WhiteBlaze Pages 2024
A Complete Appalachian Trail Guidebook.
AVAILABLE NOW. $4 for interactive PDF(smartphone version)
Read more here WhiteBlaze Pages Store

Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 31
  1. #1
    Registered User Christoph's Avatar
    Join Date
    02-18-2015
    Location
    Valdosta, Georgia
    Age
    51
    Posts
    596

    Default Wind up battery charger

    So I've been thinking about external battery chargers for my phone. Has anyone tried one of these in the link below? Not necessarily this one but one like it.
    http://www.amazon.com/Eton-BoostTurb...attery+charger
    My worry is finding a place to charge my phone because I'm planning to stay in hostels/motels as little as possible. If anything, winding this thing while hiking might give me something to do for a bit. Thoughts?

  2. #2

    Default

    Well, how much winding to get it fully charged, or, for example to fully charge an iPhone?

  3. #3

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Connie View Post
    Well, how much winding to get it fully charged, or, for example to fully charge an iPhone?
    From an Amazon review:

    "Now the internal battery is dead and I am cranking it to change it back up. 1-2 min of cranking boosts my phone 1%."

  4. #4
    Registered User Walkintom's Avatar
    Join Date
    08-16-2010
    Location
    Eagle River, WI
    Age
    51
    Posts
    697

    Default

    Carry a battery backup such as a Newtrent 10,000 ma or a solar charger (only going to get a charge when you're stationary and have a sunny spot for it) or even a Biolite stove before you carry a hand crank charger is my advice.

    I've never heard of a crank charger being anywhere close to worth the weight and space of carrying it.

  5. #5
    Registered User Christoph's Avatar
    Join Date
    02-18-2015
    Location
    Valdosta, Georgia
    Age
    51
    Posts
    596

    Default

    On Youtube, a guy said he cranked it from completely dead about 20 minutes or so. Charged it about 3/4.

  6. #6
    Registered User Walkintom's Avatar
    Join Date
    08-16-2010
    Location
    Eagle River, WI
    Age
    51
    Posts
    697

    Default

    If it's where you're gonna go, I'd say be sure that it does all you want well before you start on the trail. Leave yourself enough time to get a different method if necessary.

    I'd love to hear from a real person that it works well because the concept appeals. I've just never had that happen. Only 'I threw it away' type responses.

  7. #7
    PCT, Sheltowee, Pinhoti, LT , BMT, AT, SHT, CDT, TRT 10-K's Avatar
    Join Date
    10-30-2007
    Location
    Erwin, TN
    Age
    62
    Posts
    8,492

    Default

    If you can pay somebody else to crank it for you... maybe.

  8. #8
    Registered User
    Join Date
    03-12-2014
    Location
    San Diego
    Age
    50
    Posts
    267

    Default

    I carried a mycharge($60 Target) battery backup, it would charge my phone about 3-4 times off of a full charge. It takes a while to recharge those backups(7-8 hour for full charge) so remember when you get to town and hit a hostel or hotel to plug that thing in right away, don't wait until the morning or you will be out of luck...

    Most solar chargers that I saw were pretty ineffective due to lack of steady sunlight.

    I don't know maybe I'm just getting old but having to crank charger for 20 minutes at a time is about the last way i want to spend down time out on the trail. Too many calories wasted:-)

  9. #9
    Registered User
    Join Date
    09-08-2006
    Location
    Wilton CT
    Age
    77
    Posts
    1,097

    Default

    Maybe you could install a little turbine in line with your Sawyer filter which would turn the crank while you replenish your water bottles.
    "It goes to show you never can tell." - Charles Edward Anderson Berry

  10. #10
    Registered User Christoph's Avatar
    Join Date
    02-18-2015
    Location
    Valdosta, Georgia
    Age
    51
    Posts
    596

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Old Grouse View Post
    Maybe you could install a little turbine in line with your Sawyer filter which would turn the crank while you replenish your water bottles.
    I like that idea haha
    I have a Droid Maxx and the battery will last a good 3 full days with what I use it for at home. Being I'll be in airplane mode most of the time, I'm thinking I should get another day out of it. Just looking at options to keep it charged.

    If you don't stay in hostels (that much) then where else would you be able to charge your phones along the way?

  11. #11

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Christoph View Post
    On Youtube, a guy said he cranked it from completely dead about 20 minutes or so. Charged it about 3/4.
    That makes me thing there's something fishy about this crank device. If it can only output 1amp, then it most likely can only charge at 1 amp safely. So that would take 2 hours of charging at 1 amp to completely charge a 2000mah battery.

    If he was talking about charging his cell phone battery (and not the internal battery of the crank device), most cell phones (unless it's something like a huge cell phone with a ~5-6" screen) only charge at 1 amp as well so that would still take a LOT longer than 20 minutes to charge any modern cell phone to 75%...

  12. #12

    Default

    The problem with these things is the generator is a small motor which produces very little current. It would take forever to get much of a charge out of it. The trick is recharge before you deplete the battery too much and to crank during every spare moment.

    Even though you don't "plan" on staying at many hostels or motels (yea right), your still going into town to buy food. It's pretty easy to find an electrical outlet someplace tucked away if you learn where to look. Or ask. Keep your eyes open, spend a few hours at the restaurant.

