solar panels would spread slowly starting from the southern terminus?
Make solar panels a hype, and the task will be done within a single season, maybe.
On a more seriouse note, we had a similar solution for the supplies of the Alpine huts in the old days, before cable railways and copters were common:
There were loads prepared at the end of the road, and everybody who picked up a load and carried it up to the hut was free of charge for the night.
Odd Man Out
04-19-2018, 23:15
I just chatted with someone at the company that developed this. I thought that I might have a use at my off-grid cabin, but the flow in our cove is not enough (min. of about .7 mph required). He said that their primary marketing audience is campers staying several days where there is good wind or water flow.
That what I was thinking. May have some use for campers, but at 1.3 kg, not so much for hikers.
But then, to place it in a suitable spot into a fast flowing stream, protect it against floating debris and fix it in a way that it will operate for multiple days without taking constant care - and then the reward is only a 15W output which is just enough to keep the group's smartphones charged - is this really the best solution?
Maybe it could make some sense in Alaska or Greenland/Iceland where there is plenty of fast flowing water (without much flotsam) but lack of sun.
Generally, I found solar power to be by far the most care-free solution in my private home.
cmoulder
04-20-2018, 07:32
Because I'm no one's Sherpa. Carry your own gear that YOU want to use, just like I carry MINE.
So, by YOUR reasoning, NO ONE will be carrying because EVERYONE will be planning on some one ELSE'S.
Emergency: of course.
Because you are too lazy or an ultra-light enthusiast: not a chance.
No need to lump in UL with lazy moochers. I've hiked with a fair number of fellow ULers and IME they're the among most self-sufficient and least whiny people out there.
And I also detest the "I'll just borrow one" attitude, although I might briefly lend my ferro rod to some prick just for the entertainment value.
No need to lump in UL with lazy moochers. I've hiked with a fair number of fellow ULers and IME they're the among most self-sufficient and least whiny people out there.
And I also detest the "I'll just borrow one" attitude, although I might briefly lend my ferro rod to some prick just for the entertainment value.
But you look like a Sherpa ;0)
thom
seems like a solution maybe for boaters where weight isn't such an issue, or more of a doomsday survivalist sort of thing....
So, are you planning to arrange all of your shuttles in to town? I always share my car with hitching hikers.But, with your reasoning, people shouldn’t share? You can say “no,” I’m not sharing my phone,but most people I’ve met enjoy helping out a fellow hiker. Would you only consider sharing your phone for say, $5 a photo, or text?
Of course everyone makes a choice on what they carry.
Old Hiker
04-23-2018, 07:58
So, are you planning to arrange all of your shuttles in to town? I always share my car with hitching hikers.But, with your reasoning, people shouldn’t share? You can say “no,” I’m not sharing my phone,but most people I’ve met enjoy helping out a fellow hiker. Would you only consider sharing your phone for say, $5 a photo, or text?
Of course everyone makes a choice on what they carry.
Why, yes, I DID arrange my shuttles. I PAY for services rendered. I did not EXPECT to be GIVEN free services, just because I exist.
I got a hitch ONE time up north as I was walking in to town. Did not expect it, it was offered freely, it was accepted gratefully and I left a $5 bill against the older lady's protest.
"Helping" is one thing. "Helping" implies (to me) an urgent need, not a gimmee, entitled attitude because you are too lazy, too entitled, too whatever to carry your own gear, to carefully manage your resources, to plan for the entire Trail.
You NEED to inform someone of an emergency situation, I'll go out of my way to help. Way out of my way. You WANT to phone/text home to tell mommy that you are OK, yeah, not happening, especially since you used up all your battery life in 10 hours trying to v-log or whatever.
$5 a text or photo? Maybe. Depends on where we are, how much power I have left, cash only, no change for large bills, American currency only, no refunds for no service. YMMV. Sign the following and we have a deal:
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Okay, you want to be left alone.:sun:sun:sun
FreeGoldRush
04-23-2018, 11:08
One day a raccoon will run off with his bear bag.
T.S.Kobzol
04-23-2018, 13:20
You have got to be kidding
So, are you planning to arrange all of your shuttles in to town? I always share my car with hitching hikers.But, with your reasoning, people shouldn’t share? You can say “no,” I’m not sharing my phone,but most people I’ve met enjoy helping out a fellow hiker. Would you only consider sharing your phone for say, $5 a photo, or text?
Of course everyone makes a choice on what they carry.
Why, yes, I DID arrange my shuttles. I PAY for services rendered. I did not EXPECT to be GIVEN free services, just because I exist.
I got a hitch ONE time up north as I was walking in to town. Did not expect it, it was offered freely, it was accepted gratefully and I left a $5 bill against the older lady's protest.
"Helping" is one thing. "Helping" implies (to me) an urgent need, not a gimmee, entitled attitude because you are too lazy, too entitled, too whatever to carry your own gear, to carefully manage your resources, to plan for the entire Trail.
You NEED to inform someone of an emergency situation, I'll go out of my way to help. Way out of my way. You WANT to phone/text home to tell mommy that you are OK, yeah, not happening, especially since you used up all your battery life in 10 hours trying to v-log or whatever.
Stubbornly proud and suspicious is no way to go through life. I like to pay my own way, and get a little irked at brazen freeloaders, but anyone who is too damned proud to put his thumb out, accept a ride, and repay it with nothing but some pleasant conversation and a thank you doesn't understand what it's means to live among others.
And another thing..... that run-on paragraph kind of creeps me out.
Either increase your ability to generate or store a charge or reduce the need for a charge. I chose the latter.