View Full Version : IPOD charging
Early Bird
02-17-2010, 22:13
might sound like a silly question but i'm curioius about how people keep their ipod charged while on the trail??
AUhiker90
02-17-2010, 22:31
My girlfriend gave me a super small wall charger from apple that I just plug in wherever i may stop that has an outlet. Most people dont really mind me using their power.
QuarterPounder
02-17-2010, 22:39
Wal Mart and Target have the AC IPOd adapters for about $20.
QP
I found a super cheap solar charger on Ebay, check out those. Although they usually take about 10 hours to charge in direct sunlight.
IPODs are great players when you are at home or work. Leaving it there and getting something more suited for the trail is a good idea. There are MP3 players that get 40 to 50hrs on a single charge out there (Cowon makes some). There are also models that take removable batteries.
Though, unlike the PCT, the AT goes by town more often. If you must have your IPOD, carry a AC charger and ask at resturants to charge it while you eat or other places in town that you visit. Solar panels in a hike through a forest isn't the most efficient thing to carry.
SurferNerd
02-18-2010, 01:07
touch it to your tongue for a few minutes
Spot In The Sky
02-18-2010, 01:10
Im still trying to decide what to do when it comes to MP3 player for my upcoming hike...the thing about those removal battery players is they hold only 1-4gb when a smaller ipod can hold 8gb, but the issue then IS the battery. I was actually thinking of taking all 3 of my small ones since they weigh almost nothing. I listen to music VERY often and not saying id listen all day on the trail, but I know Id want to hear more than the 1-4gb I have with me, so I like the idea of multiple ipods.
But I like the idea of the removable battery ones because I often fall asleep listening to music and wont worry about draining the battery if i know i have more batteries
SurferNerd
02-18-2010, 01:17
Im still trying to decide what to do when it comes to MP3 player for my upcoming hike...the thing about those removal battery players is they hold only 1-4gb when a smaller ipod can hold 8gb, but the issue then IS the battery. I was actually thinking of taking all 3 of my small ones since they weigh almost nothing. I listen to music VERY often and not saying id listen all day on the trail, but I know Id want to hear more than the 1-4gb I have with me, so I like the idea of multiple ipods.
But I like the idea of the removable battery ones because I often fall asleep listening to music and wont worry about draining the battery if i know i have more batteries
Sansa..best maker of AA/AAA MP3 players.
But I like the idea of the removable battery ones because I often fall asleep listening to music and wont worry about draining the battery if i know i have more batteries
Yea, falling asleep with the ipod on has happened to me many times, especially after a long day.
Panzer
my ipod's battery lasts 35-40hrs...i carry a charger that uses 4 AAA batteries. maddog
JustaTouron
02-18-2010, 09:20
wont worry about draining the battery if i know i have more batteries
Not exactly a disaster if you do.
Worry about running out of food, or fuel for your stove or batteries for headlight/flashlight. Running out of those is a problem. If the batteries on the mp3 runs out, you have to listen to nature 'til you get to the next town. Not exactly a life or death situation.
soulrebel
02-18-2010, 09:29
http://www.duracellpower.com/electronic-chargers/portable-chargers/my-pocket-charger-for-ipod.aspx
2 AA's boost my iphone about 30%
rusty075
02-19-2010, 01:17
My iPhone, in airplane mode, will do roughly 30 hours of audio-only on a charge. I figure an iTouch is probably about the same. Even if you listened almost all the time while hiking, I would think that 30 hours of battery would last you 3 or 4 days. That's about the average time between resupply stops in most places.
On my thru last year I used a Kensington Battery Pack Charger (http://www.amazon.com/Kensington-Battery-Pack-Charger-iPhone/dp/tech-data/B0017H4G0A/ref=de_a_smtd). It would give me about 2 recharges, and it could be charged via the same little Apple charger that comes with the iTouch/iPhone. That's pretty convenient.