    I picked up a "lipstick" charger which runs on 2 AA batteries. 2.6 oz with batteries and not much bigger then the two batteries stacked end to end. The advantage is you don't have to wait for your charger to charge up. The disadvantage is it will start costing a fortune to keep it feed with AA batteries if you use it a lot.
    Follow slogoen on Instagram.

  13. #13

    Default

    I have a radio with a crank on it, it last a good long bit. But for a cell phone i'd think you'd spend a lot of time crankin'

  14. #14
    Registered User Christoph's Avatar
    Join Date
    02-18-2015
    Location
    Valdosta, Georgia
    Age
    51
    Posts
    596

    Default

    Seems to be the consensus here. So I'll probably get a smaller (maybe 2-3 charge) battery and look for outlets along the way. I was mainly looking at the possibilities of a charge along the way other than hostels/motels/etc. I'm sure I'll be staying at them more than I think I will, but the intention is not to spend a crazy amount on my thru. As long as it's fairly easy to grab a quick charge somewhere, then that'll be real good.

  15. #15
    Registered User Noseeum's Avatar
    Join Date
    04-01-2014
    Location
    Jacksonville, FL
    Age
    56
    Posts
    19

    Default

    I own the 4000mAh version and generally like it. The device is solid and not excessively heavy. Yes, the crank is slow charging but it does work. It works rain or shine, in town or 10-miles from the nearest road. And if you are in a bad spot out in the backcountry, my thought when I bought it was that a slow charge is infinitely better than having no charge at all.

    My approach is to NEVER let either battery draw down to zero. For me, I only us my phone to check weather, send a daily safety text/email, and to occasionally check Guthook's guide. Otherwise, I keep the phone (iPhone 5) turned off. So I use very little charge per day.

    But after a few days I will plug the phone into the Eton for a few minutes, just to bump the charge up. Not to 100%, but enough to replace a day or two of use. Then, I will use the crank to charge the Eton some (cranking it for a 10-15 minutes after dinner, while sipping coffee and watching the stars/campfire/etc). Again, not to 100%, but to replace some of what just went into the phone.

    Following this pattern, neither device is ever 100%, but both are always charged albeit slowly d. Do NOT think of the Eton as a replacement for a wall socket. Judging by that unrealistic standard, you will hate the thing. But if you look at it as a means of maintaining a charge, slowing the rate of both batteries discharge, and extending the time you can go between wall sockets, then its pretty good.

    Ultimately, I find it useful enough to justify carrying the ounces.
    "Healthy, Free, The World Before Me, The Long Brown Path Before Me Leading Wherever I Choose." - Walt Whitman, Song of the Open Road

  16. #16
    Registered User
    Join Date
    02-14-2015
    Location
    CORAL , MICHIGAN
    Age
    68
    Posts
    4
    Journal Entries
    1

    Default

    I would count on lots of competition for outlets to recharge if staying in a "bunkhouse" hostel . Maybe a dual port charger plug would be helpful to you. No leaves on trees in Mar . Should be able to use a solar charger on top of your pack on any day but a rainy one ( rains 50% of the time? ).

  17. #17
    Registered User Christoph's Avatar
    Join Date
    02-18-2015
    Location
    Valdosta, Georgia
    Age
    51
    Posts
    596

    Default

    Noseeum, that was exactly what I was planning. Just to keep them both charged for a longer time. I use my phone about as much, if not less, than that on the daily at home. On the trail would probably be a little more (checking weather, and shooting the occasional 30 second video clip here and there, etc) but not much. When staying at a hostel or somewhere with a plug, I would charge both to 100% and go from there. I think I'm going to keep looking into this, but if I don't feel comfortable, I'll just get an external battery.
    From my understanding, you use these just like the external battery, but you have 2 ways to charge up the charger (plug it in or hand crank it).

  18. #18
    Registered User kayak karl's Avatar
    Join Date
    08-21-2007
    Location
    Swedesboro, NJ
    Age
    68
    Posts
    5,339
    Images
    25

    Default

    those hand cranks are noisy and annoying.
    I'm so confused, I'm not sure if I lost my horse or found a rope.

  19. #19
    double d's Avatar
    Join Date
    08-10-2007
    Location
    Chicagoland, Illinois
    Age
    55
    Posts
    1,257

    Default

    No offense, but keep that stupid sh## at home, hike free of that stuff.
    "I told my Ma's and Pa's I was coming to them mountains and they acted as if they was gutshot. Ma, I sez's, them mountains is the marrow of the world and by God, I was right". Del Gue

  20. #20
    Registered User
    Join Date
    03-12-2014
    Location
    San Diego
    Age
    50
    Posts
    267

    Default

    Yeah Christoph I had the exact same thinking as you last year when told that I should plan on staying in town about once a week. I can't tell you just how important it was for my personal trail survival to be able to get a shower and wash my cloths once a week. Although the one thing that I was always disappointed with was the bad sleep I got in the hotels and hostels, I guess i got so used to my sleeping bag/sleeping pad that when i got into a real bed it felt awkward.

Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast
++ New Posts ++

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •