Cockney Scot
New Member
- Location
- Hertfordshire
mobile phone chargers
- Thread starter Cockney Scot
- Start date
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Redmountduo
Veteran
- Location
- Hucknall. Nottingham
We have used a solar panel extensivley on our tours for this purpose and had no problems keeping it charged. I took a spare battery and ensured both were chrged during good sunny days and had no worries if we had a dull period. We also used it to keep a GPS charged.
Go one step further...
The Power Monkey has this option where you can solar charge the phone directly or use the solar charge to charge the "Monkey" which will in turn then charge the phones. The advantage being that if the weather is against you (we are in the UK), then as a last resort the Power Monkey can be charged from the mains or any PC.
THe "Freeloader" is similar.
The Power Monkey has this option where you can solar charge the phone directly or use the solar charge to charge the "Monkey" which will in turn then charge the phones. The advantage being that if the weather is against you (we are in the UK), then as a last resort the Power Monkey can be charged from the mains or any PC.
THe "Freeloader" is similar.
I've mentioned this before on other similar threads.
I have a solar 'Freeloader'. It does work BUT it takes an eternity to fully charge, and I'm talking DAYS not the 5 hours they quote. I would not recommend it if you are thinking of a solar-only recharging option. It's not reliable, so best take something that has a battery option.
I have a solar 'Freeloader'. It does work BUT it takes an eternity to fully charge, and I'm talking DAYS not the 5 hours they quote. I would not recommend it if you are thinking of a solar-only recharging option. It's not reliable, so best take something that has a battery option.
I use a conventional charger with a continental adapter and charge it in the shower block or the camp office or a restaurant etc. I do switch it off generallky during the day so it lasts up to a week anyway. I only use it for the odd text or emergency contact. I don't usually want people phoning me up when I'm on the road on a tour.
tapan
Active Member
- Location
- Conisbrough
I havw also looked as these solar chargers like the Freeloader etc and have decided to carry on as I have dome over the last several years. To be effective they are just too heavy!
This year I shall have my GPS with me as well but I can charge it and my mobile at the nightly campsite. My mobile has never run out during several weeks of touring -- but it travels switched off and I send a text to my sons every couple of days just to let them know I am alive!
The GPS will only be used en route if I am in difficulty. Typicaly that usually happens when navigating big urban sprawls like complex cities. It will also be used in the evening when connected to mains ( in the shaver socket) to check the following days route and so on! It is also handy for bringimg me into the last couple of kilometres for a difficult to locate camp site.
For normal navigation I use maps -- and road signs.
I am making a big effort this year to halve my load and all these extras like a viable solar charger add to the kgs!.
In passing, I have now decided to cycle to Berlin from Rotterdam Europort instead of going there by train. I shall then spend a week or two touring from a fixed base there and almost certainly then cycle back home again. My only fixed date time is the evening ferry from Hull on 27 May! I reckon I shall do about 2500 kms in all -- and my time is my own and I need to lose some weight!
This year I shall have my GPS with me as well but I can charge it and my mobile at the nightly campsite. My mobile has never run out during several weeks of touring -- but it travels switched off and I send a text to my sons every couple of days just to let them know I am alive!
The GPS will only be used en route if I am in difficulty. Typicaly that usually happens when navigating big urban sprawls like complex cities. It will also be used in the evening when connected to mains ( in the shaver socket) to check the following days route and so on! It is also handy for bringimg me into the last couple of kilometres for a difficult to locate camp site.
For normal navigation I use maps -- and road signs.
I am making a big effort this year to halve my load and all these extras like a viable solar charger add to the kgs!.
In passing, I have now decided to cycle to Berlin from Rotterdam Europort instead of going there by train. I shall then spend a week or two touring from a fixed base there and almost certainly then cycle back home again. My only fixed date time is the evening ferry from Hull on 27 May! I reckon I shall do about 2500 kms in all -- and my time is my own and I need to lose some weight!
Dayvo
just passin' through
- Location
- 59° 50′ 5.55″ N, 10° 47′ 41.89″ E
Not a great picture, but I've got one of these:
http://www.clasohlson.co.uk/Product/Product.aspx?id=59139411
Does the job OK!
http://www.clasohlson.co.uk/Product/Product.aspx?id=59139411
Does the job OK!
RussellEngland
New Member
Unfortunately I have a Nokia N82 (candy bar version of the N95) - great on features, appalling battery - I had it specifically for GPS tracking but the battery only lasts a few hours with the GPS on and a couple of days without it on.
I've tried the Freeloader with the additional panel, it straps to a backpack, but it does have to be sunny and facing the sun to work, so didn't really work for me while walking.
http://www.solartechnology.co.uk/products/Solar_Chargers/supercharger.asp
I've also got one of the wind up chargers with an LED torch from Oswald Bailey, this was more effective than the solar panel but still not good enough for my mobile. Although its great as a torch.
http://www.oswaldbailey.co.uk/eshop.asp?wci=product&wce=53308701
Finally I tried rechargeable AA batteries and a gadget from Maplins, thinking I could recharge a bunch of AA when I stopped. Still not enough juice for my mobile though but might work for other mobiles.