Solar chargers DO work, even on the AT, and even in the woods. A solar panel in the shade still generates a charge, it's just a reduced one. Generally it produces about half the wattage it does in full sun. But having said that, I've yet to see a commercially available portable charger that combines a usefully large charging capacity with light enough weight, small enough size, and trail-worthy durability. That's a lot of conflicting design criteria to balance. They're all either too small to be useful, or too heavy/clunky to carry. I'm working on a home-brew solution, combining one of these (http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-a-solar-iPodiPhone-charger-aka-Might/) with a bigger battery (http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=8484) and a flexible solar panel. (http://www.siliconsolar.com/12-v-flexible-solar-panels.html) We'll see if it amounts to anything.
My iPhone, in airplane mode, will do roughly 30 hours of audio-only on a charge. I figure an iTouch is probably about the same. Even if you listened almost all the time while hiking, I would think that 30 hours of battery would last you 3 or 4 days. That's about the average time between resupply stops in most places.
On my thru last year I used a Kensington Battery Pack Charger (http://www.amazon.com/Kensington-Battery-Pack-Charger-iPhone/dp/tech-data/B0017H4G0A/ref=de_a_smtd). It would give me about 2 recharges, and it could be charged via the same little Apple charger that comes with the iTouch/iPhone. That's pretty convenient.
Solar chargers DO work, even on the AT, and even in the woods. A solar panel in the shade still generates a charge, it's just a reduced one. Generally it produces about half the wattage it does in full sun. But having said that, I've yet to see a commercially available portable charger that combines a usefully large charging capacity with light enough weight, small enough size, and trail-worthy durability. That's a lot of conflicting design criteria to balance. They're all either too small to be useful, or too heavy/clunky to carry. I'm working on a home-brew solution, combining one of these (http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-a-solar-iPodiPhone-charger-aka-Might/) with a bigger battery (http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=8484) and a flexible solar panel. (http://www.siliconsolar.com/12-v-flexible-solar-panels.html) We'll see if it amounts to anything.
Yeah I got a really cheap small one ($17 ebay) with enough capacity in the lithium-ion battery in it to charge my Iphone in a couple of hours. The solar charge on it however takes forever, but I figure I can hang it off my pack and let it charge for a couple of days and then plug it in. Plus it also will take a charge on anything with a USB connection (or my little apple box usb thing that plugs into the wall).
Here's the specs:
Solar Panel(mono or multi-crystalline): 5.5V/80mA
PC USB charging: 5V/500mA
Li-ion rechargeable Battery: 3.7V/800mAh
Output voltage/current: 5.5V/500mA
Super long standby time,current consumption: <140uA
Chargering time: 1)Mobile Phone charging through solar charger: 1.5-2 hours
2)Self-charging through Solar Panel: 10-12 hours (Under full sunlight conditions)
3)Self-charging through PC USB port:3-4 hours
Protection: Reverse current protection circuit integrated to prevent batteries from being discharged
Constant Volts: 4.2Volts
Folded Size: 42mm x 95mm x 10.8mm
Weight: 52g
If you are desperate for music and can stop in a grocery store real quick, you might be interested in watching this video when it comes to charging your iPod.... :-?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfPJeDssBOM
Blissful
02-20-2010, 22:14
I use an mp3 (sansa) with one AAA battery. Carry one spare.
MotoGypsy
03-01-2010, 14:59
I found this the other day... I am thinking about giving it a try: http://www.novothink.com/products/nt01/
Anybody heard of this one?
mdgamewarden
03-01-2010, 17:36
I remember seeing a hand crank charger that I would enjoy refinding.
I remember seeing a hand crank charger that I would enjoy refinding.
Are you referring to the Sidewinder cell phone charger? Google it and you'll find it sold at several places.
I have 4 2 mb mp3 players for music and audio books. I you use a mp3 you can download books from the libary with out having to check it out. Most libarys keep the cd in the case you just take it to a computer and load it up. If you use ipod you cant do any of this because you got to have itunes libary on the computer. You can also download music strait to your mp3. www.mp3raid.com (http://www.mp3raid.com) is a good free site. Oh ya you get the lithiom batts and you can get 20 to 40 hrs of play on one aaa.
Powder River
03-03-2010, 23:40
I have 4 2 mb mp3 players for music and audio books. I you use a mp3 you can download books from the libary with out having to check it out. Most libarys keep the cd in the case you just take it to a computer and load it up. If you use ipod you cant do any of this because you got to have itunes libary on the computer. You can also download music strait to your mp3. www.mp3raid.com (http://www.mp3raid.com) is a good free site. Oh ya you get the lithiom batts and you can get 20 to 40 hrs of play on one aaa.
I'm having a tough time understanding everything you just said, but I load my ipod full of audiobooks all the time. Listening to Winston Churchill: The Last Lion right now, in fact.
Powder River
03-03-2010, 23:42
might sound like a silly question but i'm curioius about how people keep their ipod charged while on the trail??
Just carry the cable and the wall to USB plug. If you have more than one device on USB then you can find a Belkin plug that has two USB jacks. Charge in every town, works great. 16gb ipod 1.45 oz., plus it has a radio now.
sloopjonboswell
03-04-2010, 04:24
Just carry the cable and the wall to USB plug. If you have more than one device on USB then you can find a Belkin plug that has two USB jacks. Charge in every town, works great. 16gb ipod 1.45 oz., plus it has a radio now.
becoming the ultimate miniature device, the new 16gb Ipod plays music, tells the time, picks up fm radio, and takes pictures. the perfect trail indulgence. i hiked with a sony walkman that took one aaa battery and an ishuffle which i only had a usb plug for, i would recommend taking the wall charger... and books on tape.
sloopjonboswell
03-04-2010, 04:49
becoming the ultimate miniature device, the new 16gb Ipod plays music, tells the time, picks up fm radio, and takes pictures. the perfect trail indulgence. i hiked with a sony walkman that took one aaa battery and an ishuffle which i only had a usb plug for, i would recommend taking the wall charger... and books on tape.
ipod,cable,charger like 6 ounces?
I'm having a tough time understanding everything you just said, but I load my ipod full of audiobooks all the time. Listening to Winston Churchill: The Last Lion right now, in fact.
Can you load your ipod from a libary computer? Because all along the trail are small town libarys with computers that we hikers use. Now since your from some where eles you cant check out books on cd. Most libarys keep the cd in the case on the shelves. You pick out stuff you want to put on your player, then ask to use one of the public computers. Since the cd is not leaving the libary, you can load it on your player. Unless you have a ipod.
Powder River
03-06-2010, 03:16
Can you load your ipod from a libary computer? Because all along the trail are small town libarys with computers that we hikers use. Now since your from some where eles you cant check out books on cd. Most libarys keep the cd in the case on the shelves. You pick out stuff you want to put on your player, then ask to use one of the public computers. Since the cd is not leaving the libary, you can load it on your player. Unless you have a ipod.
Oh I see what you're saying. No you have to have itunes to sync the ipod. But what program are you using to rip the cd for a regular mp3 player? Seems they wouldn't let you install any programs, whether its itunes or some other ripping program.
Powder River
03-06-2010, 03:17
ipod,cable,charger like 6 ounces?
3 ounces for all 3.
Oh I see what you're saying. No you have to have itunes to sync the ipod. But what program are you using to rip the cd for a regular mp3 player? Seems they wouldn't let you install any programs, whether its itunes or some other ripping program.
You dont need anything but windows media player to load mp3s.
Class2010AT
03-11-2010, 22:48
My sansa mp3 player uses the same charger for my phone, a mini USB. I got the 8 gig one for 70 bucks at best buy. Its great in the car to my tomtom uses the same USB also, its great.