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=222899
There's also the hymini wind charger but a few reviews have said its not really effective. So haven't tried it.
http://www.hymini.com/
I'm guessing a hub/bottle dynamo would be the best option as it would provide a constant charge. I've found a couple of mobile chargers that work with a dynamo - http://www.pedalpower.com.au/index.htm and http://www.ikonglobal.com/ but haven't found many reviews. And no prices for the pedal power. I just wonder if its possible to plug a dynamo into the freeloader?
I've tried the Freeloader with the additional panel, it straps to a backpack, but it does have to be sunny and facing the sun to work, so didn't really work for me while walking.
http://www.solartechnology.co.uk/products/Solar_Chargers/supercharger.asp
I've also got one of the wind up chargers with an LED torch from Oswald Bailey, this was more effective than the solar panel but still not good enough for my mobile. Although its great as a torch.
http://www.oswaldbailey.co.uk/eshop.asp?wci=product&wce=53308701
Finally I tried rechargeable AA batteries and a gadget from Maplins, thinking I could recharge a bunch of AA when I stopped. Still not enough juice for my mobile though but might work for other mobiles.
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=222899
There's also the hymini wind charger but a few reviews have said its not really effective. So haven't tried it.
http://www.hymini.com/
I'm guessing a hub/bottle dynamo would be the best option as it would provide a constant charge. I've found a couple of mobile chargers that work with a dynamo - http://www.pedalpower.com.au/index.htm and http://www.ikonglobal.com/ but haven't found many reviews. And no prices for the pedal power. I just wonder if its possible to plug a dynamo into the freeloader?
TheKrellMachine
New Member
- Location
- Edinburgh
https://powertraveller.com/iwantsome/primatepower/powermonkey-explorer/Cunobelin said:
The Power Monkey is the business - a brilliant design worth the money.
I had one, but lost the battery part at Mount Luxmore hut in January
I missed it so much I shelled out for another complete set at dixons LHR T5 at the beginning of this month.The battery that is charged up has enough storage to recharge an ipod or phone a few times ( ideal for during a series of long-haul flights ).
The solar cell can be strapped to a pannier and slowly charges up this battery. The battery is then used to re-charge the phone/ipod at full speed.
NB: Neither the ultra light mains supply nor solar cell cannot supply enough current to recharge a ipod touch/phone directly - the intermediate battery is the key to the system.
CycleTourer
Veteran
- Location
- Bury St. Edmunds
RussellEngland said:
I tried one and can confirm that they are absolutely useless and a waste of money!
bike_the_planet
New Member
- Location
- Perth, Western Australia
RussellEngland said:
My wife and I tried using a Solio solar/mains charger, similar to the Power Monkey someone mentioned earlier, on a 4 month tour of Europe last year. We had the same problem that you did with solars - great if you get continuous sunshine, but consistently failed to charge its internal battery fully on cloudy/mixed days. Even on a good day we needed full 8 hours of sun. This makes sense - peak solar radiation at noon in Europe is not much above 500 w/m2 so the three 5 x 12 cm arrays the Solio provided, it was never going to charge quickly.
I have since built a new front wheel using a Schmidt SON hub dynamo. Most mobiles will charge from an unregulated DC voltage of 6 - 12 volts (the necessary voltage regulation is normally in the handset electronics). It is possible to build a very simple rectifier/clamp circuit that would allow you to charge a phone from your such a hub - much more reliable than solar IMHO - at least in Europe anyway.
I am thinking of designing a universal charger gizmo that would provide 6 - 12 volts using a variety of connectors for most phone models, cameras, GPSs plus a 5V USB connector for devices such as MP3 players that plugs into a 6V dynamo hub.
That would mean that you never have to charge anything ever again - really useful on tour.
Cheers,
Russell
Thanks for the two links to dynamo chargers. According to the ikonglobal.com website their product is avalable in the UK from bikefix in London and the Centre for Alternative Technology. Bikefix say they haven't sold them in a long time, and they don't appear in the CAT catalogue. Pedalpower may be a better alternative; I've emailed them so I'll see what response I get.
I haven't had the chance to give my Hymini a serious test, but I suspect cycletourer is right.
Thanks for the two links to dynamo chargers. According to the ikonglobal.com website their product is avalable in the UK from bikefix in London and the Centre for Alternative Technology. Bikefix say they haven't sold them in a long time, and they don't appear in the CAT catalogue. Pedalpower may be a better alternative; I've emailed them so I'll see what response I get.
I haven't had the chance to give my Hymini a serious test, but I suspect cycletourer is right.
